Cleaning

[PaulF70]

Do you remove nipples and clean & relube threads after every shooting session, or only once in a while?

 

[bang]

Rifles and pistols I remove the nipple so larger stuff that might clog up get flushed out.
Revolvers I remove them once a year.

 

[PaulF70]

I put 8 shots thru my Pedersoli SBS today.

Clean the nips last time. Think I'll leave them in and just clean the shot holes this time.

 

[flntlokr]

Do you remove nipples and clean & relube threads after every shooting session, or only once in a while?

I pump water through nipple/ flash hole several times to flush them out before removing them to finish cleaning the bore. I usually wrap a piece of teflon thread seal on before re-installing.

 

[NorthFork]

Yes, every time.

 

[PaulF70]

I use the pump method too with a 5 gal bucket of hot water and yea, it's easier with the out, but still works.

That said taking them off is so little effort why skip it, I concluded.

 

[springfield art]

Do you remove nipples and clean & relube threads after every shooting session, or only once in a while?

Should do each time!

 

[Timber Wolf]

Only once in a while. But I always remove them and put them back with some anti-seize before the first time out with new (to me) guns. Same with flint lock touch holes. I clean by pumping so don’t see the benefit of removing the nips every time.

 

[deermanok]

I remove the nipple every time.
The threads get pretty black, even after a few shots.

 

[Gtrubicon]

I pull them every time, I drop them in water while I clean the rifle or pistol then scrub them with an old tooth brush, dry with air nozzle, apply automotive anti seize An re instal.

 

[ord sgt]

With my halfstock rifles, I remove the nipples and flush water through the barrel. After drying the barrel, I replace the nipple after putting a dab of anti-seize compound on the threads.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Do you remove nipples and clean & relube threads after every shooting session, or only once in a while?

I tear it down and clean everything…every time.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Every time.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Nipples only need to be tightened to snug. There is no need to overtighten and stress the threads. Then a little bit of grease or the never-seize lubricant will help with ease of removal at the next cleaning. I like to have that 1/4" hole in the hooked breech nipple seat to really flush out the breech. Why try to pump cleaning solution out through a 0.028" hole when a 0.250" hole is readily available? Then there is room for a pipe cleaner to dry out the flash channel from the nipple seat to the powder chamber.

I do have to admit that I do not remove touch hole liners from my flint lock rifles and smoothbores.

 

[Walkabout]

I take the nipple off almost every time. Sometimes time I just run a pipe cleaner with Ballistal/water mixture through the nipple, then a dry pipe cleaner, then one soaked in pure Ballistal or olive oil. Of course I wipe down the outside as well.

 

[AZbpBurner]

Several years ago I bought a "Brand New & Never Fired" stainless ROA. It didn't take much inspection to determine that it was neither New, nor Unfired, and the already cheap price was further adjusted accordingly.
Stainless or not, the never-before-removed nipples were solidly corroded into place, and removing them to replace with a set of Ampco nipples was a daunting task.
Whether steel or Ampco nipples, they all get removed for cleaning Every Time.

 

[roundballman]

Every time!

 

[ernbar]

They are removed every time after a range session for cleaning. If I shoot more than 3 cylinders the gun get a complete tear down for a thorough cleaning.

 

[Packrat]

Evert time, always than anti seize and re-install

 

[Walkingeagle]

Every time and nipples only installed snug.
Walk