Number 11 cap shortage?

[Stantheman86]

I have considered making a nipple to accept small or large rifle primers. Definitely have some strong ignition but would have to carry some kind of tool to pop them out of the nipple. Musket caps are expensive enough that I would rather buy rifle primers to have on hand.

I did score 500 No 11 CCI caps at the local gun store awhile back. A buddy bought me 200 and I went in and got him to sell me 300! haha

There is also an adapter that accepts small rifle primers threaded in the T/C and Pedersoli thread size.

I have one, it's a royal PITA getting the spent primer out. The 209 is much easier to use.

 

[user 48702]

I found CCI #11 caps online at KY Gun Co. $10.99 a can and no hazmat fee.

https://www.kygunco.com/product/cci-311-11-percussion-cap-100

Thanks for the heads up, just placed an order for the #11s. Just ordered #10 caps from Natchez two weeks ago, but they were out of #11. When these come in I'll be set for the near future.

 

[BadDaditood]

There is also an adapter that accepts small rifle primers threaded in the T/C and Pedersoli thread size.

I have one, it's a royal PITA getting the spent primer out. The 209 is much easier to use.

Lately small rifle primers are harder to find than perc caps-
Them black gun guys scoop em all up

 

[azmntman]

Says in store only. You may have reserved but will have to purchase in person. Thus the no haz Matt fee

 

[user 48702]

Says in store only. You may have reserved but will have to purchase in person. Thus the no haz Matt fee

We will see. Their web page says add to cart or pick up in store. They only listed two of their three stores where they were available for pick up. I wouldn't think I would have been charged shipping if I was only reserving the caps to pick up in store. Order went through with shipping added and a confirmation number for shipping to my address.

 

[lyman54]

Wowser, I've been looking for some #11 caps but not having any luck. Anyone happen to know where they can be had?

I've found some #10 caps online from Cabela's in Ottawa Canada. Doesn't help you I know but they are larger than CCI and will work.

 

[ORBushman]

We will see. Their web page says add to cart or pick up in store. They only listed two of their three stores where they were available for pick up. I wouldn't think I would have been charged shipping if I was only reserving the caps to pick up in store. Order went through with shipping added and a confirmation number for shipping to my address.

My thoughts also and my card has already been charged. Guess Monday will tell the tale.

 

[Stantheman86]

Lately small rifle primers are harder to find than perc caps-
Them black gun guys scoop em all up

Another reason why it's not even worth it

209 primers made just for muzzleloaders and also the standard CCI 209's for shot shell reloading are usually available

 

[Bob K]

Good idea. I recently purchased 1000 lot of 209’s to load BP shotgun shells. Thinking of the Mag-spark adaptor for my 50 cal but need to warm up to the twist off cap. I would loose the cap pretty quickly. There are 209 adaptors made for some modern BP rifles screw in the breach plug that do not require a screw on cap but use a spring clip to hold in the 209 cal. Threaded for 1/4x28 thread, same as the TC percussion nipple. Just a thought….

 

[dylan84]

I guess I need to look into the 209 primer adaptor for an option. I just assumed that would be a pita also. A shotshell primer is basically a pistol primer in a stamped cup.

There is actually another reason why I personally want to find another option. Percussion caps are made like trash compared to a modern primer. I have personally never had a modern primer not go bang. In about every tin of caps there is usually one that the priming compound has fallen out.

If they are going to be rare and expensive, I will engineer or buy a better option. Kind of stuck with them for pistols but if push comes to shove then Kirst it it!

I don't have any trouble finding primers generally. Large rifle has been an exception. If they are the same price I would rather get the reliable option. Percussion caps really should be like $2 a tin.

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

It appears I have finally found a few, for now anyway. I will say this, from now on this ole boy will be picking up supplies any time I go into a store that has them, at least a little at a time and/or until I feel I will have enough to do me for a long time. Not panic buying, just stocking up a little at a time.

I went into 'Dunham's Sporting Goods' a few days ago. They had an entire shelf full. The clerk said they're finally getting a steady supply of caps. Semper Fi.

 

[S.Kenton]

I have not seen any caps for sale around me for quite a long time. I ordered a couple thousand about two years ago, gave a few hundred to my step son and buddies so they can shoot, now I’m down to a dangerously low number. The shop that i ordered from last time told me that they have had an order in for three months now and nothing. Hopefully this is just a little hiccup and it straightens itself out. If not I’ll be shooting my flintlock more often I spose.

 

[ETipp]

I went into 'Dunham's Sporting Goods' a few days ago. They had an entire shelf full. The clerk said they're finally getting a steady supply of caps. Semper Fi.

I'll have to go back and look at their local store here. They had none last week.

 

[mkabe]

What % of the shooting world is actually consuming large amounts of percussion caps?

Also the European and British market is a hungry market for caps because the gun laws make muzzleloading and organized matches for these weapons very popular

Are we just getting "hobby centric" and are some of us becoming the Veruca Salt "I want it NOW!!" people who are snatching up caps everywhere just to do it?

I remember when you couldn't find a single round of .22 LR anywhere . Now I walk by a shelf full of Bucket O'Bullets .22 on my way to feverishly claw through the peg board at Dunham's to get my hands on a tin of CCI #11. 3 years ago I probably walked by peg boards full of caps to try to snatch up the last 50 round box of Thunderbolt .22......its all relative and a lot of this is just our own psychological response to kind of get tunnel vision for what we need at this moment

Today I was going to go shooting but I decided to just get up late and go for a jog before work. Sometimes it's good to take a little step back.

