German Made Vrs Navy Arms

[FriendlyFire104]

Which do you prefer and why. German made caps seem to jam up my gun more. I tried and got nothing.

[FriendlyFire104]

typo: "I tried the search and got nothing."

[poncho]

I've always used the German ones and have fared very well. Are the navy arms caps the infamous 6 wing caps that are always referred to as not acceptable on some event guidlines?

[Andrew Jarvi]

The caps that are banned are the CCI caps, they are six wing, meant for a recessed nipple whereas the navy and German are meant for what we are using.

Andrew Jarvi
Capt. 5th USCT

[Csayankee]

I voted, then decided to look at my cap pouch to see. I have about three different makers. I usually use which ever I can get my hands on. If I buy them at an event if someone as them they are navy arms. Local store CCI or German. I have heard the CCI sin winged caps were breaking off and causing injury. I would say that the majority of the caps I have used were the CCI and never had any trohble at all. Of course were not talking about the authenticity either of the caps, just makers.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Kameraden!

Man und boy, I have been using exclusively "German" caps since Day One, for "reenacting" and "live fire," in a total of over two dozen original, Italian repro, and custom built revolvers, carbines, rifles, and rifle-muskets over the years.
And use nothing else.

Do I like them?
Nein. I would prefer a period copper cap. ;-) (And use left-over from the Centennial copper caps for talks and presentations.)

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt
Not Fond of .50-70 CF Spencer brass or .45 LC Henry brass, or .45-70, or .44-40 WCF brass, or .38 Colt brass Either Mess

[billmatt04]

I have never had a problem with the German-made caps since I started reenacting four years ago. Plus, I like the German cap cans better than the Navy Arms cans because they are much easier to open (admittidly, I am a wuss :tounge_sm ). One interesting rumor I heard lately around the campfire was that Navy Arms was soon going to halt production on their percussion caps. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this?

Sincerely,
Matthew Cassady
104th Illinois Vol. Inf.

[SouthernRifle]

I use the German caps and have not had a problem. I have heard that the Navy Arms caps work just as well. From what I've seen, the only clear advantage the Navy Arms caps has is that they don't come in a modern plastic container. To combat this, I just put the German ones into period pill tins made by Village Tinsmith, which is similar to the tin that the Navy Arms caps come in. They hold about 75 caps each, which for me is more than enough for one weekend.


Rob Weber
3d Ala Inf

[Mentobebuge]

I have alwaysed used german caps, never had much of a problem with them. I have used Navy arms and i have nothing agaisnt them i just like my german caps better
John Beaver
Georgia State line

[DixieLand1859]

German all the way, simply becasue 1) easier to open... :wink_smil and 2) I've never had a German cap shatter on impact.

[Minieball577]

I go through several thousand caps per season and am sometimes tempted by the lowest price! With the German caps being less than $25.oo per 1,000 lately I have been using them. However, I prefer the CCI caps as they seem to be hotter, which gives me a more cosistant ignition in my original Maynard (consistant ignition equals higher scores). Also, they fit better into the cone area on my 1855 series arms (where the Maynard system makes finger room a little tight.) Of course my reference is primarily for live firing, but I have not experienced any more dangerous effects with the CCIs (in terms of wings being cut off and spraying etc) as with any of the others, and I have used all three of the major (current) producers.

[MarkTK36thIL]

I've heard that Navy Arms rumor also, but as they are readily available and there aren't hordes of reenactors stockpiling Navy Arms caps. I think this rumor is 6 feet in the grave.

For LH, I use available old copper ones. However, for the most part, I don't shoot unless it's a tactical, and if it isn't- it's naptime about 5 mins. in.

[vamick]

I only use CCIs on pistols..no wings no worrys! :D

[Lone_Rebel87]

Is there any way to check all three???? :confused:

I'v used German,Navy arms, CCI and what not and all seem to be fine to me froma working standpoint not a historical one.

I currently have a tin of Germans.


Jordan Davis

[David Lanier]

The caps that are banned are the CCI caps, they are six wing, meant for a recessed nipple whereas the navy and German are meant for what we are using.

Andrew Jarvi
Capt. 5th USCT


I use the German caps, even though they are not hot enough to fire my Richmond Springfield every time under damp conditions. (I have to work the cone with a pick, and prime it from time to time using a touch of powder).

I got hit square in the back of the head at Averasboro when one of those CCI caps blew apart. (That's what I get for portraying a "bummer.")

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo Herr David!

"I use the German caps, even though they are not hot enough to fire my Richmond Springfield every time under damp conditions. (I have to work the cone with a pick, and prime it from time to time using a touch of powder)."

The problem may possibly lie in the cone design?

Just in passing, does your "Richmond" cone have a tiny modern "N-SSA style competitor" vent opening at the bottom (as most do out-of-the-box)- or the wide, "period proper" vent?

And, if it has seen much use, you may be experiencing hard "coke" deposits that are reducing the size/diameter and smoothess of the flash channel.
(Many of the repro's are bored at two right angles, rather than a 90 and then 45 degree angle to the breech interior. Some guns work better with "hotter" caps because there is more "flash or flame" and of a better strength to make the 90 degree turn into the breech.)

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt
Flammenwerfer Mess

[amazingkenneth]

Hello All,
Well, for me the German caps fair well with myself and my unit. It seems that in the 12 years of reenacting that I have been hit with bits of caps which have turned out to be Navy arms caps. Maybe it was just a bad batch but with the German caps I have never had that happen to me On the sticking on the nipple, I have found that is you sand the nipple a bit they work very well. As for the 6 winged caps.....All I can say is that they should take them off the market.

Your Servant,
K.J. Reihl

[pvtken]

Well I have a story to tell... It was my first reenactment and I was thrown into the awkward squad. After our training in the manual of arms it was time to learn how to load, fire and clean our muskets. We shot off a couple caps and I could definitely hear a distinct higher-than-normal pop. My right ear was ringing off the hook. Finally the guy ahead and next to me, who happened to be a veteran, thrown in the awkward squad to assist us, turned around to his file partner and said with a rather ticked-off voice, "What the heck are you using for caps!!" The private was using some kind of 6-winged caps. They shot little pieces of metal into the veterans neck. From here on out I made a vow never to use the 6-winged caps that that private had used.

I recommed German caps. They never missfire and are safe. Whatever you use, however, make sure they are safe for reenacting.

-Pvt. Ken Huxtable

[Charlie]

Just going to weigh in here. I use the German caps exclusively and have never had any problems with misfiring or shattering. They are also the only caps I put in my round packs, and we have have never had any complaints there either.
As always this is just my two cents. Your mileage may vary.

[Heelplate]

Navy Arms or German both work fine. Had CCI caps break off and got cut over right eye twice in one season, from that time on never used them again.


Conrad Kwolek

[csa blacksmith]

is it navy arms or CCI not making caps anymore?

[JimKindred]

This poll was started in 2004, it is now closed.