Is there such a thing as a reliable, easy to use capper?

fourfingersofdeath · September 04, 2011, 09:26:13 AM

I have a straight line capper which is a bit of a pain to use. Go slow and it is ok (most of the time), but tends to flip/drop caps at the wrong moment. I want to compete with my ROAs, but we nearly always have one stage where you have to load a 6th shot or cap a 6th cylinder under the clock. My one will drop caps everywhere if you try and hang it around your nec/stick it in a pocket or similar.

Helpppppppppppppppp!!!

rickk · September 04, 2011, 10:38:55 AM

There used to be an inline capper... not sure who sold it, that actually worked.

It was just a split tube with a button to push the caps down. The end of the split tube was squished a bit to hold the caps, but the tube was tight enough to hold the caps without rotating.
A bonus is that it works on 1858's without any problems at all.

It looks like this:

Sadly, it is no longer being produced as far as I know. I latched onto a couple of them and would buy a dozen if I could find them.

Fingers McGee · September 04, 2011, 10:55:24 AM

For everything except an unmodified Remington cylinder and one of Colt's pocket pistols in .31 caliber; the Ted Cash revolver capper - AKA snail capper - has been my choice for around 20 years. I've actually worn a brass one out. The nickel one I currently using still has lots of life left.

Noz · September 04, 2011, 12:11:29 PM

+1 on the Ted Cash.

The TC Center copy, a plastic device, will work as well, just no class.

hellgate · September 04, 2011, 03:45:26 PM

I found the Ted Cash to work even better if I ground back the lips of the springs on the tip of the capper so I could line up the nipple & capper easier by getting it deeper into the nipple recess. Same for the single spring in line cappers. I also grind away any brass part that doesn't actually support the cap. I suspect your spring is not strong enough or may have been bent outward for it to let the caps fall out. Try bending it inward a bit to increase its gripping strength.

fourfingersofdeath · September 04, 2011, 06:45:06 PM

Quote from: hellgate on September 04, 2011, 03:45:26 PM
I found the Ted Cash to work even better if I ground back the lips of the springs on the tip of the capper so I could line up the nipple & capper easier by getting it deeper into the nipple recess. Same for the single spring in line cappers. I also grind away any brass part that doesn't actually support the cap. I suspect your spring is not strong enough or may have been bent outward for it to let the caps fall out. Try bending it inward a bit to increase its gripping strength.

Thanks, I looked up the Ted Cash and T/C Cappers, I will try and order one later when I have a bit more time.

This is a weird bit of gear:

https://secure.tcarms.com/store/star-7-capper-for-11-caps-cat-no-7015.html

I think the metal tip on mine has lost whatever temper it ever had. I have had to bend it many times, might try re-tempering it.

Lefty Dude · September 05, 2011, 01:03:43 AM

TC Cappers are guaranteed for the life of the product.

Most don't read the fine print on the packaging.

Slowhand Bob · September 05, 2011, 08:49:11 AM

I have seen a post, with photos, in the past where a guy 'home-made' something similar to what to what rickk shows. Thinking he might have made it from a primer feed tube but not sure now. His did not have the open slot along the side and required a simple push rod in the back. No matter the style, I always figure that caps still need a bit of an assist after the capper makes its deposit so use a piece of antler tip or hardwood dowel.

I wonder how well, if at all, that bright red octopus plastic thing, fourfingersofdeath linked to, would work for Remingtons? Could really speed up things at the loading bench if you had a bunch of those things ready to go but they would need to get down in that narrow space.

Noz · September 05, 2011, 10:30:23 AM

Quote from: fourfingersofdeath on September 04, 2011, 06:45:06 PM
Thanks, I looked up the Ted Cash and T/C Cappers, I will try and order one later when I have a bit more time.

This is a weird bit of gear:

https://secure.tcarms.com/store/star-7-capper-for-11-caps-cat-no-7015.html

I think the metal tip on mine has lost whatever temper it ever had. I have had to bend it many times, might try re-tempering it.

That red plastic capper is for muzzleloading rifles only. You'd go nuts trying to use that for a SASS match.

Noz · September 05, 2011, 10:33:17 AM

Quote from: Slowhand Bob on September 05, 2011, 08:49:11 AM
I have seen a post, with photos, in the past where a guy 'home-made' something similar to what to what rickk shows. Thinking he might have made it from a primer feed tube but not sure now. His did not have the open slot along the side and required a simple push rod in the back. No matter the style, I always figure that caps still need a bit of an assist after the capper makes its deposit so use a piece of antler tip or hardwood dowel.

