I have a couple of sealed Remington #11 caps in the old white tins [not paper labels]. I opened one tin and fired a couple of them that were OK. I'm wondering if they would likely all be reliable. I'm not sure how old they are. When did Remington change to the green tins?
Percussion caps' life expectancy
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DoubleDeuce 1
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I don't know about the color of the tins and when they changed. I can tell you that I am still shooting caps that are probably twenty plus years old with no problems. I store them in a dry environment and have never had any problems. I have Remington, RWS and CCI brands. I even had some old Dixie Gun Works brand caps that lasted a long time. I finished up an old blue plastic 'tin' of Navy Arms caps about a year ago. I think storage is the key...
Malachi Leviticus Blue
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I just shot some recently that I know were at least 25 years old as well. They all worked fine.
Fingers McGee
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I don't keep caps long enough to worry about it. I buy them a case at a time every two years or so.
stubbicatt
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Life expectancy is likely one firing only... Though some might go longer, if not properly seated before dropping the hammer.
Though some might go longer, if not properly seated before dropping the hammer.
WestKentucky
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I'm in the minority...but I know mine had a lot of humidity for a few days.
I live near a rock quarry and they rattle the house when they blast. That turned a 100 gallon aquarium into a 20 gallon aquarium a year ago. That was right before I had a major roof leak in the same room. This just happened to be the room my ammo and supplies were in. This past deer season I had a doe in front of me and s kid from church behind the rifle. 8 caps later the deer was gone and the gun fired. New caps solved the problem, when they finally were in stock again.
I live near a rock quarry and they rattle the house when they blast. That turned a 100 gallon aquarium into a 20 gallon aquarium a year ago. That was right before I had a major roof leak in the same room. This just happened to be the room my ammo and supplies were in. This past deer season I had a doe in front of me and s kid from church behind the rifle. 8 caps later the deer was gone and the gun fired. New caps solved the problem, when they finally were in stock again.
Bigdog57
Member
I have been using Remington caps I got at least fifteen years ago. Work plenty fine! Just got my new case of 1,000. Should last me quite awhile. Along with the 1,000 piece case of CCI.
Malachi Leviticus Blue
Member
Out of caution I always use "Fresher" caps when hunting but have used rediscovered and acquired caps at the range with total success.
I have never had a malfunction when hunting, so far I've had 100% ignition. I would be sick if I had the big one in my sights and could only produce a click.
I have never had a malfunction when hunting, so far I've had 100% ignition. I would be sick if I had the big one in my sights and could only produce a click.
Steel Horse Rider
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I am with Stubbicat, I expect them to last until the hammer falls....
entropy
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I've had 'em last over 25 years in my BP ammo can.
351 WINCHESTER
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I loaded my revolver and capped it with Remington 11's as I recall and left it loaded a little over a year. Of 6 caps only 1 fired. The gun was stored in an a/c house.
Texas Moon
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I'm still using some CCI caps that are 20yrs old.
MutinousDoug
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I had trouble with CCI No.11 caps that were 12-15 YO when I tried them in a ROA; a lot of misfires (one in 5-6) on 1st strike even when mashing them onto the nipple with a dowel. No problems in my rifles though, a TC renegade and an H&A underhammer. I bought new CCIs and the ROA shot those fine so my conclusion was that older ones had grown less sensitive.
On the other hand; I have never had a damaged nipple on the ROA where the Renegade and Underhammer require regular nipple replacement (100-200 shots) from hammer bashing. Not because they cease to function but because they look all mushed up and I'm just a fatcat that can afford to replace them when I don't like the way they look...
On the other hand; I have never had a damaged nipple on the ROA where the Renegade and Underhammer require regular nipple replacement (100-200 shots) from hammer bashing. Not because they cease to function but because they look all mushed up and I'm just a fatcat that can afford to replace them when I don't like the way they look...
I had several #11 Remington tins stored in mixed temperature conditions (anywhere from below freezing to well above 100F) in a storage unit with no climate controls, for a couple of years. The only precaution I took was to double seal them in a plastic bags with silica-gel, and put the bags in some watertight .30 caliber surplus ammo cans. The tins are now at least five years old, and so far no duds. Concur with most others, keeping down humidity and preventing corrosion is the key.
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