Today' s been a boring day so I decided to do a little experimenting with my muzzleloader by testing the strength of #11 caps vs. 209 primers using the ramrod method and by placing a bullet (w/o powder) in the bore, and seeing how much they move when a cap is fired.

The first set of data is with standard CCI #11 caps, CCI #11 Magnum caps, and Winchester 209 shotgun primers, all tested in my Knight DISC. To measure I used my ramrod with the cleaning jag and a single dry patch seated against the breech plug. I also swabbed with a dry patch between shots and fired two fouling shots before I began collecting data. Here is my data for the ramrod test:

CCI #11 caps:

Shot 1: 4mm
Shot 2: 9mm
Shot 3: 11mm
Shot 4: 10mm
Shot 5: 9mm
Average: 8.6mm

CCI #11Mag caps:

Shot 1: 8mm
Shot 2: 5mm
Shot 3: 11mm
Shot 4: 8mm
Shot 5: 11mm
Average: 8.6mm

Winchester 209 primers:

Shot 1: 32mm
Shot 2: 20mm
Shot 3: 22mm
Shot 4: 46mm
Shot 5: 22mm
Average: 28.4mm

Looking at the data, which certainly is insufficient to draw an absolute conclusion, it does indicate that the 209 primers, as expected, were far more powerful (roughly three times more) than the #11 caps, and produced far greater fouling and blowback. Also, while both the #11 and #11Mag caps seemed to produce roughly the same power levels on average, with the standard #11 caps seemed to be less fouling and more consistant than the #11 Magnums. Another interesting point was noted in the condition of the cotton patches when removed after each shot. With the #11 of coth types, the center of the patch which was against the breech plug was blackened, but completely intact. There was also very little blowby fouling of patch that was pressed against the surface of the bore. With the 209 primers the center of the patch was charred badly and much of the material was burned away to the point where I could see through the patch and only the thickest part of the cotton weave remained barily intact. There was also considerably more fouling blowby between the bore and the sides of the patch on the jag. I would speculate from this observation that the 209 primers not only produced far more pressure, but also far more intense heat and flame, which I also expected.

The second test i did yielded less meaningful data, since I only had one bullet to use for the entire test. To make the test more meaningful I would need to use one new bullet per shot to ensure the bullet was seated with the same pressure and gripping force on the bore. As you' ll see from the data, the bullet appears to be wearing into the rifleing and becoming looser in the bore as the 209 test progresses. The bullet I used was a Hornady Great Plains 385gr .50cal conical seated directly against the breechplug without a patch. After the test was complete I disassembled the rifle and found that the skirt of the bullet had obturated and engaged the rifling, although probably not as completely as it would have if propelled by a full powder charge. For this test I only used CCI#11Magnum caps and the Winchester 209 primers as I didn' t have enough of the standard CCI #11 caps to complete the second test. Here is the data I gathered:

CCI #11 Mag caps:

Shot 1: 3mm
Shot 2: 2mm
Shot 3: 10mm
Shot 4: 5mm
Shot 5: 12mm

Win. 209 primers:

Shot 1: 6mm
Shot 2: 19mm
Shot 3: 26mm
Shot 4: 60mm
Shot 5: 258mm (yep that' s 258mm, or a hair over 10" , no typo)

As I said before, I think that the 209 data in perticular, was more of a reflection of the increased wear of the bearing surfaces of the bullet. I think that the first shot (6mm) is probably the one where the obturation occured, which created enough friction to stop the bullet in a very short distance. The second and third shots are fairly consistant, but after that the wear on the lead bullet from being moved back and forth seems to have taken its toll and resulted in the much higer numbers for the 4th and 5th shot. The next time I' m at the store I' ll pick up some more bullets and do the second test the right way for more reliable results.

I also thing that the next time I go to the range I' m going to try shooting a few groups with the #11 caps to compare the groups to those shot with the 209 primers.

Mike