now that i have been instructed to not convert my thompson contender 50 cal lock rifle to a 209 cap from the stock 11 cap. What are the problems that i will encounter? Are there any precautions i can take? what about when its raining when i am hunting?
I am a rookie with black powder guns so excuse my ignorance!
Thanks for your suggestions!
Joe

It's not really as much of a problem as people tend to think. If the nipple is dry, the cap is dry, and your hands are dry when you cap the gun, and the cap is a good fit on the nipple, you've pretty much got a waterproof system. If it's raining there's more chance that water getting in the bore will ruin the charge than water at the cap.

I keep a small chunk of beeswax with my gear. If I'm going out in a real soaker, I'll warm up the wax with my hand, rub a little off, then rub it around the cap after it's on the nipple. Never had any problems.

I constantly read all these posts of people with #11 ignition being worried about the rifle going off. Well we had them going off for many many years,with the simple #11 cap. They are a lot more water proof then you might think. They are what I prefer actually. I shoot 209 in the Knight Disc and the Black Diamond XR but all my other rifles, I shoot #11 caps.

A couple years ago hunting my property with my T/C Renegade I had the misfortune to drop the rifle into a creek (myself too). I had a finger cot over the end of the barrel and a simple #11 cap on the nipple. I only got the lock area totally under the water, but when I got to the house to change clothes, I fired the rifle off at my range. It fired perfect. That cap that had been under the water still fired perfect. Like I said, they are a lot more weather proof then you might think.

Things to keep in mind. #11 caps are made for loose powder. So do not attempt pellets. While they might fire them off once in a while, they are not consistant. With loose powder you will have little problems. Also be sure to prepare the rifle before you load. Swab the barrel with 91% isopropyl alcohol. Then a dry patch or two. Then pop a couple #11 caps through the nipple to blow it clean and to carbon the inside of it. Also, buy the best quality caps possible. The CCI Magnum, Dynamite Noble 1075 RWS, Remington 40% hotter... do not buy off brands or CCI standard caps. Make sure if they are CCI they are the magnum caps.

The Contender does also protect the cap a little with the design of the breech. I do not think you will have problems. Go to Wal Mart in the pharmacy department. Ask them for extra large finger cots. These will act as a muzzle mit over the muzzle end of the barrel. You can shoot right through them without removing them. No danger there. With that muzzle mit, and the design of the contender, I do so see a problem with water in your rifle.

If you have any doubts.. go to the range when it is raining and shoot the thing. I do this. And discovered a scope I had that was not water proof. Better to learn that now, then later.

excellent advise and thanks for the suggestions.