I have a friend who throws out his caps each year after deer season because supposedly caps can become unreliable after a year and may not fire. He told me I need throw out all my old caps too. I have several containers of caps that are a few years old and I have never had problems with them not going off. I don't want old caps to not go off and cost me a deer though.
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Do caps go bad?
- Thread starter Tilford
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
If you do decide to throw your "old" caps away, let the forum members know where it will happen.
Did you ever see chickens at feeding time?
"CHICK, CHICK, CHICK" and there is instantly a swarm of clucking, wing beating chickens flocking around the person who is calling.
That's what you'll see except they won't be clucking and wing beating. They'll be saying, "MINE, MINE!", "HEY LET GO!", "NOT THAT ONE, ITS MINE.", .....
Yes, there is something to be said for using brand new caps when the only shot your going to get presents itself but IMO, for practice, plinking, target shooting... there's no reason not to use older caps.
I have several tins of them that are well over 10 years old and they fire 99% of the time.
Did you ever see chickens at feeding time?
"CHICK, CHICK, CHICK" and there is instantly a swarm of clucking, wing beating chickens flocking around the person who is calling.
That's what you'll see except they won't be clucking and wing beating. They'll be saying, "MINE, MINE!", "HEY LET GO!", "NOT THAT ONE, ITS MINE.", .....
Yes, there is something to be said for using brand new caps when the only shot your going to get presents itself but IMO, for practice, plinking, target shooting... there's no reason not to use older caps.
I have several tins of them that are well over 10 years old and they fire 99% of the time.
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I still have caps from 20 years ago, and I've been given some that are almost certainly older. I was just shooting with some of those 20-year olds (I date the bottom of all my cans when I buy them). I came home with 22 fewer balls and 22 fewer caps, if that tells you anything.
Howcum I still have 20 year-old caps? Cuzz I buy new ones each year, even if I never seem to get through the old ones. Caught them on sale here and there and bought lots more.
I still buy fresh caps each year for hunting, just in case. But there's not a reason under tarnation not to keep on using those old ones for your other shooting. That's all dependent on good storage of course, but that's just part of what a guy oughta be doing anyway.
Howcum I still have 20 year-old caps? Cuzz I buy new ones each year, even if I never seem to get through the old ones. Caught them on sale here and there and bought lots more.
I still buy fresh caps each year for hunting, just in case. But there's not a reason under tarnation not to keep on using those old ones for your other shooting. That's all dependent on good storage of course, but that's just part of what a guy oughta be doing anyway.
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I would also ask your friend if you could have his caps that he's going to throw away! :grin:
Respectfully, Cowboy :thumbsup:
Respectfully, Cowboy :thumbsup:
My old man passed away in 1974. He had quite a few old caps in his inventory. They still fire to this day - without misfires...... Guessing he had north of 5K when he passed. Maybe 500 to 1000 left. Again, do not remember any misfires. Store in a cool dry place.......
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Cowboy said:
You got that right! :thumbsup:
slumlord44
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I used to do that too. Now I use the newest tin for hunting. Think its about 5 or 6 years old by now. Now problems so far.
Depends on how they're cared for. I've had a couple bricks sitting on a shelf in a closet that I've been using for years.
But if you toss a tin in the glove box of any vehicle in Minnesota and for get about'm for a year they're shot!
And that tin I found in the tackle box in the garage didn't fair to well either, still trying to remember how it got in there, :slap: price tag on that one was $1.29.
But if you toss a tin in the glove box of any vehicle in Minnesota and for get about'm for a year they're shot!
And that tin I found in the tackle box in the garage didn't fair to well either, still trying to remember how it got in there, :slap: price tag on that one was $1.29.
eggwelder
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had some 30 year old caps that were improperly stored, had gotten wet, and generally uncared for along with the first muzzleloader i bought. over 3/4 worked, but wasn`t depending on them for hunting either. just shooting empty pop cans
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I have several hundred CVA Italian made caps I purchased about 35-40 years ago. They still work fine if the fit on the nipple and other factors are good. I have one tin of Remington caps that came with a bunch of other stuff that has some that have turned green and on a few the percussion material has fallen out of the cap. They are a problem, but I occasionally try a few when I am at the range just to see if they will fire. The better looking ones are about 50-50.
I'm cheap, I hardly ever throw anything out. I do use fresh caps that I have tested at the range when hunting or serious target shooting. Not much serious target shooting for me anymore.
I'm cheap, I hardly ever throw anything out. I do use fresh caps that I have tested at the range when hunting or serious target shooting. Not much serious target shooting for me anymore.
Rick Boylan
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Simple fix, when he throws out his old caps have him give them to you. I've had some caps for years and they still work like expected. Never had a problem. In fact, I know I have an old container of caps that I've had since the 80s and I bet they would go ban when used.
The only caps I had a problem with were my first tin of Navy Arms I purchased with my Hawes 1860 .44 Colt clone I bought in 1971. Some of the inside foil and mixture were falling out a few years later and failed to fire. Never had a problem since then.
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I've yet to experience any going bad but then I will use them up with in two or three years as I usually by them 1k at a time.
I have some old #12 caps made back in the way back when and they still fire.
Ever seen a tin of #12's in the store? Yeah...that's how old these things are.
Ever seen a tin of #12's in the store? Yeah...that's how old these things are.
ohio ramrod
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Caps subject to moisture may fail. Caps kept dry will be good thirty years or more later. I had some left in a sealed tin for at least thirty years and they worked fine. I had a friend who would leave caps in a metal "capper" in his damp basement and he often had problems. :idunno:
This sounds like an old thread. :idunno: Oh, well.
I closed my ml shop in Indiana in 1976 and brought a lot of my inventory to Arkansas with the move. Included in all the 'stuff' I brought I still have caps (retail price 79 cents) of foriegn origin that are still good. I used some not long ago.
So, the answer is a definate "no" they don't go bad if stored properly. As expensive as they are it is simply foolish to discard. If you want to get rid of them, send to me. :wink:
I closed my ml shop in Indiana in 1976 and brought a lot of my inventory to Arkansas with the move. Included in all the 'stuff' I brought I still have caps (retail price 79 cents) of foriegn origin that are still good. I used some not long ago.
So, the answer is a definate "no" they don't go bad if stored properly. As expensive as they are it is simply foolish to discard. If you want to get rid of them, send to me. :wink:
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Sam,
get those old caps from the guy who throws them out every year. Will save you some $$$
)
get those old caps from the guy who throws them out every year. Will save you some $$$
)
Only time I had problems was with some Remington caps and they were new. Tossed those and went back to cci.
