Why I would recommend someone not get into muzzleloading

64Springer said:

The lack of 10 and 11 caps is precisely why I converted all of my Cap n Ball revolvers to flintlocks.

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Now THAT's something I'd pay to see.

I can certainly understand your frustration, I hope you dont give up,I havnt seen any caps on shelves around here for 3 years or so,other then a few at WM in fall when its Deer season,and they only last a couple of days,I am seeing more primers now so hopefully caps will be showing up in a few months. I have the stuff to make caps I punched out a bunch but havnt put the compound in them yet. When caps first disappeared I was down to just 3 or 4 hundred,I looked hard online and managed to find some RWS 1075's I thought they was crazy expensive then but now I'm dang glad I bought 4000,dont get frustrated you look hard enough long enough you'll find some,might even find someone close by you that could hook you up with a tin or two to get you by until fall when they hopefully start showing up.

Seek and ye shall find.

Iver Davidson said:

I do want to try flintlocks at some point, though I'm a bit worried some key ingredient might be hard to find. I've gotten cynical, I'm afraid.

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Lead you might have some difficulty with in future days. We can’t talk about it in the forum. However plenty of you tube vids exist on getting powder from your gardening store

I have seen 2 dry spells now but the caps eventually came back. Diversity is a good thing, adding a flintlock to the game helps to weather the storm. I am down to one container of 250 RWS caps. I will be shooting my flintlock for awhile. If there is a club in your area, you may want to explore that option. You may find fellow members with a stockpile willing to share.

PathfinderNC said:

So, this Iver Davidson fellow, who joined the Muzzleloading Forum today (May 18, 2023), makes his first announcement that he would recommend for people to NOT getting not muzzleloading.
Yeah, rightttttt....

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A guess you didn't understand my post. A newcomer to muzzleloading would like to actually shoot his gun. I thought you might appreciate the perspective of someone starting out. My mistake. A wonderful welcome to this site.

Welcome to the world of owning any kind of firearm. Guns, ammo, primers, powder and projectiles are all affected by political drama and sometimes world events. Not just Blackpowder and caps. All firearms products. It has been like this for eons. Prepare to horde when the getting is good. If you buy one type of firearm expect to spend the same amount of money to feed it when times are good. Double that money spent and you’ll be set for when the next democrat drama or war hinders availability. Sit back, watch and wait and when the getting is good get to getting some stuff!!

Iver Davidson said:

Those unsympathetic to my post no doubt have a nice stockpile of caps.

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And you would be correct on that.

64Springer said:

The lack of 10 and 11 caps is precisely why I converted all of my Cap n Ball revolvers to flintlocks.

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Photos please!! I may want to have one too.
Larry

Whitworth said:

Seek and ye shall find.

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You beat me to it. Perfect reply.

I've been able to purchase nearly 2500 #11 caps since January. Just have to look.

Last I knew The Powderhorn Ourfitters Barnstable Road Hyannis, Ma Had a large supply of 10's and 11's on the shelf.

Ghost23 said:

I've been able to purchase nearly 2500 #11 caps since January. Just have to look.

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Me to! I recently got a thousand of 10's and a thousand 11's. And I have the makings to make my own.

Iver Davidson said:

Those unsympathetic to my post no doubt have a nice stockpile of caps.

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I do have a stockpile of caps and being that I've been where you are I can sympathize with you but instead of only crying about it I spent hours on the internet sorting out scam sites, making phone calls, driving 50+ miles to local BP shops, and in general keeping on the hunt. Part of the game. You will have to do this for other types of ammo and also for handguns and long guns you may want. Many items are just now starting to come back. Persevere and good luck!

Iver Davidson said:

I bought a cap and ball revolver two months ago and have fired it a total of seven times. As in seven shots. The problem: No available percussion caps. None to be found. Anywhere.

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It might have been a good dea to check the availability of consumables
before you bought the revolver.
Did your original post have any purpose?

First of all, welcome to the Muzzleloader forum!

I've been interested in muzzleloaders since childhood. It was easy in the sixties... There were always one or more hardware stores in the area that had caps and powder, and they were cheap. I think it was in the seventies when we started experiencing periodic interruptions in supply, and these periodic shortages have been a fact of life now for half a century. I recall a very serious black powder shortage that lasted several years in the seventies. So, the current shortage is not necessarily a new phenomenon. You learn to stock up when things are available.

Now is as good a time as any to get into muzzleloading. You got your revolver, and it sounds like caps are the primary holdup. Get everything else you'll need when you find it available. The word on the trail is that CCI is gearing up for a big run of percussion caps this summer, maybe as early as June. Be patient, and keep your eyes open. Caps will be available.

If you have shot your revolver seven times, you must have had seven caps. They had to have come from someplace.

I think we have become extravagant people. When I was growing up, if I dropped a pellet loading a shotgun, Dad would insist that I find it. "That's the one that'll kill the squirrel," he would say. Some people would fill their powder measures rounded up, and then strike them off level. We never did that... it was a waste of powder. It was considered a mark of skill if one didn't spill a grain. Smaller caliber rifles were preferred, because they used less powder and lead.

Don't despair. I'm sure caps will be available before long. Get what you need, and expend them wisely.

Notchy Bob

Well said @Notchy Bob

You may have to wait until the next presidential election. If a republican gets it, people will be giving that stuff away. A democratic president? Our shooting economy won’t survive the non stop hoarding and price gouging. And some companies may just give up on muzzle loading stuff permanently…..

Just heard from an old friend. At a recent gun show, old worn reloading equipment was priced the same as NEW. 5 brass frame cap and ball revolvers- $500 apiece! Not even new….

I buy stuff when it’s avaliable. And every year or so I find stuff I didn’t know I had. I found some caps from the early 90s in Feb and a powder flask and ball starter a week later. Also found a 44 round ball mold right before I ordered another. It was purchased in 2013. Buy it when you see it.