I am currently using musket caps. I was told by an avid blackpowder hunter that on traditional muzzleloaders that these will give the best ignition. I have tried them and still get mis-fires. I mostly get them after cleaning the gun and storing it for a period of time. What am I doing wrong? Is the musket cap a better ignition system than the old #11. Thanks for the help!

Hello;
I assume you are using the right size nipple to go with those musket caps. I've got a Hawken reproduction that I built from a kit and found the spring was too weak to fire the caps [no.11] regularly. Hope this is of some help.
Griz

Well, I bet your cap is "poppping" but that you have some sort of foreign matter or obstruction in your iginition path. I suspect this because you're saying, "I get misfires mostly after cleaning the gun and storing it away."

If you're cleaning with soap/water, I'm betting you're getting rust or moisture in the ignition path. If you're putting a coat of "bore butter" or other lubricant in the bore after cleaning, you've probably got some of it trailing into the snail and touch-hole.

You need to ensure that this ignition pathway is clear and dry.

I remove the set screw in the snail. (I replaced my slotted drive screw with a hex-drive and it's much more functional although not as "period." It's a small detail and to quote an old, long time BP shooter, "If they'd a had it, they'd a used it.")

Remove the nipple and clean it thoroughly. I use a pipe cleaner and a needle.

Then run a pipe cleaner through the set screw hole and into the breech through the touch-hole.

Finally, I swab out the snail with a cotton swab (Q-Tip).

After reassembling the nipple, set screw in the snail, I snap two caps on an empty bore to blow out the crud and any oil, grease, moisture.

Even with all these preparations, I sometimes find that my first shot is "delayed" a bit in igniting -- you know . . . "pop - - - boom."

You're dealing with a dirty, sooty propellant (black powder). So, every couple dozen shots or so, you need to clear the nipple with a needle. If you're getting mis-fires or hang fires, you should take the nipple out and clean the ignition pathway and touch-hole as outlined above.

Black powder is dirty, sooty, corrosive stuff. Keeping the ignition path clean and residue free is part of the "lore."

The advent of non-corrosive primers and smokeless powders has spoiled the modern shooter as to the need for cleaning the gun as it's being shot repeatedly.

Also, CCI caps are generally just fine, but I've discovered that RWS Diana (Nobel Dynamit) caps are MUCH hotter than CCI. Maybe a few cents more expensive, but worth the added expense.

I can't believe in a modern coil spring driven lock that that spring is weak. But you need to take the lock off the gun when cleaning and ensure that you're not getting rust build up in it.

Some overlook the fact that cleaning a black powder gun means taking the whole system apart, not just cleaning up the bore.

OK, let's see if that helps.

I think I know what you mean. I shoot a Knight 50cal. and use the musket cap system. I have noticed that sometimes the spring does not seem strong enough to ignite the cap. It may take 2 or 3 tries. I have been thinking about going to the 209 shotgun primer system.
Doug

I thought about ignoring this post, as I am aware that I am like a salmon swimming the wrong way, but....What Ghengis said is right--absolutely. I have been shooting traditional muzzleloaders competitively for 15 years, and am also a YHEC muzzleloader coach, so I shoot alot. I only use RWS caps, and Hotshot or Spitfire nipples, and have had ONE misfire (in my guns) in all that time. The quality of the nipple, as well as condition and fit are very important. From here, refer back to Ghengis.............Chuck

I would like to bring up one little problem we ran into. My wife got a new traditions Deerhunter a few years ago, and it mis-fired plenty. After checking everything I noticed the hammer was not hitting the cap strait on. I adjusted the lock and have not had a problem since. This is with cci #11 caps.

Basically, musket caps are no better than CCI Magnum No. 11's. But, there is an adapter (replacement nipple system) that is called Mag-Spark, oe something like that, that replaces a 1/4X28 nipple, and allows you to use No. 209 shotgun primers on a sidelock gun. This is far and away the hottest spark you can use on any muzzleloader, BUT, sometimes shot-to-shot velocity variation is much greater with hotter ignition!

Genghis's discription is the best to clean your barrel and nipple area. However if you either fire just a cap the night before the hunt or the morning of then load you gun. Most of the obstructions in your nipple and just below it will blow out on there own.

I do know this one guy that takes the nipple out and shoots lighter fluid down under the nipple. Then replaces the nipple and fires it. He claims it cleans everything out including the oil in the barrel. It is cool to watch. I'm just not sure if it works any better then just firing a cap or two through it.

Good luck.