How to make percussion cap #10 or #11 cups without a die.

[DragoonRick]

These fire my Investarms hawken very reliably.  They did not fire my 1858 as well as I’d like.  But the caps all worked. I had no problem setting them off.

[ShotgunDave]

Great work DragoonRick.

Always nice when your hard work pays off.

[DragoonRick]

Just for the fun of it

[ShotgunDave]

That's what you call custom right there!

[DragoonRick]

Well I took my can of these caps to the range yesterday. I used them on a Euroarms Remington. They were reliable and effective.  I had no trouble firing the 30 gr FFg loads.
    I used Goex FFG,  and a load of pyrodex 30 gr pellets. The caps worked on both equally well.

[ShotgunDave]

Well I took my can of these caps to the range yesterday. I used them on a Euroarms Remington. They were reliable and effective.  I had no trouble firing the 30 gr FFg loads.

That's good news Rick.

[DragoonRick]

Photo of target at 25 yards. The string at the top center is from the Goex load.  Those old ring caps did the job 👍
Now I need to practice.

[Captainkirk]

Good shootin', Rick!

[mike116]

Thanks for the follow up Rick.  This looks like a viable alternative to the mandrels and compound that on the market. 

[DragoonRick]

Another brief but relevant comment!  At the range I had about 1/2 a can of#10 Remington. Caps.  These had been contaminated by oil. They would not work very well, so the homemade caps were the only working caps I had.  I want be reluctant to use them.
  PS I ain’t gonna buy #10s or #11s for $15 to $35. A can.

[DragoonRick]

I took a Rem To the rang today.  Totally dependent on homemade caps. 
They worked very well.
Another piece of information. The aluminum cans used for Arizona tea is not as thick as regular soda can material.
It makes good caps.

[ShotgunDave]

More good information Rick. Thanks for the follow-up.

[Zulch]

use .003 thickness copper foil I found at a craft store.  I stamp out 1/2 inch disk with a hole punch.  I use a drill press to shape the cups.  I mounted a drill bit in the drill chuck with the shank downward..  my cap forming die is made of a suitable hard wood.  Oak or very hard pine board 3/8 inch x 2 in by 6 inches.  The dimensions are not so important .  I drilled a hole in the center of the board with a bit matching  the  OD diameter of a #11 cap and one the OD of a #10 cap .
Use a 1/2 inch bit to drill a counter sink cone on each hole.  Clamp this board to your drill table so that one of the holes is aligned with the reversed bit. Next center one of the copper disk over the hole.  Slowly lower the drill without power. Slowly  push the disk into the hole to form a small copper cup.   The disk are really 7/16 but works better than 1/2 inch disk.
  To improve the wooden Die I sanded the cone with fine sand paper to make the entry smooth.  I also took a needle file and filed 8 wedge shaped indention in the cone and around the inside of the hole. This is to provide relief for folds to form on the cup.   

   The craft store has copper foil 12/ 30 inches ,  .003 or .005 thickness. 
I’ve been satisfied with the results.
 Pop can aluminum works. It is much more ridged. A little case lube helps. The copper is more malleable.  Aluminum has more failures as the punch tears though the base for me about 25% of the tries. You get 90% of the copper for useable cups.  Some are off center, but seem to work. 
  As how to charge the primers. There are better sources than me.  Sharpshooters is a place to start.  I’ve been using an old stash of ring caps.

   Hi DragoonRick. Thank you for posting this. I was wondering if you still had the photos so you might could re-post them? they are currently not available.  Would love to see the photos. 
Thank you,
Tim

[DragoonRick]

I will and in a productive order

[Zulch]

I will and in a productive order

Thank you DragoonRick  Awesome man. I appreciate it. Tim