Percussion caps?

[David Bachelder]

Just bought a Traditions R2020 Muzzleloader rifle. My first venture into black powder shooting.


See: https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/product/Kentucky-.50-cal-percussion-select-hardwood-blued

There is a lot I don't know.

My question is, which percussion cap would this rifle use? The 209 or the #11?

I can't turn an answer up searching the internet.

 

[ligonierbill]

The 209's are basically shotshell primers and are used with in-line muzzleloaders. If it has an external nipple, the traditional percussion caps are used. Yours appears to use the traditional caps, and #11 is a common size. The cap should fit easily over the nipple but be snug enough to stay in place while you are hunting.

 

[Pahoo]

#11

My question is, which percussion cap would this rifle use? The 209 or the #11?

Unless you get a conversion, you will be using a #11 and it will give you good performance. ....

Not only that but if by chance you do convert to a 209, the ghost of Davey Crocket will pay you a surprise visit. ....

My compliments on your selection and get that 209 stuff, out of your head ...

Enjoy and
Be safe !!

 

[kwhi43]

Yep, use a number 11 percussion cap, a .490 round ball with .015- .020 thick
patch, "Blue & White Stripe Pillow Ticking" will work, lubed with bore butter
for hunting, and spit for target shooting. Powder charge with real Black Powder
like "Goex" use from 50 grs.- 70 for target shooting and 80 grs for hunting.
Use either the FF or FFF . Either will work. Clean with water and oil with your
favorite oil. I use WD-40. This is advice of over 50 years of shooting these
kind of guns. This will work and work well.

 

[B.L.E.]

209's are primers, intended for shotgun shells. Look at the back end of a 12 gauge shotshell and you will behold a #209 primer. Primers fit into a hole. Percussion caps fit over a nipple. If you have a spent 12 gauge shell, you can punch the old primer out with a large nail and take a look at it.
When I was a young kid, Remington shells used the slightly smaller #57 primers.

Mostly it's the new-fangled in-line and break-open modern muzzleloaders that use shotshell primers instead of percussion caps.

Traditional sidelocks use percussion caps, most likely #11. Some revolvers use #10 percussion caps and most rifled muskets use musket caps, much larger than #11 caps.

 

[rodwhaincamo]

A #10 cap may work well too. My Lyman's Deerstalker has eaten everything I've fed it unlike my pistol, which needs a Rem #10. I'm guessing the spring is much stouter giving it more smackdown.