Different caps affecting accuracy?

[Kylongrifle]

Ive been playing with a CVA bobcat this weekend. Only gun I have that's not dialed in..Im running low on RWS caps and they are not easy to find around here..Yesterday I bought a tin of standard CCI caps..I noticed my groups started opening up...Same gun, same load clean bore between shots...I switched back to the other cap and groups shrunk back down..ill admit this is the first time Ive seen caps make a different but in this little gun it sure does..Anyone else ever noticed this?

 

[mooman76]

I haven't noticed it but it is fairly common. In centerfire guns also. Some guns like different primers better than others just like they like different size balls or different powders or different lubes and patches. I have heard the RWS caps are a little hotter than some others. Could be that it's a hotter cap or better consistency on how the cap was made. Sometimes hotter primers don't work quite as well though.

 

[hanshi]

I've never noticed a difference, either. The magnum CCI caps may be close to the RWS caps in performance. Many years ago the RWS caps were all I used.

 

[necchi]

Anyone else ever noticed this?

Yup.
It could be something as simple as the fit of the cap on your nipple, one is getting a tight seal when the charge goes off, the other is not so tight and letting a little gas blow back.
(no, squishing the cap won't help)
Or it could be the ignition timing, a nano second later with one or the other and your moving a bit.
Several things,, but different caps make a difference in X or not.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I myself haven't noticed any difference between caps. But when CCI first came out with the magnum caps several people I shoot with complained that the magnum caps opened up their groups.The only thing I can suggest is some serious testing which is a good reason to shoot more! :idunno: :idunno:

 

[Hunter John]

I recently purchased a few tins of CCI Standards (which I've never used) while I also have a nice supply of CCI mags.

Once the craziness of the holidays subsides, I'm gonna due some serious testing comparing the 2 types...including not only groups at various ranges but also cleaniness tests comparing patches after snapping 3-5 caps of each type.

Like you say, just another reason to shoot, eh? :thumbsup:

 

[Artificer]

Yes, definitely, I have noticed the difference in accuracy of a percussion rifle with different caps and that goes back to "civilian type" percussion guns in the 1970's and 19th century Military Guns in the 1980's. Back in the 1970's, the RWS caps had a MUCH better following than Remington caps. The same thing for RWS Musket Caps in the 1980's over other types available.

Actually, I would expect to have groups open up after switching from RWS caps to another brand.

The "funny" thing for me was I did not begin reloading modern smokeless ammunition until after I had already found this out on Percussion Guns. So I already knew not to switch primers amoung different brands, in accurate loads.

Gus

 

[Grenadier1758]

Lately I've been seeing the standard percussion caps available at some stores. The magnum caps have been in short supply more so than the standard caps.

I recently tried to buy some caps and most of the sources I looked at were out of stock.