Any way to weatherize caps?

D

deanf

New member
Is there any good way to weatherize musket caps? I've been putting some electrical tape over the breech area, but that's not technically legal for hunting.

WA law says that the cap must be exposed to the weather. It doesn't say it can't be weatherized.
 
Couple of things..

Does exposed to weather just mean it can't be an inline by any chance??

The old timer's way was a dried cow hock.. Those are kind of hard to find these days..

another is to drip a bit of melted candle wax over the cap after you put it on the nipple..

I have heard of guys putting a bit of saran wrap over the nipple and then putting the cap on..

Haven't tried that one.
 
They used to sell little bits of rubber piping that would slip over the cap and waterproof it. I;ve never used it, I like the wax method myself.
 
No, it can be an in-line. That's what I use. I was thinking of something like the wax method. Some way to winterize it before placing it on the nipple, the cap thus being fully exposed to the weather, but impervious to it.
 
A low-tech way is to drip a SMALL amount of paraffin or beeswax on the body of the nipple (side lock and mule ear only). Place your cap on nipple. The bottom of the cap must overlap the wax. Then use electrician's crimping tool to crimp skirt of cap into wax.

A high-tech way is to turn a slight slot into nipple, then do previously described actions. You get a firm mechanical fit.

Hope this helps.
 
Beeswax adheres much better than paraffin wax. I've been using beeswax for years. Just be sure the nipple isn't oily when you drip the wax on. I use it on percussion revolvers where the amount of wax isn't a big deal (the splatter that sometimes happens with too much wax is at arms length). With a musket cap, use just enough to seal all the way around, then cut away any extra with an exacto knife. I haven't ever had rain wet my powder when I sealed the cap with beeswax and I've been caught out in pretty heavy rain from time to time.
 
fish tube keeps caps dry

I hunt in central Ny.....It snows most of the time and then it rains!!! I went out and purchasd fish tank clear tube. You cut it abot 1/4 long and slide over nipple end of cap. It serves 2 purposes....holds cap secure(when the lock is up) and allows no weather to get into nipple.......works great. Although you must put the tubes on the caps before you go out.......it requires a bit of patience and dexterity .........hope this helps.
flutemaker
 
Annie, I think bowstring wax used to be almost pure beeswax. I don't know about it these days, though. I haven't had to look around because I had bees for a few years so my personal beeswax supply has been adequate for my needs. You should be able to buy pure beeswax candles at hobby/craft shops or you can order some from a beekeeping supplier like www.dadant.com.
 
A few years back I started useing the german made caps because I heard such good things about them when it comes to not failing due to weather.
I soaked six in water over night and caped my Remington the next morning. They all fired without fail.
 
I get my beeswax from toilet bowl rings. Watch the labels, though, as they have started to use artificial (petroleum based) stuff in the cheaper ones.

Pops
 
Say "NO" to toilet wax!!!

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Redstick
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Last edited:
Finally got the pictures to load!

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