Solved the percussion cap issue.

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Like many others here, I'm tired of being gouged for percussion caps and I've really gotten into the hobby with my new 1858 Remington and the NAA super companion cap and ball. The NAA actually works well with the red ring caps like you'd use on a child's cap gun but I had one go off as I was seating it.

So I started looking into making my own. I quickly found the prime all recipe and decided to go with that, although it's technically the FH42 compound. Then I started looking into what to use for cups. That tap o cap thing doesn't fulfill my ocd desires with the way they look so I decided to go the route of making my own die to punch and form them.

So in comes my three piece die that punches out the circle and then forms them around the die, leaving me with a perfect number 10 cup to be filled with my compound. It's hardened and tempered so it'll last.View attachment 298346View attachment 298347View attachment 298348View attachment 298349
Great job. I bought the kit from 22 sharpshooter online. Shipping a bit slow but everything arrived ok. I made 100 to test and believe me they were ugly!! Yesterday I took my granddaughter and grandson with me to Electra for the monthly shoot we used the caps I produced to clear the chambers of two revolvers and my 56 smooth bore. They worked great for that. A lot cheaper than burning through CCI or Remington caps at 10 cents + apiece. My efforts were mixed but all fired. Also used some in a novelty match that my grandson won. A couple were wimpy when fired but did actually fire. I would use them if nothing else available. Be cautious though. They are extremely dirty and absolutely corrosive. Didn’t take long either. Those cups you produced are absolutely beautiful. Hope you post some results when you test them.
Regards
 
Like many others here, I'm tired of being gouged for percussion caps and I've really gotten into the hobby with my new 1858 Remington and the NAA super companion cap and ball. The NAA actually works well with the red ring caps like you'd use on a child's cap gun but I had one go off as I was seating it.

So I started looking into making my own. I quickly found the prime all recipe and decided to go with that, although it's technically the FH42 compound. Then I started looking into what to use for cups. That tap o cap thing doesn't fulfill my ocd desires with the way they look so I decided to go the route of making my own die to punch and form them.

So in comes my three piece die that punches out the circle and then forms them around the die, leaving me with a perfect number 10 cup to be filled with my compound. It's hardened and tempered so it'll last.View attachment 298346View attachment 298347View attachment 298348View attachment 298349
 
You are sitting on a potential fortune there! Very nice looking set up. Now get ready for the flood of requests, maybe you should just set up with your accountant and lawyer and get into the production! Very impressive! But then you probably wouldn't want to get into competition with the guys already marketing their set-up. Real money-saver!
 
Wow, I'm actually surprised in the interest in my little project here! The funny thing is that it was a complete afterthought.

I had done all the research I could on the FH42 composition and bought all the components and then realized that I didn't have any cups to make it work with.

I also learned the trade from my dad, who when alive was a tool and die maker so the pressure was on for this to work 😅

I should also add that I made this a 3 piece unit so that the male die can be replaced for different sized caps.
 
Like many others here, I'm tired of being gouged for percussion caps and I've really gotten into the hobby with my new 1858 Remington and the NAA super companion cap and ball. The NAA actually works well with the red ring caps like you'd use on a child's cap gun but I had one go off as I was seating it.

So I started looking into making my own. I quickly found the prime all recipe and decided to go with that, although it's technically the FH42 compound. Then I started looking into what to use for cups. That tap o cap thing doesn't fulfill my ocd desires with the way they look so I decided to go the route of making my own die to punch and form them.

So in comes my three piece die that punches out the circle and then forms them around the die, leaving me with a perfect number 10 cup to be filled with my compound. It's hardened and tempered so it'll last.View attachment 298346View attachment 298347View attachment 298348View attachment 298349
 
I have to agree those are the best looking home made caps I have seen, I do not really need a cap maker as I probably have enough to last me the rest of my life.

However, I have been looking at cap makers as something to play with just to learn and have something to do, the appearance of your caps has put that on hold until you decide if your going to build these to sell or not.
 
I've also done a bunch of reading here about the other members that started making their own percussion caps with the prime all kit and saw their mixed results. I have to say that I got the process down pretty quick and easy. I can make 100 caps in a sitting. I made a plastic tray that the cups sit into flush. I mix the priming compound wetted with alcohol and a little duco cement mixed in and then smear the paste equally over the cups. Tampen in and then let them dry.
 
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Awesome creation.
You mentioned your super companion. I have one as well and I cannot lay my hands on any Remington number 11s which is what they recommend but I have tried CCI number 11 Winchester magnum number 11s and Remington 10s and RSW 11s.

No matter which caps I get they only go off on the first strike about two out of five times. I bought my super companion brand new and I was wondering if you are having that same unfortunate occurrence?

I am seating them down on the nipples very well. It's frustrating to have such a nice little piece and have paid good money for what basically amounts to a fancy paperweight.

Now with a bullet mold and some lead and making your own powder, you can be completely self-contained and never worry about supply chain issues again. Very nice work
Yep, same problem and I use number 11 caps on mine also. It's a matter of the nipples just being oversized because everytime I use a wooden dowel to really push them, it'll fire them on the first strike. It's become so irritating that I was solely using the red ring caps on it until I had the one pop when seating it.
 
Yep, same problem and I use number 11 caps on mine also. It's a matter of the nipples just being oversized because everytime I use a wooden dowel to really push them, it'll fire them on the first strike. It's become so irritating that I was solely using the red ring caps on it until I had the one pop when seating it.
And it's getting to where you can't even find the red ring caps anymore. I used to use the red paper strip ones for other pyrotechnic purposes and you can't even find them in Dollar general for years now.

Too bad slix shots doesn't offer any aftermarket options for the NAA. A lot of times when any particular piece has that problem those slix shots go a long way towards solving it if not eliminating it all together
 
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