Check your CCI caps before you buy

[64Springer]

Horse Hocky.

I've been using CCI caps for decades. I cannot recall a single misfire due to the cap. Misfires due to a mushroomed nipple, yes. Misfires due to operator error, yes. We are not talking about Remingtons where you open a new tin and the priming compound has fallen out of the caps. THOSE are crappy caps!

I'm not talking about the old CCI caps.

Where people stored them in a zip lock bag that was placed in a small ammo can that was then nested inside a large ammo can and sealed with bee's wax to maintain freshness.

I'm talking about the ratty looking discolored caps that were made in the last couple of years.

 

[1sgt]

I have CCI caps recently purchase at WalMart. The brass is shiny and they look fresh. I just finished shooting 40 shots with NO misfires. I have old Remington, RWS, and some Italian caps made in 1967. I shot over 250 shots at Friendship in September without any misfires. The best caps I ever tried was imported from Finland by Hiscore. I use those in woodswalks with no misfires. The Italian 11 caps fit the nipple tight. They still fire but sometimes get stuck on the nipple. Not all nipples are the same and I sand a taper on the nipple if the caps fit to tight.

 

[Old Grunt]

I bought some CCI caps 3 maybe 4 years ago right around when they started getting hard to find,and out of half a dozen tins 2 of the tins had several caps that had no compound in them,a few that barely went pft, probably 10-15 bad caps in each of the two tins. I suppose maybe my poor cleaning of my guns made the priming compound vaporize and disappear, kinda weird how my cleaning habits only effected 2 out of 6 tins but weirder things have happened I suppose

 

[user 34300]

I remembered something...........

During WW2 they were making primers so fast that they crowded they drying ovens. Frankfurt Arsenal I think. High humidity caused corrosion of the metal and reliability problems in the finished primers. Perhaps the CCI people were unaware and were making the same mistake in an effort to make more caps faster. It was in Hatcher's Notebook if I remember right.

 

[Notchy Bob]

Thru summer i have accumulated thousands of caps. Rem 10, 11, CCI 11, RWS1075. The first 3 fire first time every time, guaranteed. The RWS, oh hell no, 9 time out 10 they wont spark on first hit. Saving them for next shortage.

I think the RWS 1075 caps may fit a little tighter than everybody else’s #11s. I’m wondering if the tight caps may not be seated all the way down. The first hammer strike seats the cap. If a second hammer strike detonates the charge, I would suspect incompletely seated caps. If that is the case, filing or stoning the cone down to a slightly smaller diameter might help. Just a thought.

I remembered something...........

During WW2 they were making primers so fast that they crowded they drying ovens. Frankfurt Arsenal I think. High humidity caused corrosion of the metal and reliability problems in the finished primers. Perhaps the CCI people were unaware and were making the same mistake in an effort to make more caps faster. It was in Hatcher's Notebook if I remember right.

You might be onto something there. I had not heard of this before, but it sounds plausible.

Notchy Bob

 

[Richard Dittman]

I bought a 1000 CCI caps from Walmart about 2 months ago and have used over 200 and haven’t had any issues. All went off 1st time.

 

[Ed C.]

Thru summer i have accumulated thousands of caps. Rem 10, 11, CCI 11, RWS1075. The first 3 fire first time every time, guaranteed. The RWS, oh hell no, 9 time out 10 they wont spark on first hit. Saving them for next shortage.

The RSW1075's seem to fit a little tighter. I have to work a little harder at seating them or some will take a 2nd hit to fire.

 

[Frontier's]

The RSW1075's seem to fit a little tighter. I have to work a little harder at seating them or some will take a 2nd hit to fire.

That's because they are metric sized.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

I bought 2 caps from Cabela's, they were "D" rated, when I opened the cans they stunk so bad of mineral spirits I had to leave the cans open for several days to dry out.

No more mail order from the box stores. I now check cans when I see them, and only buy "A" or "B" rated ones.

And yes each can has a letter on it, As are best Ds are worst.

 

[Tin sandwich]

Just got back into black powder .... i cant find any cci caps anywhere . Even online . What am I missing ?

 

[AlexB]

Just got back into black powder .... i cant find any cci caps anywhere . Even online . What am I missing ?

Percussion caps?

 

[springfield art]

None of mine were "sealed" , just popped the plastic shell open and open the tin.

Maybe should be looking for another brand exclusively if so suspicious of this brand. Don't even bother.

 

[#BPBReloadingFFL]

Maybe,maybe not

 

[COTNTOP]

Just got back into black powder .... i cant find any cci caps anywhere . Even online . What am I missing ?

What part of NC you from? Mostly showing up at Walmart.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

these came down from jersey A month ago...they had them since i left two years ago...

 

[Tin sandwich]

What part of NC you from? Mostly showing up at Walmart.

Browns Summit

 

[Mad L]

I got a dozen #11 regular and six Magnum tons from Scheels in the last few months or so; the regulars are where working fine, no duds. After reading these recent thread I pulled out the unopened mags to check - all six tins looked normal, one had the primer fallen out....I can't go shooting right now but wanted to see for myself; I pulled 6 caps at random (one from each tin) - every on had a good healthy POP.

 

[springfield art]

I remembered something...........

During WW2 they were making primers so fast that they crowded they drying ovens. Frankfurt Arsenal I think. High humidity caused corrosion of the metal and reliability problems in the finished primers. Perhaps the CCI people were unaware and were making the same mistake in an effort to make more caps faster. It was in Hatcher's Notebook if I remember right.

The Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia was the old Bridesburg that made the Civil War muskets. They had a high-quality optical instruments shop there at one time; it was a really high quality operation. The Stetson was from Philly, Disston Tools, many other things; oh, the Navy Yard, not to forget!

 

[user 34300]

I was guessing on what ammo manufacturer. I did read that it happened. I wish Mad Monk was still with us, he would know.

FA was an ammo maker. List of military headstamps - Wikipedia