Percussion Caps & musket caps
percussion caps, percussion primer, or caplock, introduced in the early 1820s, is a type of single-use percussion ignition device for muzzle loader firearm locks enabling them to fire reliably in any weather condition. Its invention gave rise to the caplock mechanism or percussion lock system which used percussion caps struck by the hammer to set off the gunpowder charge in rifles and cap and ball firerms. Any firearm using a caplock mechanism is a percussion gun. Any long gun with a cap-lock mechanism and rifled barrel is a percussion rifle. Cap and ball describes cap-lock firearms discharging a single bore-diameter spherical bullet with each shot.
Description Percussion Caps
The percussion cap is a small cylinder of copper or brass with one closed end. Inside the closed end is a small amount of a shock-sensitive explosive material such as mercury fulminate (discovered in 1800; it was the only practical detonator used from about the mid-19th century to the early 20th century).
The caplock mechanism consists of a hammer and a nipple (sometimes referred to as a cone). The nipple contains a hollow conduit which goes into the rearmost part of the gun barrel, and the percussion cap is placed over the nipple hole. Pulling the trigger releases the hammer, which strikes the percussion cap against the nipple (which serves as an anvil), crushes it and detonates the mercury fulminate inside, which releases sparks that travel through the hollow nipple into the barrel and ignite the main powder charge.
Percussion caps have been made in small sizes for pistols and larger sizes for rifles and muskets.
Percussion Caps & musket caps
Percussion caps can be thought of as a predecessor to the modern primers that we are familiar with today. These ignition sources require a flat hammer or broad firing pin strike rather than a pointed firing pin to ignite, and they work by being crushed between a percussion cap nipple and the hammer or firing pin.
The three main sizes of percussion caps are #10 percussion, #11 percussion, and musket caps.
Many people often believe that the terms “percussion cap” and “musket cap” are interchangeable, however, this is not the case. Percussion caps are a general category of muzzleloader ignition and musket caps fall under that category. All musket caps are percussion caps, however, not all percussion caps are musket caps. Musket caps are their own unique size and are bigger and hotter than #11 percussion caps. Below are some photos with side-by-side comparisons to visual the differences.
On the left you can see musket caps and the on the right you can see #11 percussion caps.
Typically, #10 percussion caps are used in black powder revolvers and small pistols such as derringers. Larger caliber single shot pistols and traditional sidelock rifles you will primarily require a #11 percussion cap. In some cases, a traditional side lock muzzleloader will use a musket caps and is typically seen on historical guns such as the 1861 Springfield. As mentioned above, select inline muzzleloader models will use a musket cap ignition that are designed for hunting in Oregon and Idaho. While the aforementioned generalizations are fairly accurate, you will want to make sure you know which percussion cap your muzzleloader needs by checking the user manual for the gun.
Pelletized powder does require a hotter ignition than what most caps can offer, so it is recommended to only use pelletized powder with a 209 magnum ignition. Loose powder such as Pyrodex, Triple 7, and true black powder is highly recommended to use with a percussion cap ignition.
The brands we recommend for percussion caps are listed below:
| RWS | CCI | Schuetzen |
 |  |  |
All three brands produce a variety of percussion caps and they all work well. Overall, we personally recommend RWS as the best percussion cap manufacturer. They make very reliable caps that have proven to be the most consistent across the variety of muzzleloaders that we carry.
Keep in mind that Traditions Northwest ignition muzzleloaders are not rated to use Schuetzen musket caps, so it is recommended to primarily use RWS 1081 musket caps in those particular muzzleloaders.
Percussion Caps
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Price range: $21.99 through $464.99Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Price range: $89.99 through $459.99Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
What is the difference between a #10 percussion cap and #11 percussion cap?
- Size: Smaller, typically used for revolvers and small pistols.
- Fit: Better for certain revolvers, as a snugger fit can prevent them from backing off under recoil.
- Caution: A #10 cap is not generally recommended for rifles.
- Size: Slightly larger in length and internal diameter than #10s.
- Fit: Designed to fit more securely on the larger nipples of most muzzleloading rifles.
- Caution: Can sometimes be used on pistols, but may require a slight “pinch” to fit, which can increase the risk of a chain fire.
- Brand differences:The exact dimensions can vary by manufacturer, so a #10 Remington cap may not be the same as a #10 CCI cap.
- Experimentation is key:The best practice is to test different caps on your specific firearm to ensure a proper fit and reliable ignition.
- Nipple size:The size of the nipple on your firearm is the most important factor, and some manufacturers’ nipples may work better with one cap size than another.