Since Covid started I can’t get downstairs into my basement anymore as it’s packed floor to ceiling with toilet paper.

 

[mkabe]

There is also an adapter that accepts small rifle primers threaded in the T/C and Pedersoli thread size.

I have one, it's a royal PITA getting the spent primer out. The 209 is much easier to use.

I have one of those demon devices, try fiddling with them with cold fingers or with gloves on. I M P O S S I B L E !
I went to musket caps, though hard to find sometimes are heaven sent to use. Looked all over finding some and finally did right under my nose at my favorite gun-store/range and only $4.99/tin.

 

[Boston Bill]

You do realize how many illegal drugs are shipped in the mail? Not saying I am going to do it but there is illegal stuff in the mail constantly! We need to start our own mountain man type shipping company. Might take a month to get it but there is no regulations!

Even if you make your own black powder the AFT says you are not supposed to transport it. Who really follows all of these laws and when is it time to stop bending to tyrannical rule? Wish we still had a constitution and the whole title 49 crap you just shared would be tossed in the trash can.

When illegal drugs go bad it won’t bring a plane down. Pay or not. I’ll sleep at night with no problem. I don’t like it either. It’s not worth the hassle of trying to save $20

 

[Stantheman86]

I guess I need to look into the 209 primer adaptor for an option. I just assumed that would be a pita also. A shotshell primer is basically a pistol primer in a stamped cup.

There is actually another reason why I personally want to find another option. Percussion caps are made like trash compared to a modern primer. I have personally never had a modern primer not go bang. In about every tin of caps there is usually one that the priming compound has fallen out.

If they are going to be rare and expensive, I will engineer or buy a better option. Kind of stuck with them for pistols but if push comes to shove then Kirst it it!

I don't have any trouble finding primers generally. Large rifle has been an exception. If they are the same price I would rather get the reliable option. Percussion caps really should be like $2 a tin.

The 209's are easy, the only pita is unscrewing the cap of the adapter but it also seals the chamber making accuracy more consistent so it's a trade off

Speaking of hazmat, even with the fee it's probably still cheaper to get the 1000 pak of Cheddite 209 Primers every reloading place sells online than musket caps.

I haven't looked locally but I'll have to see if my local mom and pop gun shops have CCI 209 primers in stock.

Keep in mind, the dealers pay Hazmat fees too and just pass them on to the buyer. You can probably save $$ getting a 25 lb case of 777 and 5000 209s in bulk from a distributor that offers some kind of veteran/first responder/FFL etc discount because it's just what your dealer is going to do anyway when they tell you "we can order it"

 

[Stantheman86]

I have one of those demon devices, try fiddling with them with cold fingers or with gloves on. I M P O S S I B L E !
I went to musket caps, though hard to find sometimes are heaven sent to use. Looked all over finding some and finally did right under my nose at my favorite gun-store/range and only $4.99/tin.

I bought that pistol primer adapter in probably 1995 when I had a T/C Big Boar , I actually just found it in a box full of crap.

I remember having to unscrew the cap and run a patched jag down the pipe to make air pressure to pop the primer out and even that didn't always work. There's a reason the 209 adapters are way more popular

I don't always need to stay "purist" sometimes I just want to punch paper before work and 777 and 209 primers is the way to go.

 

[dylan84]

The 209's are easy, the only pita is unscrewing the cap of the adapter but it also seals the chamber making accuracy more consistent so it's a trade off

Speaking of hazmat, even with the fee it's probably still cheaper to get the 1000 pak of Cheddite 209 Primers every reloading place sells online than musket caps.

I haven't looked locally but I'll have to see if my local mom and pop gun shops have CCI 209 primers in stock.

Keep in mind, the dealers pay Hazmat fees too and just pass them on to the buyer. You can probably save $$ getting a 25 lb case of 777 and 5000 209s in bulk from a distributor that offers some kind of veteran/first responder/FFL etc discount because it's just what your dealer is going to do anyway when they tell you "we can order it"

I was considering a "reloadable cap". Chopped down 25 acp case that fits over a custom nipple or something to that effect. Might have to make the hammer have a firing pin. No screwing or unscrewing. Just a big easy cap to stick on and off. Go to your reloading bench, punch out primers, and reprime. Good to go again for another round!

 

[Stantheman86]

I was considering a "reloadable cap". Chopped down 25 acp case that fits over a custom nipple or something to that effect. Might have to make the hammer have a firing pin. No screwing or unscrewing. Just a big easy cap to stick on and off. Go to your reloading bench, punch out primers, and reprime. Good to go again for another round!

I would love a 209 adapter that would let you place primers in like a standard nipple , I don't know how inlines do it , I don't have one

I do know that ignition is instantaneous and my CS Richmond shoots like a laser with 209 ignition and 777

I basically feel like I'm one step away from just having my machinist/gunmaker/gunsmith guy take a Pedersoli 1861 and cut it into a correct repro of a .58 Berdan rifle that I can just load brass cases with BP, .580 Minies and prime with 209s . But we're 1 or 2 years past the scope of this forum so I won't elaborate