Berdan primer use as percussion cap?

[Brian6396]

I have been looking for more caps for my 40 and 50 cal rifles. So out of curiosity, could I use berdan primers until I locate more caps.

 

[necchi]

Uhm, Nope.
Berdan primers rely on the anvil being part of the case/cartridge. The rifles firing pin strikes the primer compound mashing it into the case to ignite. Our typical Boxer primer has the anvil installed as part of the primer cup itself.

So with that said, the hollow part (hole) of a nipple is where the anvil needs to be.
That and the CF primers have a significantly higher charge that needs that little brass cup to be surrounded by the cartridge, if not it could/will fragment sending shards of shrapnel out that'll cause you or bystanders major hurt.

There is/was a 209 primer conversion available, :idunno:
It fully incased the 209 and you had to modify the hammer.
Haven't seen one for years though.

 

[curator]

Brian,

Bass Pro Shop has #11 caps in Ft. Myers.

 

[Brian6396]

Thanks for the info gents

 

[mooman76]

Those plastic toy caps can work. They are a little small and don't fit so well and don't always set off your charge but they are better than nothing.

 

[jamesthomas]

O.K. I'll go ahead and say it. Go buy you a Flintlock Rifle! :grin: .

 

[cynthialee]

Those plastic toy caps can work. They are a little small and don't fit so well and don't always set off your charge but they are better than nothing.

I have done some experimenting with the toy caps and if you are stuck using them you can get the fire rate up to about 90% if you get a #10 nipple and chuck it into a drill and file it enough to accept the toy caps. Then before you go to place the toy cap on the nipple put a tiny pinch of powder directly into the nipple. Without the powder in the nipple you will only get about 75% fire rate. Without the nipple mod you only get abut 60% fire rate and it miss forms the cap and often rips them.

 

[Brian6396]

Plastic toy caps?
what?
Berdan primers are what I use for reloading 7.62x54 cartridge.

 

[Brian6396]

Ok, I will say it. No thanks

 

[Wes/Tex]

Never tried the toy cap trick but do recall one "survivalist" who was reloading standard primers with match head scrapings and claimed it as reliable as a flintlock...that's when I got ticked and turned the page! :wink: :haha:

 

[Orthod]

Mag Spark
http://www.warrencustomoutdoor.com/mag-spark.html

I purchased one just in case the #11 shortage gets real bad, as in I ran out and can't find any.

I tried it the other day and works on the CVA Plainsman 50 cal. I had to decrease the loads. I'll have to get the Chrony out to see if what the difference is some day.

 

[Sean Gadhar]

Mag Spark
http://www.warrencustomoutdoor.com/mag-spark.html

I purchased one just in case the #11 shortage gets real bad, as in I ran out and can't find any.

I tried it the other day and works on the CVA Plainsman 50 cal. I had to decrease the loads. I'll have to get the Chrony out to see if what the difference is some day.

******Did ya see the "REFERENCE NIPPLE THREAD SIZING CHART ******



:grin: That got saved to favorites by me.