Chainfires - the skinny? Maybe....

[TFoley]

 

[Grenadier1758]

Very informative video, @TFoley. Thanks for posting it.

I think that information on how to properly fit a percussion cap to the cone of the nipple would have been helpful. I agree with his premise that most chainfires are caused by fire getting around an undersized ball. Once I went to properly sized balls, I eliminated chainfires. I have measured the cones to know which cap size I should be using in that revolver. Remmington #10's with their longer skirt seem to fit better that CCI caps with shorter skirts. CCI #11 caps will fit loosely on the cones sized for a #10 CCI cap.

 

[maillemaker]

I continue to think and agree that most chainfires happen at the chamber mouth. It is 100% certain and for sure, as this video, and others like it have shown, that you can do it with an under-sized bullet. This is also where the biggest outgassing happens while firing.

Now I will not say it can't happen from the rear/nipples. Obviously, if the chamber is open at either end, then either end is a possible transmission path for flame.

But we know for certain sure that an under-size bullet will do it.

 

[nick_1]

look at the still shot. there is absoluty zero fire around those nipples. none! if chain fires happened at the nipples you would get one every time a cap fell off or every time you only capped 5 cylinders. the only folks claiming chain fires come from the nipples are folks who have never had one and never replicated one but they read about it.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

The first time I shot one of these in the 70s, it chain fired. I got rid of it and swore NEVER to buy another one.....

Then my best bud gave me one...

Tight fitting caps and balls are the secret to good shooting

 

[maillemaker]

Here's one that showed up on facebook today:

 

[CaptainVane]

Here's one that showed up on facebook today:

Those are ‘hold my beer and watch this’ people.

 

[64Springer]

Those are ‘hold my beer and watch this’ people.

America was built by "Hold my beer and watch this" people.

More toxic feminine masculinity please.

 

[deerstalkert]

that is an older video, but i still like it, think i have a crush on that little gal!
bet if one smacked her she would respond with a round house to the head!
tight nipples and big balls have always been a good thing.

 

[#BPBReloadingFFL]

With all that grease on top of the ball you actually expect the combustion gas to get past the grease and ignite the powder.

 

[leadhoarder]

Here's one that showed up on facebook today:

That is one of those military grade fully semiautomatic assault revolvers that double barrel Joe used to talk about before he turned into a vegetable.

 

[ZUG]

Those are ‘hold my beer and watch this’ people.

Thats one girl I would never have dated

 

[nick_1]

cigarettes are a deal breaker for me.

 

[Gee Dog]

Those aren’t really shooters, they just happen to be in possession of a Walker for the afternoon.

 

[64Springer]

Those aren’t really shooters, they just happen to be in possession of a Walker for the afternoon’s.

What makes a shooter a shooter and not just someone who just happens to be in possession of a Walker for the afternoon?

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

look at the still shot. there is absoluty zero fire around those nipples. none! if chain fires happened at the nipples you would get one every time a cap fell off or every time you only capped 5 cylinders. the only folks claiming chain fires come from the nipples are folks who have never had one and never replicated one but they read about it.

Yes, when I hear about chain-fire being caused by loose or missing nipples, I have to chuckle. This makes zero sense to me. Poorly sized or impropperly loaded projectile make a lot of sense.

 

[Griff093]

Since 1986 I have competed in cowboy action events with several 1851 clones & 2nd Gen Colts. I've loaded all six chambers for each "stage" but only capped five. I load balls sized to give a slight ring of lead when driven in the chamber with a lubed wad over about 15 grains of 3F powder. In all the intervening years I've never had a chainfire. If chainfires were caused by missing or loose caps, I should have had a LOT of them, while in fact, I have had ZERO. But... if you believe the lore of rear caused chainfires, hold onto that theory... for it gives me an edge when you have a fouled charge or a required reload of one round!

 

[Bad Karma]

What makes a shooter a shooter and not just someone who just happens to be in possession of a Walker for the afternoon?

Why, purity of intent and purpose good man!!

 

[Bad Karma]

Since 1986 I have competed in cowboy action events with several 1851 clones & 2nd Gen Colts. I've loaded all six chambers for each "stage" but only capped five. I load balls sized to give a slight ring of lead when driven in the chamber with a lubed wad over about 15 grains of 3F powder. In all the intervening years I've never had a chainfire. If chainfires were caused by missing or loose caps, I should have had a LOT of them, while in fact, I have had ZERO. But... if you believe the lore of rear caused chainfires, hold onto that theory... for it gives me an edge when you have a fouled charge or a required reload of one round!

The two chain fires I have had in sixty years of c&b shooting both happened on the same day using the same revolver.
pietta shooters models are reamed .456” and they suggest a .464“ or .465” ball. I only had .457” Hornady balls, had just received the gun back from the gunsmith who tuned and refinished it and I was in a hurry to shoot it. Chainfired immediately. I fired the remaining three shots without incident, reloaded all six and chainfired again. I cleaned up and got the proper mold on the way. That gun has been flawless ever since. Properly fitted ball or bullet virtually guarantees immunity from chainfires.

 

[Colonial Boy]

Since 1986 I have competed in cowboy action events with several 1851 clones & 2nd Gen Colts. I've loaded all six chambers for each "stage" but only capped five. I load balls sized to give a slight ring of lead when driven in the chamber with a lubed wad over about 15 grains of 3F powder. In all the intervening years I've never had a chainfire. If chainfires were caused by missing or loose caps, I should have had a LOT of them, while in fact, I have had ZERO. But... if you believe the lore of rear caused chainfires, hold onto that theory... for it gives me an edge when you have a fouled charge or a required reload of one round!

The secret is in the lubed wad and to a lesser extent in the tight fit of the ball although I strive for that.
A spark that gets past a ball will be stopped by a tight wad.
Never had a chain fire but have experienced full automatic fire because of over sized nipple holes. Great fun