Author Topic: What's the difference between musket caps and no. 11 caps? (Read 2436 times)

victorcharlie · « **on:** March 08, 2005, 06:48:07 AM »

When I got my Green mountain Barrel, (.50 cal IBS ) the nipple didn't take a no. 11 cap very well. I replaced it with the nipple off my old T/C barrel and have been shooting no. 11 caps.

Could the nipple that came on the Green Mountain Barrel be for musket caps?

I haven't heard of musket caps until today.....which one is the best to use with round balls and pyrodex?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2005, 07:06:42 AM »

Musket caps are much larger and provide considerably more fire than #11 caps, being approx ¼" in diameter and require a musket nipple. There are 2 types, flanged or hat type and flangeless. I prefer the flangeless type cuz they're easier to seal out moisture when hunting.
The only place I've found RWS flangeless musket caps is at D&R Sports. One nice thing about D&R, they don't charge hazmat on primers, I usually buy em 1000 at a time and split em with friends and family.

RWS Flangeless Musket caps

sabotloader · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2005, 08:43:47 AM »

quickdtoo,

I have asked this before even from the manufactures but have never recieved an answer.... In you opinion do musket caps provide a hotter spark than #11 magnum caps? I e-mailed CCI requesting this information and really didn't get a straight answer. I think they explained the #11 Mag cap was made to match the musket cap in performance, but was not really sure... I know the musket cap will out perform the standard #11, but Remington is now producing a #11 they say is 33% hotter than a standard #11...

Ramrod · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2005, 09:16:41 AM »

victorcharlie, different brands of #11 caps seem to have slightly different dimensions, try several. Also, there are #10 and #12, but harder to find. Also, I don't think musket caps are much "hotter", but the volume and duration of fire is greater, due to much more priming compound.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2005, 09:49:33 AM »

SL, not knowing a scientific method of comparison that I could do, my playing it by ear comparison tells me there is no comparison, the musket cap vs the #11mag is like comparing a 22mag rifle report to a 22Lr report. Seems to me I remember someone doing a short range candle shoot using musket caps vs #11mags, the musket caps were far and away able to put the candle out from a greater distance. So much for my scientific comparisons.....

simonkenton · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2005, 11:07:56 AM »

I would use the no 11 cap for round ball and Pyrodex, because the smaller cap will ignite this load fine, and there is no need for the additional fire from a musket cap.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2005, 02:08:29 PM »

I'm trying to figure out why the nipple that came with the barrel won't take a #11 cap.........it's just a little larger, and I have to force a #11 nipple on it......

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2005, 04:13:09 PM »

Nipples will peen out on the end eventually, that could be the cause of the problem. You can file it down to the right size, but replacing it would be the best choice. To do that, you'll need to know the correct thread size to get the replacement which is probably ¼"x28.

Trapper-Jack · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2005, 02:55:43 AM »

victorcharlie,
Nipples from different sources will also come in a little different size, just like the caps. They will also have a little different length and taper to them. Sometimes the cap will fit the end but if the taper is a little sharp, it may take two hammer falls to pop the cap. The first one will swedge it onto the nipple and the second one will pop it. I've filed them down, like quickdtoo suggested, by chucking the threaded end in a drill press and using a file to straighten out the taper, or the whole thing until the cap will seat completly onto the nipple but still be snug enough not to fall off.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2005, 07:23:01 AM »

I read something about a hot shot nipple and primer.......anyone know anything about them?

Trapper Jack, I'll give that a try......I thought maybe Green Mountain had one of Fords better ideas and forgot to mention it.......like maybe they had their own system....or a reason for being a little to big......sound like the drill press and a file will take care of the problem......Thanks!

quickdtoo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2005, 08:14:36 AM »

Uncle Mike's/Butler Creek/TC Hot Shot nipples are good, but I prefer the MSM Magnum Spitfire nipples.

http://www.gunaccessories.com/UncleMikes/Blackpowder.asp

http://www.octobercountry.com/products3.php?productid=522