A question for shooters who make their caps

[The Miner '49er]

There are countless threads some extolling and others condemning substitute powders, especially Pyrodex. The scarcity and price of commercial caps are real concerns, so I understand the need for, and the popularity of, the diy caps. I wonder, has anyone been concerned about any possible harm that the home brew propellants in the caps might cause, and perhaps done any tests to find out.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

The Prime All compound sold by 22LRReloader and others has been analyzed and it was determined to be based on an early 20th Century Frankford Arsenal formula. So, in a sense, it's been tested in billions of rounds of US military ammunition.

It is corrosive that leaves salts behind so you must clean with a water based solvent. Considering that in this application it's being used to ignite black powder or a substitute, and you need to do that anyway, in my opinion it's not really a downside, with one exception. That's if you snap a cap to clear the flash channel on gun prior to loading it for a hunt, and don't clear and clean the gun at the end of the day.

 

[longcruise]

To add 9n to @Dave Markowitz fine answer, my DIY caps are significantly hotter than the commercial varieties. It's undoubtedly a function of how much compound I use in the making. I've not tested them with any of the subs because I don't have any on hand but I'm thinking that they would solve the ignition issues that some have with subs.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The Prime All compound sold by 22LRReloader and others has been analyzed and it was determined to be based on an early 20th Century Frankford Arsenal formula. So, in a sense, it's been tested in billions of rounds of US military ammunition.

It is corrosive that leaves salts behind so you must clean with a water based solvent. Considering that in this application it's being used to ignite black powder or a substitute, and you need to do that anyway, in my opinion it's not really a downside, with one exception. That's if you snap a cap to clear the flash channel on gun prior to loading it for a hunt, and don't clear and clean the gun at the end of the day.

Agreed, the stuff will cause rusting if not cleaned. While it won't really hurt a stainless steel nipple, it will runs the barrel area surrounding where the nipple is placed AND inside the channel that directs the cap-flash to the powder.

LD

 

[AlexB]

They work great zero issues with pyrodex or t7.
Been using them for over a year shoot a lot and no rust or any issues at all.
I really prefer the 3d printed over the aluminum for completely eliminating cap jams.
They just do not happen with that material even the 1849 runs smoothly with them.