What is a "reenactor" musket cap?

[selair_chapman]

I just bought some CCI musket caps, which I understand were once labeled as reenactor musket caps. I see the CCI website still refers to these as made for reenactors. I am not a reenactor and would only use these for live fire. Not being a reenactor, I have no idea what the possible difference would be between a reenactor cap and a regular musket cap. Charge? Noise? Construction? Why would a cap work better for reenactors than for live fire shooters? Lighting a charge is lighting a charge, blank or not...am I wrong?
Thanks

 

[UCVRelics]

Your right, Lighting a Charge is Lighting a Charge but the reenactments caps were a lighter load. I would say load it up put it in a gun vise and 50 feet of string and see!

 

[Tin cup]

I just bought some CCI musket caps, which I understand were once labeled as reenactor musket caps. I see the CCI website still refers to these as made for reenactors. I am not a reenactor and would only use these for live fire. Not being a reenactor, I have no idea what the possible difference would be between a reenactor cap and a regular musket cap. Charge? Noise? Construction? Why would a cap work better for reenactors than for live fire shooters? Lighting a charge is lighting a charge, blank or not...am I wrong?
Thanks

Are they 4-wing caps, or the 6-wing caps?

Years ago, the CCI 6-wing caps were hotter than the RWS 4-wing caps, they had a habit of blowing one or more of the "wings" off, reports of them embedding into fellow reenactors eyes. So CCI came up with a milder, 4-wing cap, advertised for "reenactors". Those 4-wing caps may not have the reputation of quality (flash) that the company had probably hoped for.

I use the 4-wing caps from CCI, for LH/reenacting, have had no issues. I did like the hotter 6-wing caps for live firing, though.

N-SSA folk may have a differing opinion, I'm only going on what I have figured out.

Kevin Dally

 

[selair_chapman]

Yup. 4 wing cap.

 

[Package4]

Tin Cup is exactly correct, CCI caps (6 wing) and I still have about 6 tins, were extremely hot and were not only loud, but:

• would clog a nipple (I've had to dig metal out of the nipple cavity)
• disintegrate and fly everywhere (your pards would constantly give you dirty looks, thus the 6 tins buried somewhere in the basement)
• challenge the ear drum, both yours and your file partner
• were easily obtainable at Walmart

 

[BillO]

I've been in the N-SSA for about 10 years now and I've always used the german caps. Never had a problem and never had any issues finding them.

 

[Craig L Barry]

The "reenactor cap" means the 4 wing variety. In addition to the six wing cap, which is 'verboten' at Civil War reenactments for the reasons mentioned, CCI makes a 4-wing flanged "musket" cap for reenactors which has the interesting feature of being stamped out of copper, like the originals. I have tried them and they work fine, too. There is another percussion cap made by RWS with no flange at all. It is (I think) made for use with in-line black powder hunting rifles? Being from RWS they work just fine with reproduction Civil War muskets, but the lack of any sides to grasp make them somewhat clumsier to handle. The National Park Service battlefield parks do not allow them either.

In the event you can't find RWS or CCI "reenactor" caps, Schuetzen now offers a 4 wing, flanged musket cap which is very, very good, like all Schuetzen products. See http://www.schuetzenpowder.com/4minuswing-musket-caps. The 4 wing caps would also be appropriate for skirmishers.

 

[Tin cup]

.
In the event you can't find RWS or CCI "reenactor" caps, Schuetzen now offers a 4 wing, flanged musket cap which is very, very good, like all Schuetzen products. See http://www.schuetzenpowder.com/4minuswing-musket-caps. The 4 wing caps would also be appropriate for skirmishers.

Good to know!!!!

Kevin Dally