Percussion caps?

David Bachelder · August 30, 2014, 08:00 AM

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

See: https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/p...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 · August 30, 2014, 08:56 AM

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 · August 30, 2014, 09:11 AM

Quote:

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 · August 30, 2014, 09:13 AM

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. · September 1, 2014, 03:34 PM

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 · September 2, 2014, 08:02 AM

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.

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August 30, 2014, 08:00 AM	#1
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Percussion caps? Just bought a Traditions R2020 Muzzleloader rifle. My first venture into black powder shooting. See: https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/p...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. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

August 30, 2014, 08:56 AM	#2
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	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.

August 30, 2014, 09:13 AM	#4
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	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.

September 1, 2014, 03:34 PM	#5
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	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. __________________ Hanlon's Razor "Do not invoke conspiracy as explanation when ignorance and incompetence will suffice, as conspiracy implies intelligence and organization."

September 2, 2014, 08:02 AM	#6
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	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.