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PRIME ALL percussion caps.

5.3K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  RELLIS98765  
#1 ·
I've watched numerous videos and read a lot of posts on making these caps. I've been using these homemade caps for about two years now. There seems to be numerous ways to achieve success, but the process is either slow or very slow. I've settled my process down to suit me.
I use the manufaurers supplied directions for combining the ingredients. Quantities are small, so useful tools few. The formed cups are easy to knock over. It's hard to fill the cap and hard to hold onto the cap during the filling process. I've made some tools to help me.
The first one is my elevated cup tray. It holds 50 cups. Made from the cartridge tray in Aguila .22 shells. See photo #1. I just glued the top to the inverted bottom a little off center so all holes have a backer.
For tamping I use a small piece of 12 ga copper wire with a loop on the end. Loop helps me hold the tool. Flatten the end of wire. See photo #2.
For measuring the charge I again used a small piece of 12 ga wire flattening about 1/2" of the end. I used a steel BB to form a small cup on the edge of the flat area and filed the edges to meet the cup. This works great. Not real precise but fairly repeatable. See photo #3.
After filling the cups with one "scoop" of priming mixture, I use the straight wire to lightly tamp the mixture before adding the wetting agent. This departs from manufacturers directions.
The wetting agent is Acetone. I drop about 3/8" circle of Duco cement into a small container, add 1-1/2 to 2 cc of acetone to cup, mis together and draw mixture up into syringe. I add 1 to 2 drops of this to each cap still in my homemade tray. Let stand till tomorrow to thoroughly dry. The Duco cement seals the chemicals to the cup and makes it somewhat water proof. The chemicals do not fall out even after handling and shaking. The Duco also adds to the Pop of ignition. See photo #4.
I hope someone can use these ideas. Over a thousand caps now and 99.9 % ignition.
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