Chain fire Question

[redwing]

With all the talk about chain fire, you would think it is a major problem. I have been shooting C&B revolvers for over 50 yrs. I have never had this happen or have I ever seen it happen. I think you are more likely to drop your Walker and break a toe. :rotf:

 

[TFoley]

With all the talk about chain fire, you would think it is a major problem. I have been shooting C&B revolvers for over 50 yrs. I have never had this happen or have I ever seen it happen. I think you are more likely to drop your Walker and break a toe. :rotf:

Me, too, although I've only been shooting BP revolvers since 1967.

My guess is that the whole thing goes off so quickly that you would hardly have time to make up your mind exactly what you are going to do with it. Most folks, I guess, are trained to hold on to guns rather than let them go, but maybe you civilians are different to us ordinary folks. :wink:

Back in the 'old days' we used to have a Browning GP35 9mm Para service pistol that had been 'modified' to shoot fully auto every time you squoze the trigger.

It would empty the 13 rounds in about 1.5 seconds - you wouldn't have time to scratch your butt or whistle dixie - you just hold on to it.

Great fun.

tac

 

[Zonie]

There is little doubt that chain fires can and do happen.
Most likely caused by a cap or two that fell off of a chamber or perhaps was never put onto the loaded chambers nipple.

These chain fires were quite common with the pepperbox pistols and in fact, one of the patented things Colt had was the idea of putting the nipple into a pocket so that the flames from the fired chamber couldn't get to the next chamber.

Of course, being the smart person he was he didn't patent the pocket. He patented the idea of putting a dam or other feature between the chambers.

That became a big issue in one of the Patent Lawsuits he lodged against another gunmaker and he won!

Getting back to chain fires, I have never had one.
There have been several cases where one might have happened because a cap or two fell off of some loaded chambers nipples when I fired the gun but because I always glance at the next chamber before cocking the gun I saw the problem.

 

[bkovire]

i'v read most of the topic, i have been shooting c&p revolver for close to 35 years, never had problems, 3 things i do 1, one hand hold, just in case. 2 lube, lube, lube,. that is wad lubed, ball lubed, and then, after cyn. loaded, small amount, or like some i know do, fill the thing up with,(i my self do not do this), bacon grease. or another lubed wad. 3 look at each cyl after each shot, (i am in too markmenship, i wish i could spell, it's about the same as my shooting.) not to be on soapbox, back too the topic, look at caps i do this on the up hammer pull, best i can tell ya, the action on witch the hammer is cocked barrel up, thus if a cap is loose it will fall off i'v had this happen :hmm: cant count, yes caped pinched, right size, hot load? never know,cease fire replace cap, fire some more.

 

[rwiliff]

I've had two chainfires in two different revolvers. The first was a Pietta 1860 Army and the second was an Uberti Remington. Both times the extra shot was just the chamber clockwise of the barrel.

Happened fast, no damage, no big deal. Since those times I grease the front of the cylinder and have had no repeats.

By the way, I no longer have either of those revolvers, but the chainfires weren't the reason for getting rid of them.

Robert

 

[Zonie]

I'm just speculating mind you but your not the first person I've heard talking about chain fires that said "the chamber on the right", or "the first chamber clockwise" was the one that fired.

This makes me wonder, is it possible that a person loaded that chamber and then remembering that the chamber under the hammer shouldn't be capped they didn't cap it?
If this happened, I can see where they would rotate the cylinder until the uncapped chamber was under the hammer as they lowered it.
Then, cocking the gun would rotate this loaded, uncapped chamber to the right (clockwise viewed from behind) and firing the next chamber could have set off the chain fire? Hmm :hmm:

 

[bkovire]

i think you might be on to something, i'v seen a number of times folks did just that, gave them the heads up before they fired. (one must pay close attention to what one is doing.) some might think thees are grown up cap guns, they would think differently if they seen one in use. use too take folk's out using a 5lb brick of clay @75 feet, what a hole a 44 c&p can make.

 

[rwiliff]

I don't believe I left a chamber uncapped, but anything is possible.

Don't know if the chain fire came from the front or the back, but these days I grease the front and haven't had one since. Probably light all of them off next time out.

Robert

 

[larry wv]

Had one years ago. Didn't know about grease. I think two extra cyls fired :shocked2: . Used crisco since then with out problems. Larry Wv

 

[mingo]

In 50 years, I've had a few.
Gets your attention.

Had them with grease and without.

I'm lucky enough that I never use a public range.

Never, ever, drop a loaded weapon.

You won't have time in a chainfire, but if one hangs up for an instant, you take a chance at hurting somebody.

 

[JayDee Flohr]

I had it happen twice years ago with my Walker. I was trying out some new type of plastic wad, can't even remember what they were called now. Loaded up all six and touched the first one off. The gun ended up sideways in my hand. The cylinder to the left had fired. Wonder what the heck? Shot again and the same thing happened. Pulled the remaining two loads, threw away the wads, and never had it happen again. That was probably 3500 or so rounds ago and I still use the same ball/cap combo.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

be certain the ball/slug shaves material off when being pressed in and the caps are snug on the nipples.
point the revolver downrange and carefully lower the hammer and press the caps snug and you will have instant fire.
grease the pin everytime you brush the barrel.