Abstract: Improved bottle capping chucks are disclosed which are compatible with existing bottle capping machines especially screw capping machines. The chucks define frusto-conical throat surfaces with specially selected taper angles which directly contact and grip the bottle cap. The chucks are designed to assure that no slippage occurs even when twisting torque is applied in screwing a cap onto a bottle at high speed operation. The chucks are of one-piece construction with no moving parts and provide excellent wear and deterioration resistance. The chuck will also accommodate screw caps with upward extending applicator type spouts. A range of chucks of various dimensions will accommodate a range of cap diameters. In a second embodiment of the invention a combination chuck is disclosed which defines a plurality of concentric frusto-conical throat surfaces of successively smaller diameters. This combination chuck can accommodate a wide range of cap diameters and cap and bottle shapes.