.54 TC Hawken

[Rick Tucker]

I have a .54 TC Hawken percussion that I have owned and used for quite a long time now. It has developed an annoying habit of not firing with the first cap when newly loaded. I have not changed the way I do anything with the rifle, but it now will not fire when freshly loaded with the first cap, always goes off with the second. Any thoughts?

 

[Kansas Jake]

Contamination in the flash channel. May need a new nipple. Old caps stuck in the hammer.

Have you changed your cleaning regime in any way? Sounds like the breech and flash channel may have something keep dry powder being reach by the flash.

 

[leadhoarder]

Yeah the flash channel is the first thing I would investigate. See if you can clean it out.

You can take the barrel off the stock to prevent wood damage and spray the channel with brake cleaner or similar.

 

[Kansas Jake]

On my TCs I always clean them by pulling the barrel, remove the nipple and then pump warm water with drop or two of dish detergent in the water through the barrel with a snug cleaning patch on the ramrod jag followed by doing the same with clean water to rinse. I blow the excess water out the breach by blowing down the barrel followed by a patch with WD40 to displace any moist. Then dry patch or two followed buy a lightly oiled patch. I also always pop a cap on the empty barrel before loading.

 

[yotyfox]

Thoroughly clean the barrel as Kansas Jake has described and then invest in a new nipple.

 

[TDM]

Agree with all the above. Clean as suggested and a new nipple is likely needed. Nipples are life limited.

 

[chorizo]

I have used a steam cleaner (the floor type) that has a nipple used for cleaning tile grout. Works like a champ cleaning the flash channel. Remove the nipple and steam away.

Partways down in this thread

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/everyone-but-me-and-two-others-know-about-this.159910/

 

[Rick Tucker]

Contamination in the flash channel. May need a new nipple. Old caps stuck in the hammer.

Have you changed your cleaning regime in any way? Sounds like the breech and flash channel may have something keep dry powder being reach by the flash.

Thanks, I have not, have cleaned it the same way as always, thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[Rick Tucker]

On my TCs I always clean them by pulling the barrel, remove the nipple and then pump warm water with drop or two of dish detergent in the water through the barrel with a snug cleaning patch on the ramrod jag followed by doing the same with clean water to rinse. I blow the excess water out the breach by blowing down the barrel followed by a patch with WD40 to displace any moist. Then dry patch or two followed buy a lightly oiled patch. I also always pop a cap on the empty barrel before loading.

I like the idea of popping a cap before loading and had not tried that. I'll give it a go and see what happens. Thank you

 

[45man]

I pop 3 caps before loading the first time. Invest in a welding tip cleaner set, works great to clean a nipple hole.

 

[longwalk]

When cleaning my T.C. I have a piece of clear plastic tubing that fits over the nipple,the other end of the tube goes in a container with water.I have a small funnel for the muzzle. pour some soapy water down the barrel, let it sit for a few minutes. take a patch and run it down the barrel and pump it up and down this sucks the water through the nipple and flash channel. take off the tube,remove nipple and flash channel screw. use pipe cleaner to clean out holes. Clean barrel with patch and oil. swab barrel and shoot a few caps before loading.

 

[azmntman]

New nipple first, may be done and good to go, if not you gotta new nipple. Then steam and/or pipe cleaner and scrub that angled path from drum to breech.

 

[ETipp]

I like the idea of popping a cap before loading and had not tried that. I'll give it a go and see what happens. Thank you

Indeed, been doing that since the early 80's.

Two things here.

First off, if you get in the habit of snapping a cap or two after each cleaning, you will decrease the odds of a misfire.

Second, after pouring the powder charge down the barrel, I always lean the ML over on the nipple side, take my hand and wrap on the buttstock a few times. That helps settle some powder into the flash channel.

Those two procedures has served me well for many years. I basically do not experience misfires.

 

[jimairwin]

I have a .54 TC Hawken percussion that I have owned and used for quite a long time now. It has developed an annoying habit of not firing with the first cap when newly loaded. I have not changed the way I do anything with the rifle, but it now will not fire when freshly loaded with the first cap, always goes off with the second. Any thoughts?

Pump warm water with a bit of dish soap. Then rinse, then rinse with alcohol. Absorbs and removes all water! Let drain and dry. NOW oil lightly. Wipe again with dry patch the next day os so. If ANY dirt shows, do it again.

 

[necchi]

It has developed an annoying habit of not firing with the first cap when newly loaded.

Take the lock out, tighten those 2 screws on that plate inside, and oil the lock

 

[Steve Wagner]

After doing almost all of the above save yourself some caps and, if you have a compressor, put an airjack on the nipple and blow out the flash channel w 120 psi before leaving home. Everybody here knows more than I do about this, but my TC's would have me 'cap bankrupt' if I kept feeding em 2 caps per shot. Those here that store muzzle down get a thumbs up from me too. The compressor is your friend. SW

 

[bat119]

My TC 54 Hawken gets a warm water bath after every session, soapy water pumped through the flash channel, pull the tenon and nipple put it in a pail of water, pump with a tight patch finish off pouring clean water down the barrel. Clean the nipple after it soaks in a shot glass of warm soapy water leave it off until the channel dries, a patch with ballistol in the barrel done.
Before shooting I run a dry patch and fire a couple caps for insurance nothing worse than a loaded rifle with no bang.

 

[longcruise]

Is the first cap not popping at all? If so it may be a poor cap to nipple fit. If a cap is not pressed all the way onto the nipple it will squash down without popping.

Also, do like @necchi says about the bridle screws.

 

[morehops52]

Had the same problem. Then I started firing the second cap first. Problem solved.

 

[bronko220002]

I always remove my nipple and clean it thoroughly each and every time making sure the flash hole is clear. I run both ends of a Q-tip in the nipple hole to remove any excess oil. I always stand them up muzzle down for at least a day to let any residual oil flow down the bore. Be sure your cap is firmly on the nipple and the hammer is free of any old caps as stated above. I always snap off a couple caps before loading too. If you don't want your barrel fouled you can put a patch on your jag and run it to the breech and snap the caps. A dirty patch will show that your flash channel is clear.