DUCKMANN

I shot a TC .54 caliber New Englander muzzleloader and would like to try either 777 or American Pioneer Powder. Is it necessary to change nipples and use a musket cap or can I still use my Hot Shot nipple and standard muzzleloader cap?

Paul L Mohr

I don't see why a #11 cap would not work with either of those. I have used a #11 and musket caps with both out of my remington and they worked. 777 does sugest using a 209 primer with the pellets, but I have shot the pyro and clean shot pellets with a musket cap and it worked fine.

I actually prefer the musket caps myself. They are just easier to work with for me..

Paul

cayugad

No need to change nipples. The #11 cap will shoot any of the loose powders just fine. I shoot any kind of loose powder with #11 caps. Just remember, Triple Se7en loose is 15% stronger then the other powders so adjust your charge accordingly. Also T-7 will sometimes burn your patches. In order to solve the burning patch problem put a wonder wad between the powder and the patch and ball.....

DUCKMANN

Thanks for the info. Guess I better buy some and give it a try before opening day. I haven't used by muzzleloader for several years, what brand caps do you suggest?

cayugad

my favorite #11 cap is the Dynamite Noble 1075. I would then go to CCI Magnum #11. The one capI had terrible luck with (sorry if anyone disagrees) is the Remington. I bought a couple tins of them and almost 10% of the caps failed to fire or misfired. Some did not even have thepowderthey use inside the cap to set it off. Then I was forced to buy some later that year because the store was out of the CCI and those fired fine. So the reason I do not endorse them is I do not trust them.

DUCKMANN

Does using the magnum cci caps and either 777 or APP powder cause a crud ring (I think that is what I heard it called)? Or has this not been a problem. I just read an article in Whitetail Hunting Strategies that 209 caps might be causing this due to the hotter spark. Thanks

cayugad

I do not think you will experience a crud ring using the #11 CCI caps in your T/C New Englander. I shoot T-7 often in sidelocks with Dynamite Nobel 1075 which some claim are hotter yet, and have never seen a crud ring... If you check your witness mark and you're having a hard time making it, just swab the barrel and it will remove the fowling...

Tahquamenon

I've never had a problem with #11 nipple and RWS Dynamit Nobel 1075 caps nor have I ever seen a reason to switch to musket caps.

My .002