Are Eley percussion caps corrosive?

[Mike McDaniel]

I've come into a supply of 1,000 Eley musket caps, and another 500 caps in Shiloh tins that were made by Eley. Are these corrosive? Thanks.

[jonk]

Well I doubt it, if they were made any time in the last 60 years. But even supposing that they are, they are no more or less so than black powder fouling is, and the fouling will be removed by the same methods you normally use to clean your gun.

[John Holland]

Having used Ely Musket caps back in the 1960's I can tell you that we considered them to be "mildly" corrosive. If you weren't judicious about cleaning very well around the nipple/bolster area the steel would begin to show pitting rather quickly. If they are the early ones in the tins with paper labels they are probably more of a collectors item today!

[Fred Jr]

I don't think those Eley caps will be good for you to use Mike. I'll take them off your hands for $20!
Thanks!

[RaiderANV]

$20.01 =}

[John Holland]

Oh Boy! A "Cabin Fever Auction!"

[RaiderANV]

Auction ends midnight tonight......'bout the time all this snow is going to hit.

[Carolina Reb]

About 2000 "EB Quality" Eley caps were given to me many years ago. They were the ones in metal tins with blue paper labels. I opened a tin and used them in one skirmish. Only one cap didn't go off, but they turned out to be very corrosive. The bolster on my musket was rusting before I came off the line. I might have to crack another tin when caps get to $100/1000.