Percussion Caps- different sizes between brands?

[DeadEye9]

Aren't all BO caps of a certain # all supposed to be the same siZe regardless of lot or manufacture date etc? I finally ran out of my old stash of Remington 11's, so I went and bought a new package of Remington 11's as well as a pack of CCI 11's to try. The Remington package says "new and improved" Remington caps have a 40% hotter spark for better ignition and shows a pictorial description of such. The CCI I have not ever tried before with my BP revolvers. Well it takes 10 minutes to load a cylinder with either brand because they hardly fit on the nipples! Tried new nipples thinkin maybe mine were a bit blown out and same issue. I would try 8-10 maybe 12 times per nipple with different caps out of the package until I would finally get one to seat all the way, then move on to the next chamber and start all over again. Is this something others have encountered? I'm not all that experienced with black, having only gotten into them a couple years ago and only shooting them maybe once a month compared to weekly with my modern stuff. Anyway, I never had this issue with my old stock of Remington caps but now this is a nightmare and takes a lot of the fun out of it sadly. Any input is appreciated as always!

 

[Fingers McGee]

I cannot understand the problem you are having capping a revolver. Are you using your fingers or a capper, and if so, what capper are you using? Between the CCI, REM and RWS 10 and 11 caps there is not that much difference in size. CCI 10s are a little harder to use; but can be seated with a push stick relatively easy.. Here is a chart that show the nominal sizes of caps.

 

[DeadEye9]

I cannot understand the problem you are having capping a revolver. Are you using your fingers or a capper, and if so, what capper are you using? Between the CCI, REM and RWS 10 and 11 caps there is not that much difference in size. CCI 10s are a little harder to use; but can be seated with a push stick relatively easy.. Here is a chart that show the nominal sizes of caps.

I'm just capping by hand using my fingers. The problem I am having is that the cap will not seat all the way down on the nipple, and therefore protrudes up to the point where it would not allow the cylinder to rotate if I were to try and run it that way. After trying 8-10 diff cAps and some time, I finally find a cap large enough to seat all the way down on the nipple. I'm not pushing super hard to seat the caps as I don't want to set them off in my hand, but I'm putting some force behind seating. It's just weird for me because my old Remington 11's would slip right on and seat with no problems. These new caps literally feel like they are smaller, because I have to fight with them or sort through and find the largest ones to get full seating. It's not just with one revolver either; the issue is with the nipples on both my NAA Companions as well as my Pietta.

 

[Crawdad1]

What nipples are you using? Factory?

 

[Fingers McGee]

If they're hard to seat with your fingers - a practice I do not recommend - use a push stick of some sort. I use a 4" piece of a wood ramrod; some people use the eraser end of a #2 pencil.

 

[1KPerDay]

gently but firmly push them to seat them with a bit of a dowel or half a wooden clothespin or something similar.

 

[Crawdad1]

I just bought 2,000 CCI #11 caps and they all fit perfectly on my Track of the Wolf nipples even after extended use. I don't know, but I'm guessing its the nipples you have and have replaced that are giving you the problem, not the caps.

 

[44 Dave]

The Remington caps can be forced on more easily than CCI caps because the "fringey" bottom will spread more easily than other caps.
Don't worry about setting them off pressure won't do it, it takes a hard strike. Did you ever have a cap not fire on the first hammer strike? Because it was not seated all of the way down but then have it fire the next time it was hit after it was seated.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Mako did an excellent chart showing the differences in sizes. It has been reposted above.
Someone should do one on nipples and manufacturers.