i have a 32 cal percussion muzzle loader with a flash cup installed.is it necessary to remove nipple and flash cup every time i clean? i use the toilet bowl every time i clean, so the nipple and cup are immersed in water. a quick flush and new clean water. i don't want to risk screwing up the nipple threads every time i clean. i have tied an old toothbrush to clean inside the cup. seems to get most of the crud.any thoughts or ideas?
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cleaning with a flash cup installed
- Thread starter cooter303
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Col. Batguano
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I pull mine every time, and make sure everything is completely dry before I reassemble it, just to make sure I get the water out of everything I can. I probably don't need to, but I feel like I can really get at every last little spec of fouling in the drum better (I pull the clean out bolster screw too) if I do it that way. Easier to squirt air from the compressor through a bigger hole than it is a smaller one.
I also pull the nipples on all of my cap locks. In 50+ years have never had a problem with messing up the threads. Just be sure to use some grease/lube/anti seize when putting them back. I learned long ago that failure to pull the nipples will encourage rust to form in the threads.
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Gotta pull and clean the nipples, as well as the flame channel. No big deal that the cup comes off with it. As easy to reinstall the nipple with the cup as without.
well it looks like i shouldn't worry about screwing up the threads and strip it down. i will take everyone's advice and take the nipple and clean out screw out when cleaning. just got the rifle a couple of weeks ago and i don't want to "bubba" it.i am left handed so i have the flash cup on to stop cap fragments from landing on my forearm.
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cooter303 said:
I relate completely. Maybe my online name should be Blistered Right Forearm! :rotf:
Coupla insights:
Full height, that cup can make it a PITA to seat caps.
But you can shorten them a whole lot and they still work fine. Mine are now cut down to just barely the same height as the top of the nipple. No probs.
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Just take a file to it and cut it down about 50%.
Col. Batguano
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With the cap off, it's easier to shine it up every time too. Does water get in there easily. Who knows. water has a way of working its' way almost everywhere, even in to breach plug threads, vent liners, or drum threads. Humidity in the air can start things to rust too. The only way to completely stop rust from forming is to deprive oxygen (in any form, molecular or in a compound) from the metal, and stop the molecular bonding from occurring to make FEO2.
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Col. Batguano said:
Never had any issues with water, and we average over 80 inches of rain per year. Weather service reports that we got 49" of rain as of June 1 this year, so we know rain and humidity.
I always install my nipples with a touch of moly grease, so maybe that's the diff.
robert reed
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cooter303 said:
BRILLIANT!! :bow:
Va.Manuf.06
58 Cal.
cooter303 said:
I know this thread is old, but I can not imagine anyone cleaning a percussion gun without removing the nipple. Such a practice just doesn't make sense to me. Always take the nipple out to clean the gun, otherwise you will join the group that can't unscrew the nipple when it needs to be replaced or gets clogged with fouling and give up on muzzleloading due to frustration when they can't get their gun to shoot.
Your gun isn't clean if the nipple flash hole isn't cleaned and it's threads flushed and oiled. You can't do that with the nipple installed. Don't worry about cross threading, put it back in carefully and you'll be fine.
