Is this a percussion cap?

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I found this in an area near a civil war site amongst tons of 22lr and similar shells. I think it's either a 22 short case that's been squished or maybe a percussion cap.

Anybody recognize it?

I've not cleaned it other than to wash it off a bit but there appears to be a firing pin strike from a center fire weapon but the size to me screams rim fire.

 

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<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=680283"/>

Here's what I'd consider the top view.

 

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The above pic is what I'd consider to be a top view.

 

[DCMatt]

Hard to say for sure from that pic but I say it is not a cap.



DCMatt

 

[normalizer]

Hard to say for sure from that pic but I say it is not a cap.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=680284"/>

DCMatt

A friend said it looked like a fired primer, but I've never heard of one falling out before.

 

[normalizer]

I think I got it... There were some 22 center fire variants, this might be one.

 

[releventchair]

Look up tophat style percussion caps. Dixie gun works should still sell them. May have info on which muskets used them.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Definitely not a percussion cap.

Also... a cartridge casing is hollow, and a percussion cap is hollow (as shown in DCMatt's photo). Both of the photos you posted apparently do not show a hollow opening in the mystery-object. So I must ask, is the object packed full of dirt which you haven't removed?

 

[DCMatt]

Possibly the primer from a shotgun shell but most of the brass has rotted away from around it.

DCMatt

 

[aquachigger]

I believe it to be the primer to a shotgun shell. The outer flat fringe is the rotted base. Should be a small hole in the top of the "cone".

 

[releventchair]

My bad,was oggling DCMatts pic. More coffee coming.

 

[normalizer]

Shotgun shell sounds spot on, and no I've not cleaned it yet.... Found a tick on me last night and the rest of the night was spent feeling imaginary ones everywhere and trying not to freak out.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

It does look like a 209 primer for a shot shell. Many modern shot shells have a cheap metal base now that rusts away pretty quickly, leaving just the plastic hull and the primer.