Caps

[pat i.]

I'm new to muzzle loaders and just got a GPR. My question is that I've been accumulating what I'll need to shoot the gun and work up a load. I've picked up Remington, CCI Magnum, and RWS caps. I was playing around, just firing caps, and the RWS seem quite a bit hotter than the CCI or Rem. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to using a hotter cap with black powder or is it just 6 of 1 half dozen of another when it comes to caps.

[mongrel]

All else being equal, hotter caps will give more reliable ignition. However, the proof of what actually works best with your rifle will be found in the shooting.

You chose a fine gun to start muzzleloading with. Best of luck with it.

[Rocklock]

Back when I was shooting per-suction, I had my best results w the RWS. Still have a couple of cans from the last roll. Will keep them as I sometimes shoot a revolver or scattergun.
TC

[DandJofAZ]

First 10.000 caps were Remington...no problems  ..now using cci acct. all I could get at last shoot when I got low...for fire--hot is always better than cool..

Doug

[pat i.]

Thank you all for the replies.

[Blackfeet]

What is your gun's preference? Have there been any misfires.
Reason that I ask is that I have had no luck with CCI Magnum primers with the Investarms guns. That includes 2 Lyman GPRs and a Cabela's Hawken. The caps were from different lots, years apart in fact. I do not know the history of the nipples but they were all in good shape and the rifles performed pretty much the same after replacement. Not sure if it is a fit issue or lock but they all when off on the second strike so I suspect that it is a combination of the two.

[pathfinder]

Just curious,how can you tell how hot they are from just snappin' 'em? Not being a smart alek,just not that in tune with cap gun's. (except "Ugly Betty,my .32 squirrel gun)

I've alway's had good luck with CCI. Dont recall any miss fires.

[Hawken50]

I've been shooting caplock exclusively since 1985,nothing against flint,just havent had the opportunity to have one.The one thing I've learned through many,many pounds of Goex and Pyrodex is that cap to nipple fit is the most important thing.Next is the end of the nipple.It needs to be flat with the hammer.Brands of cap comes last.The best are RWS as to hottest in my opinion,they also seem to fit better.BUT,Ive had good results with all brands as long as they fit the nipple correctly.I used my 1860 colt to see which caps threw the most fire.Just popped he diferant brands in the dark.The tamest were Cci which shot sparks out the cylinder.Rws shot sparks out the barrel.
As far as shooting goes,i cant tell any differance when using Goex.Now pyrodex does seem to prefer the hotter caps.

[CampbellClan]

I've ignited my Goex powder with CCI capsfor the better part of 10 years...before that I shot Remington caps. I've had no issues with either brand... ever. As long as your flame channel is clear and your powder is dry, the temp. of the cap really shouldn't matter....  So yes.. I'd say 6 of 1 half dozen of the other...others mileage may vary.

[Blackfeet]

I have put 1000's of caps, all CCI Magnums, through my TCs with no problems whatsoever and trust them wholeheartedly. As I stated, I had no duds with the Investarms but a great many of them needed two strikes.

This continued with Hot shot replacement nipples
At some point I will pre-load the main sping on the Cabelas to see if that makes a difference

I also bought some Remington to compare. those are only available during deer season at Walmart

[punjab]

The only time I have ever had problems with caps on an investarms was caused by poor fit on the nipple or a weak mainspring.The coil springs in the TC clone locks tend to be a little weak after while.An L&R Repl.lock does wonders for the clone guns.Pricey but IMHO worth the money.

[Dogshirt]

I  ran 2 tins of CCI through my GPR with a "Hot Shot" nipple with no problems. This last tin was a lot of two time shots. I don't think CCI is
making them all the same! Seems some are #11 and some are #10. I can see no other reason for the difference.  $0.02

[Blackfeet]

I ran 2 tins of CCI through my GPR with a "Hot Shot" nipple with no problems. This last tin was a lot of two time shots. I don't thinbk CCI is
making them all the same! Seems some are #11 and some are #10. I can see no other reason for the difference.  $0.02

I am not sure that I understood that one. You had no problems except the last tin needing a lot of double strikes? That confirms my findings that the TCs, which many consider an overkill, especially with the flintlocks, have no problems with any caps. My experiment with changing the springs, or pre-loading the springs, may have merit

[Blackfeet]

The only time I have ever had problems with caps on an investarms was caused by poor fit on the nipple or a weak mainspring.The coil springs in the TC clone locks tend to be a little weak after while.An L&R Repl.lock does wonders for the clone guns.Pricey but IMHO worth the money.

This goes a ways toward my assumption that the problem may lie in the mainspring. I do, for a fact, know that the TC springs to not fade over time, (I have one of 1976 vintage) so it will be interesting to see if changing the spring load of a known under-performer will cure the problem.
For background info, I was so sure that the first strike would fail, that I COULD have, but didn't, use the first strike as a training 'shot'

[Rocklock]

Using #10 caps on nipples made for #11 caps often takes more than one hammer strike to ignite. A supply of 11s is hard to come by right now.
Tc