Using the Sharpshooter22 kit I made 200 caps in 4-batches of 50. I used a store brand diet soda can (if it matters). After cutting strips of aluminum I punched the caps so the painted side of the can was inside the cap (it says so in the directions). I then mixed the 4-part powder per directions. I used a metal capful of acetone with 3 big drops of Duco cement stirred well to drizzle a drop in each cap. You need to replenish the metal capful to get through making 50 caps. After applying the drop I waited 5-minutes. Then I tamped down the powder in the cap. Set out overnight to dry.
I made 50 that appeared 1/3 full in the cap, 50 that appeared 1/2 full in the cap and 50 that were more than 1/2 full ( but not all the way full). The last 50 I had my son's help and did not tell them how much to fill the caps so the amount would be somewhat random. Going slowly it takes 15 minutes to do 50 caps start to finish - not including the overnight drying.
At the range I decent results. I used 25 of each on the first outing. There were 7 fail to explode out of 100. Noteworthy is that each one of these had an obvious bald spot on the bottom center of the cap inside. In other words, a lack of powder on the floor of the cap cup. I'm not sure how they got there, because there were some in each batch. I think when I tamp down the powder some stuck to my stick and came back out. So first lesson, if there is a shiny bald spot in the cap it probably wont ignite.
I fired a few without a load and some with a load Each batch fired off regardless of the amount of powder that was in the cap. The least amount of powder sounded a little weaker than the other amounts, however the other amounts all sounded the same. They all ignited Goex FFFg powder. Second lesson is to fill the cap at least 1/2 or a little more for peace of mind that it would go off strong.
Next I noticed that some caps were tighter on the nipple than others. I think this is some "spring back" that the aluminum does. They are very easy to pinch with not much resistance. Lesson 3, pinch the caps on the nipple for snug fit.
Surprisingly, the aluminum cups were almost all in tact. No exploded cups, cup fragments or damage. They were opened up a little, like a jelly-fish shape or a bell. Squeezing them put them back into shape and they probably could be used again but I'm not going to try that now.
Last thing was that there was a reddish-brown tint left on the nipple. This coloration came right off with a swab dipped in windex and rubbed by hand. It did not cause a problem at the range. At home I used the windex swab to see if it came off easily and it did. I did clean the nipple thoroughly my usual way as well as the rest of the rifle. After putting it away, I checked it every other day for the rest of the week. The reddish did not reappear.
Based on just 200 caps and half of them fired, I have to say they work pretty darn good. Honing my assembly techniques based on what I learned at the range should increase reliability. I will say that I don't see how you can get over 2000 caps put together with the amount of powder supplied (although that is what the directions claim). I can see 1000, maybe a little more. I'll see how many I get and report that. Either way, the powder is like $25 delivered so even 1000 caps is an okay price at todays rates. The time to make them is kind of tedious but it is satisfying to DIY in spare time. I would not wait until the day before range time and want to crank out a bunch. It is a slow process and I personally did not find it relaxing but rather edgy. My opinion is that they are best made in small batches of around 50 when you have nothing else to do, not distractions and don't "need" them ready real soon.
I made 50 that appeared 1/3 full in the cap, 50 that appeared 1/2 full in the cap and 50 that were more than 1/2 full ( but not all the way full). The last 50 I had my son's help and did not tell them how much to fill the caps so the amount would be somewhat random. Going slowly it takes 15 minutes to do 50 caps start to finish - not including the overnight drying.
At the range I decent results. I used 25 of each on the first outing. There were 7 fail to explode out of 100. Noteworthy is that each one of these had an obvious bald spot on the bottom center of the cap inside. In other words, a lack of powder on the floor of the cap cup. I'm not sure how they got there, because there were some in each batch. I think when I tamp down the powder some stuck to my stick and came back out. So first lesson, if there is a shiny bald spot in the cap it probably wont ignite.
I fired a few without a load and some with a load Each batch fired off regardless of the amount of powder that was in the cap. The least amount of powder sounded a little weaker than the other amounts, however the other amounts all sounded the same. They all ignited Goex FFFg powder. Second lesson is to fill the cap at least 1/2 or a little more for peace of mind that it would go off strong.
Next I noticed that some caps were tighter on the nipple than others. I think this is some "spring back" that the aluminum does. They are very easy to pinch with not much resistance. Lesson 3, pinch the caps on the nipple for snug fit.
Surprisingly, the aluminum cups were almost all in tact. No exploded cups, cup fragments or damage. They were opened up a little, like a jelly-fish shape or a bell. Squeezing them put them back into shape and they probably could be used again but I'm not going to try that now.
Last thing was that there was a reddish-brown tint left on the nipple. This coloration came right off with a swab dipped in windex and rubbed by hand. It did not cause a problem at the range. At home I used the windex swab to see if it came off easily and it did. I did clean the nipple thoroughly my usual way as well as the rest of the rifle. After putting it away, I checked it every other day for the rest of the week. The reddish did not reappear.
Based on just 200 caps and half of them fired, I have to say they work pretty darn good. Honing my assembly techniques based on what I learned at the range should increase reliability. I will say that I don't see how you can get over 2000 caps put together with the amount of powder supplied (although that is what the directions claim). I can see 1000, maybe a little more. I'll see how many I get and report that. Either way, the powder is like $25 delivered so even 1000 caps is an okay price at todays rates. The time to make them is kind of tedious but it is satisfying to DIY in spare time. I would not wait until the day before range time and want to crank out a bunch. It is a slow process and I personally did not find it relaxing but rather edgy. My opinion is that they are best made in small batches of around 50 when you have nothing else to do, not distractions and don't "need" them ready real soon.
