Sizing CCI #11 Percussion Caps

[BC17A]

Thought this might be of interest to some of you DIYers who can't find other brands of caps or just want to make your CCI's as good as any other. I'm relatively new to BP and had to resort to making DIY caps since no others were available. Recently found a good stock of CCI #11 and didn't want to buy different nipples, or squeeze these with pliers to make them fit better.

I made a simple push-thru sizer which does the trick and makes CCI #11's fit nicely with only a firm push. A tapered hole(3 degrees)through a scrap bolt head with the small ID finished to .171" works perfectly. The punch is held into a block of Delrin plastic which is attached to my small bench press so I can keep one hand on the press and the other feeding caps into the die. Took me about ten minutes to size 100 caps.

The only concern I had was if the priming compound would crack and fall out of the caps which didn't happen to a any.

[scattershot]

Clever, but wouldn’t it be easier to just squeeze the cap as you put it on the nipple?

[Geezer in NH]

Uh, OK?

[Battis]

From an old Colt Industries pamphlet:
"Percussion caps are now made in sizes from nine to thirteen. Ten and eleven are the best numbers for the small and medium-sized arms, and twelve for the larger sizes, although, as different-sized nipples are sometimes met in specimens of the same model, no hard and fast rule can be given. It is better to have caps slightly too large than too small, as large caps can be pinched together at the bottom enough so they will stay on the nipples, but small ones must be driven down on the nipple by the blow of the hammer, and this process frequently cushions the blow to the extent of producing a misfire."

[BC17A]

Clever, but wouldn’t it be easier to just squeeze the cap as you put it on the nipple?

I'd be easier to just not be in the hobby, but that's not the point.

[indian joe]

I'd be easier to just not be in the hobby, but that's not the point.

good comeback!!!!!!!!

[elmacgyver0]

Looks like a great idea.

[TheOutlawKid]

Mr.BC17A ....that is one awesome idea. One of the best i have seen on resizing caps which is way better than pinching caps....your method causes the cap to make a tight seal..which a pinched cap does not which can cause moisture to enter and damage the cap such as high humidity etc. Good job sir!

[Battis]

It might work with a clean nipple, but once a few shots are fired, the caps won't fit as well, and we're back to pinching. Pinching works, and works well.

[indian joe]

It might work with a clean nipple, but once a few shots are fired, the caps won't fit as well, and we're back to pinching. Pinching works, and works well.

yeah works great if ill fitting caps are too big for the nipple - if they right size dont need to pinch em

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello BC17A,

Very nice job. I did about the same thing for 209 Primers.
A friend had given me a large container full of primers,
I had purchased a Mag Spark system for my long guns,
but the primers pressed in hard and I was afraid they wouldn't want to come out after shooting.
So I built a little push through die & sized them to fit, but I have never used them as of yet.
I did it just as an alternative method of firing without percussion caps and don't know how hard they will be to remove.
I should add, on my Lyman Great Plains Hunter, I needed to cut about 0.150" off the hammer.
Otherwise one could not set it at 1/2 cock without resting on the firing pin.
I simply ordered a replacement hammer & reworked it.
The Thompson Center Hawken worked without any modification.
I can't find them now so no pictures, sorry.

AntiqueSledMan.

[Battis]

Again, caps might fit when the nipples are clean and bright and shiny, but after a few shots, as most BP shooters know, the nipples get fouled and those once "right size" caps don't fit. And that's if the nipples are all uniform in size to begin with.
I didn't write the above posted Colt Industries pamphlet.
But, hey, if sizing the caps work, then go with it.

[sharps4590]

Well done!

I bet no one else has ever done something A) just to see if they could or B) just because they wanted to....whether either worked or not.

[Markopolo]

really good job... and nice innovation...

[derek45]

great idea

[toot]

Clever, but wouldn’t it be easier to just squeeze the cap as you put it on the nipple?

I agree with you! that is what most of us do. and push it onto the nipple with a 4 inch piece of wooden dowel.

[toot]

some times' people OVER INGINEER an item, that is already made . JMHO.

[derek45]

i like the idea

I’m 6’4” and my paws have a difficult time squeezing the caps on my 1860

i just bought 400 ccl because remington are OOS everywhere

[elk hunter]

BC17A;

Thanks for the post. I've been contemplating doing the same thing as I have four Colt percussion revolvers and all came with nipples for #9 caps which apparently haven't been made for decades, at least I haven't been able find any. I bought new nipples for them and I'm not all that pleased as some are made for #11's and some apparently for #10's. Some I can hardly press #11's on and have problems with recoil shield/frame clearance and some the #11's fall off. All together a royal pain. I'm going to try to size some #10's down to fit the original nipples so I can spend more time shooting and less time fiddling.

[John McCorkle]

Question would be now....using #10 on #11 nipple is a tough fit. Is there a way to evenly reduce the size of a nipple to make #10 fit better on #11 nipple. (I have an over supply of #10 and under supply of #11 none on the shelves to restock

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