I wonder how well, if at all, that bright red octopus plastic thing, fourfingersofdeath linked to, would work for Remingtons? Could really speed up things at the loading bench if you had a bunch of those things ready to go but they would need to get down in that narrow space.

If you are a Remington shooter, it takes less than five minutes to modify the cylinders on your revolver to accept a snail capper. PM me if interested.

hellgate · September 05, 2011, 10:46:14 AM

The snail capper is fine for capping at the loading table but not for loading on the clock. If a cap gets turned sideways the capper is jammed and you cannot clear it quickly (time and misses). A good shooter I know lost first place in a Regional shoot because his snail capper jammed on a 6 shot reload on the clock. With an in line capper you just push the offending cap out of the way.

Sacramento Johnson · September 05, 2011, 10:48:50 AM

Howdy!
I don't want to modify my Remingtons; what I want is to know where I can find a capper like rickk has, or find someone who can make such a device! That looks to be quite a good capper for Remmies!

rickk · September 05, 2011, 12:13:56 PM

It's amazing that no one makes something that will work on the 1858 any more.

The old capper (Uncle Mikes maybe ?) was nothing but a rolled up piece of brass stock and the little plunger and a ring to tie to to something. Real simple.

It worked on just about anything that used any brand of 10 or 11 cap. It sure beats dremeling revolver cylinders.

Lefty Dude · September 05, 2011, 02:22:14 PM

I agree the the TC capper is not a good choice for a quick on-the-clock reload. Why not carry two cappers? The TC for the loading bench, and the straight-line for a quick cap load. My straight-line is 25-30 years old, and machined from a brass bar stock. Maybe a Uncle Mikes. It has the ring on the end to keep the follower & spring back to install caps, a hole on the rear for loading caps.
I keep my TC cappers in my pouch with the push stick. The single-line in my belt in front for quick use.

I shoot 51 Navy's, if I shot Remmy's I'd use my straight- line capper.

I like the TC cappers. I carry two in belt pouch. I just found the second TC at Cabela's in the "Bargain Cave". New C&B shooters buy 58's and the wrong capper. They return to Cabela's for credit. Cabela's then put the returns in the Bargain cave for 1/2 price.

I adjust the nose spring on the TC's. Once adjusted, they hardly ever do a sideways turn at the spring. Both my TC nose springs needed a little tweek with the needle nose pliers.

Mako · September 05, 2011, 09:02:47 PM

Quote from: Lefty Dude on September 05, 2011, 02:22:14 PM
...I adjust the nose spring on the TC's. Once adjusted, they hardly ever do a sideways turn at the spring. Both my TC nose springs needed a little tweek with the needle nose pliers.

They don't just turn sideways at the spring. The Cash capper is designed to accept Remington #10 caps which are taller than of the other #10 and #11 type caps.

I normally use Remington #11 caps and I get some that turn sideways, when I was using #10s I noticed I rarely had a problem. What we need is a modified TC capper or one designed specifically for the shorter caps.

~Mako

fourfingersofdeath · September 05, 2011, 10:05:54 PM

I'm still at sea, which capper? what cap? etc,

I will buy a TC snail (I already have one, but it won't work and I have been tod it is for rifle caps) and a straight line capper and one tin of each type of cap.

The reloading on the clock is the only time it is a problem, I'm beginning to thnk I'd be better off just taking the five second penalty, but I'd probably cop a procedural as well.

hellgate · September 05, 2011, 10:57:12 PM

Of the 6 or 7 cappers I have the snail cappers and the in-line cappers that have all brass ends will not fit a Remington but all the cappers that have either one or two spring steel tips will work in my Remingtons. All the cappers work on Colts but I don't use the snail cappers when loading on the clock.

Capt. JEB Forrest · September 06, 2011, 06:45:42 PM

Check the business end of the inline cappers.

Some have the brass housing on one side and a metal clip/spring/finger on the other.

You need one with two metal clips/fingers.

I got 6 of them from Bass Pro and Dixie

rickk · September 06, 2011, 07:19:09 PM

I just noticed that Pedersoli makes a capper specifically for the Remingtons. It looks similar to the Ted Cash twin-fingered inline capper (which doesn't work all that great on the 1858).

Has anyone tried it and if so, how well does it work on the 1858?

Sacramento Johnson · September 06, 2011, 08:19:04 PM

Howdy!
I just went to Pedersoli's web site and see they do list a straight line capper for Remingtons. I think it might be the second one down, with only one wing on it. I emailed Taylor's (one of their distributors), to see if they can get one. I'm willing to try it if I can get it. Right now, I do all my 'on the clock' capping (and off the clock as well), by hand.