CCI Standard Cap vs CCI Mag Cap

[Hunter John]

We all know about the cap shortage over the last 3-4 years. Well I have an opportunity to purchase some CCI Standard #11 caps but only have experience with the Mag caps.

If I'm only planning on igniting real BP (in a sidelock) as opposed to BP substitutes, is there much of a difference between the standard cap vs the mag?

Any CCI Standard cap feedback would be appreciated.

 

[Idaho Ron]

I have been using the standard ones for cleaning and target. I keep the mags for hunting. I don't see a difference in point of impact in my testing. The standard ones do have less bang but enough with a clean gun to ignite the charge in my Hot Rod Hawkens and Hot Rod Renegades.
The New Remington's are real good, but I use them for cleaning too. I have a stash of Mags that are sealed and enough to get me by probably forever if I use the standard CCI and Remington to clean with. If I were short and didn't have any the standard CCI will shoot just fine.

 

[mzloder]

Ron, please explain what you mean when you say you use CCI regular & Remington caps to "clean"??

 

[fleener]

They will work just fine. No issues.

I use the mags for everything, including target work.

Used the regular for years with no issues.

Fleener

 

[texcl]

I've never seen a bit of difference between the 2 besides extra fragging with the mag caps.

 

[Idaho Ron]

Ron, please explain what you mean when you say you use CCI regular & Remington caps to "clean"??

After I run a wet patch down the barrel I run a dry one. Then I run another dry one down and leave it on the bottom and fire a couple caps. The wet goo sticks to the patch. A lot of guys don't leave the jag with the patch on the bottom to catch the wet goo. They just fire a cap and call it good. Here is a video I did this summer on shooting and cleaning in the field.

https://youtu.be/ibU-5uCuy_I

 

[mooman76]

I can't comment on mag caps but I have never had a problem with the standard ones in any of my guns and that's with sub powders also. They fire just fine, no hesitation when I do my part.

 

[Jim C]

Thanks Ron for the interesting and informative video....I'll definitely give your method a try.

 

[Rokon]

A useful rule of thumb is to use a normal cap for
BP and a magnum cap for BP substitutes.

 

[Billnpatti]

I use them interchangeably depending upon which I can find in the stores at the time. But, I only shoot real black powder. For real black powder, you will notice no significant difference but for the substitutes, you will have better success with the magnum caps.

 

[Billnpatti]

Ron, I watched your video and I learned something that I will now make a part of my shooting and cleaning technique. It absolutely makes sense to keep the patched rod down the bore while you snap a cap on the nipple. I've been shooting muzzleloaders for many years and it just goes to show that you are never too old to learn something new. Thanks for the tip. :thumbsup:

 

[Lorne Johnson]

I've used about 2500 CCI standard caps in my SxS'for clay target shooting with black powder. They work fine for me.

The magnum CCI's also work fine. Some competition rifle shooters report slightly tighter groups with the standard caps.

 

[Idaho Ron]

Ron, I watched your video and I learned something that I will now make a part of my shooting and cleaning technique. It absolutely makes sense to keep the patched rod down the bore while you snap a cap on the nipple. I've been shooting muzzleloaders for many years and it just goes to show that you are never too old to learn something new. Thanks for the tip. :thumbsup:

I am glad you liked it. I have been putting that all in messages for years. I thought if people saw it in a video they would understand better. Feel free to watch the other videos.

 

[dwr]

Like Bill said...never too old to learn...Thanks, Ron!

 

[Don Steele]

I'm glad to see Green Mt. mention the reported improvement in precision.
I made that observation during a period when I had switched over to CCI 350 magnum caps.
I shoot only BP, no substitutes. I was doing a lot of load development with my Green Mtn. Drop-in bbl. on the T/C "Hawken". Using a very stable set of benchrests...it seemed to me that there was a perceptible improvement in group size with the standard caps vs magnums.
That said...I never did an exhaustive evaluation, but came away feeling like it made a difference, albeit not a big one.
I would also add that these observations are consistent with a trend I've followed in BPCR shooting to use the minimum amount of "primer force" necessary to detonate the generally large charges of BP in the case.
I won't get into all that here as it is not consistent with this forum's scope. :hatsoff:

 

[Hunter John]

Ron - I also learned something watching your video and I've been shooting BP for 20 years. Very interesting.

Seems like that for target shooting with BP, there isn't going to be an issue using the Standard caps vs Magnum. That's the answer I was looking for.

Thanks to everyone who responded. Looks like I'm going to pick up some standard caps and give 'em a whirl. Just happy to find 'em. :wink:

 

[fleener]

In the June 2009 Muzzle Blast the Bevel Brothers did some experiments on the different percussion caps.

They showed that the magnum CCI's actually had less velocity and a better standard deviation than the CCI's regular.

I have a copy of the article in a PDF file. However I cant figure out how to upload it here. Tried to post it in photo bucket, but it wont go as a PDF file.

The magnum and regular CCI caps are a different composition of materials. Magnum caps are not simply more material.

Fleener

 

[Idaho Ron]

Ron - I also learned something watching your video and I've been shooting BP for 20 years. Very interesting.

:thumbsup:

 

[renegadehunter]

I started out only using CCI standard caps and haven't ever had any kind of issue with them. I'm using a tin of Mags right now, that was all the store had when I needed more, and I don't notice any accuracy differences between the two or ignition differences.
I do prefer the standards over the Mags though, because the Mags frag so much more that they often get caught in the hammer cup and I have to dig them out. I hardly ever have a standard cap get stuck.