seating caps on revolvers

[Kevin Makel]

How do you seat caps on revolver nipples? I saw a TV show (Cowboys?) where the cap was started on the nipple and seated with a peice of wood or bone. Is this a good technique?, is it safer? I have a piece of antler I can use for this purpose.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Thumb pressure should do the trick, if the nipples & caps are compatible. Do you have a revolver now, and if so, which model?

Welcome to the forum!

Dave

 

[bkovire]

welcome,yes antler, bone, or the back side of my brass cap rail will work, you do not want to use much force, just enough to seat the primer, too much force and boom!

 

[Kevin Makel]

Thanks guys for the welcomes! I have a .36 1851 Navy and a .44 1860 Army, both Pietta. I'm looking at a .44 Uberti Walker. I just want to make sure my technique is good so I can avoid problems in a match I'm going to attend. I'm planning to use my 1860 Army in the Jesse James Revolver shoot in early April in Kearny Missouri.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Thanks guys for the welcomes! I have a .36 1851 Navy and a .44 1860 Army, both Pietta. I'm looking at a .44 Uberti Walker. I just want to make sure my technique is good so I can avoid problems in a match I'm going to attend. I'm planning to use my 1860 Army in the Jesse James Revolver shoot in early April in Kearny Missouri.

That Shoot looks real interesting...I Googled it and the County's news release for two years ago came-up. The important thing to remember is that the caps need to fit well, and snug-up, without falling-off with the first ignition. You'll have to experiment with different brands & sizes to see which works best with your guns.

Have fun and keep 'em in the black!

Dave

 

[Bob Riegl]

:nono: I DO NOT RECOMMEND pushing in caps with any "tool" and specially not your thumb.I have seen the result of using one's thumb (no it wasn't me)to press the cap on the nipple.You can research right here for info on how to make the caps and nipples fit each other properly. :shake: "Doc"

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Sorry Bob, I've always used my right thumb! I can feel the caps slide onto the nipples really well!

I didn't suggest using a "tool" like wood or bone, but I can see that using one might allow someone with arthritis, etc., to be able to cap a revolver. Have to be careful though, of course!

Just out of curiosity, if I can't use my thumb or a "tool" made of wood or bone, how do you seat the caps on revolver nipples? My cappers don't seem to work real well.

Dave

 

[redwing]

The Uberti nipples are terrible for fit. I changed these odd size things for Trescos. The Tresco made for Walkers nipple takes a number 11 with a very fine fit. They go on thumb tight even after the gun has been fired. :thumbsup:

 

[token tory]

I'll second that on the Uberti nipples. I just finished what I call my Nippless saga myself.
10 is too small & 11 too large.
Maybe those 10 3/4 might fit, but I have too many caps that don't fit already. :surrender:

I tapered, polished & sized several times & finally just got different nipples that take the #11 caps.

I was using a tool, based on comments about thumb damage here I figured I'd rather mess up a wooden pusher I built than a thumb. Unfortunately I didn't have much luck with it as I was being very careful when pushing. Maybe I should have pushed harder. :rotf:

 

[bkovire]

try the rem caps and see if they fit better. :thumbsup:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Remington #10's fit my original Walker nipples just fine, and they also fit my 1860 Army, 1858 New Model Army, 3Rd Model Dragoon, etc. All made by Uberti.

I buy caps by the box of 1,000 so I'm not ready to change anything at this point. When the nipples wear-out, I might think about switching to #11's, but for right NOW, if it ain't broke, it don't need fixed!

As far as thumbs go, I've never seen a problem with correctly fitting caps being applied by thumb, so I will continue to do so. We have a full line of over a dozen shooters for a regular monthly match at a League that shoots year round. There has never been a problem in all of the years I've been a member......

Sometimes you don't need to just read about something to know better, you need to do it. Just one man's opinion, and thousands upon thousands of percussion caps later......

Dave

 

[Poor Private]

If your having trouble holding those itty bitty caps use a capper, and you can use the capper to help slide them on a little snugger. A one size fit all cappers doesn't. I have a capper for each of my revolvers. I went to my local gun shop and took my pistol(s) with me. I go in and explain to the guy behind the counter that I need a capper that will work on that pistol. If your gun shop won't let you bring in the pistol--time to change to a more user freindly shop. YOu can find a capper for about any kind of revolver.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I've tried some cappers. Maybe just me or maybe I didn't try the right one for that model revolver, etc., but to me it's a PITA to use one for a revolver. Besides, I'm so used to putting them on with my fingers & thumb, that I can do it almost by feel, without the need to watch it go on the nipple all of the way.

Wouldn't mind your thoughts on models of cappers for my different revolvers though. Always willing to learn a new trick with the correct tool! I might have a spare capper or two in the box already that I may be able to use....you never know what you might find in the bottom of a range box!

Dave

 

[Celt5494]

I have big fat fingers so those little itty bitty caps don't go on so well using them alone like I could do on a rifle. I loose far more than I could ever get on the pistols. Maybe why I prefer to just shoot flint? I use a brass capper for my Army and Walker colt. I feel like it's a bit safer too since there isn't anything behind them that could set those infernal things off accidentally with applied pressure. Maybe I'm just being paronoid as well?

 

[bkovire]

the capers i use are the strait line, one is for #10s the other is for #11s, it is easy to tell the difference, the 10 is 3 and1/2 in. the 11 is 5in. long, the width is also different. and to make sure their is no mix up the #11 is with my rifle pouch, and the 10 is in the pistol pouch. they do make life easy on the shooting range, until all 12 caps are spent then it is tweezers time. the rail can be a PITA but if you have all thumbs, it is worth the time, i have seen the 100 round capers, might work on the colts but i do not think it will work on the rem, to narrow of a gap, at lest the one that was lent to me was to big at the capping end.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

O-K, I'm going to Dixon's on Monday, so I'll bring my revolvers and try a capper. We'll see if this old bird can learn a new trick :idunno: , otherwise, I'll just do what I do now, cause it works for me!

Dave

 

[madcratebuilder]

Depending on the model of revolver, cappers can be a problem.. Most cappers well need the 'fingers' to be modified if your using them on a 1858 Remington. The Colts have a little more room around the nipple. I picked up a late 1950's Navy arms 51 Navy and the two cappers that were in with it are very different. A round tube with a slot, similar to the cappers today, but these you pushed the cap straight on the nipple instead of a 90* angle.

 

[Bob Riegl]

:v My suggestion as far as using the thumbs is that some people do use XS pressure and that can cause the cap to go off with possible bad consequences. :thumbsup: "Doc"

 

[Arrowhead]

I use an old straight line CVA capper that I've had for many years. It works well with CCI # 11 caps. I use CCI caps exclusively because that's the only brand I can find in this neck of the woods. :shake:

 

[w7spk]

Wow, yeah, I've never heard of caps going off with thumb pressure until I read this thread. I learned from my grandpa years ago to just push them in firm, not hard, just enough with your thumb so they dont fall off and you're good to go. I usually use a straight capper for my 51 navy with #10 remington caps. The same capper is sort of a pain with my 58 new army, so I've just used my fingers.

Very interesting, now you guys made me paranoid! I'm a banjo picker and sorta need my right thumb.

Sean Kelly