Can a cap make that much difference?
 

Took the .50 T/C Hawken out for a few shots having restocked my supply of #11 CCI caps yesterday.

First shot was my last #11 magnum cap and last ball from the same box of Hornady's. Strange how that worked out...

Anyway, shot 2 newer caps to foul barrel as per usual; normal 75 gr 777, same pillow tick spit- patch, first shot from 50 yds was good elevation but 3" right of the bull. I don't know why-flinch?

Next two shots w/ balls from a fresh box, purchased at the same time as the depleted box, with the #11 non-magnum cap, all else the same, were not even on the paper.??

Turns out they were hitting 8" high. I could not believe this so I swabbed and sent 5 more over the target.Turned the rear sight 1 click and I was back on paper, 2 clicks and dead on. So, I moved out to 80 yds...
Not on the paper, this time low. Turned rear sight 1 click & dead on at 80 for a few shots after which shots began to hit low. Perhaps the bore was too fouled at this point-@ 30 rnds.

This is the first time I used the regular CCI #11 caps; I am hard pressed to believe this could make such a difference.

Any opinions/input appreciated.

Our ML season starts 12/12, of course. Locally, it seems if it ain't for an inline it's a special order at this point.

As an aside, no photos since every gadget now has it's own proprietary cord and I'm cannot find the one for my camera. Since I prefer sidelocks, I'm sure you know my feelings about these cords...

What powder were you using?

A cap can make a difference in how the actual charge ignites. For instance, I will not shoot the standard CCI caps, but the CCI magnum caps shoot just fine. Some other things to consider is the change in temperature, and the age of the powder, but that does seem a little extreme for just changing caps and then shooting from a new box of ball. If that is the case the home cast shooter should never hit squat.

Chet, that doesn't surprise me at all even though I looked twice. :p

I'm thinking bad powder maybe.

Yes-777 powder,1 lb jug was new last Sat, opened it Sunday 1/2 through it by Wed or so. Don't think it's the powder.

I really think it is the difference between the magnum vs. regular caps & am very surprised.

I accidently bought a tin of the non-magnum CCI caps last spring. I shoot 80 gr. 777 in my Pedersoli Frontier. I did not notice any difference in the point of impact.

What I did notice though was that I had two misfires. Both times I tried a second non-magnum cap and it still refused to fire. So I put on a magnum cap and it fired. To be fair, I had already sent maybe 30 rounds thru the rifle, so maybe the nipple was getting real dirty. But the magnum cap still ignited the powder without me touching the nipple. I took the non-magnum caps and threw them in my black powder revolver supplies box; I'll use them up there.

Damp powder ? Try some pyrodex.

I leave the faux powders for my inlines. I get good consistancy in my percussion sidelocks, and flinters with Goex, and I don't need magnum primers. I don't trust the ignition in the traditionals with faux powders, that occasional hang fire seems to happen, not to mention weather, and temperature conditions.

Caps can play a big difference.

4 black powder rifles and 1 pistol right now and basically have switch to no.10 remington caps and for my inline. 45 I have left the triple 7 and Remington 209 for actual cci shotgun primers.

Well, I'm going to find out tomorrow; just returned from a Gander Mtn where I purchased all but one of their tins of #11 MAGNUM caps, as well as ( and much to my surprise they had them on the shelf) T/C maxi-hunters-I went w/ the 275 gr in .50 as 350 gr seemed like a big hunk of lead to me...any sense of a good charge for these or would my standard PRB load of 75 gr 777 seem reasonable? I only have 40 of 'em so I've got to get it settled in pretty quickly.

Several years ago i bought the Winchester Triple Seven primers for use with 777 powder. They did not reduce the crud ring and i set them aside. Later tried those caps with 2F Goex Pinnacle. They gave inconsistent ignition with Pinnacle; this caused vertical stringing of my groups. Gave away the the remainder of those primers.

Here's the answer(s)
 

Yes, it was the caps which made such a difference. The #11 mags I purchased yesterday had me hitting right where I was previously w/ the same PRB & load. I presume the ignition of the charge was "weak" and therefore the entire oomph of the 75gr may not have been delivered.(?) Would not believe it if I had not experienced it myself.

Next, as you all know, the maxi-hunters do not shoot well out of the 1:48 T/C...I had confused maxi-balls/hunters in my mind. I was just excited to see traditional supplies on the shelf at all.
They hit low by one full revolution +1 click on the rear sight. Even then not a good group, so I used a patch on top of the charge which seemed to tighten them up (have no wads,etc) as well as tapping the perimeter of the base w/ a small hammer to enlarge it a bit. Frankly, I don't think that made a bit of difference and these simply do not seem to engage the rifling adequately.
Ultimately I was running out of sight adjustment & they still were hitting low. Perhaps by increasing the powder charge I could have remedied this but a) I do not feel confident enough to hunt w/ these & b) the PRB was right on the money out to 80yds.

So, I've got one full box of 275gr maxi hunters if anyone wants to trade for round balls, etc. :)