Colt Dragoon Nipple Wrench

[oldwolf]

I found a great nipple wrench for the Uberti Dragoon at a local gun store this weekend.

I would like to pass along the information for others who may need one. This particular wrench is very strong, provides good leverage and includes a nipple pick too. My local dealer had it in stock. The cross lever, the one you use to apply torque to the tool, is a smidgen thin so that it bites a little in your hand when using. This cross pin is quite strong though, and will not bend.

I recommend it.


CVA
AC1488
Nipple Wrench Rifle/Pistol
UPC 043125114887

Rifle/Pistol Nipple Wrench
AC1488 $5.95
Has removable cap with nipple pick. Ideal for clearing fouling from nipple.

 

[Mike 56]

I have the same wrench i use it for my Bobcat. I like it also.

Mike

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I have the same wrench! This is the medium size nipple wrench. I also have one for small revolvers such as the 1860 Army (MSN?) and for rifles (MSN? longer tubular model). I own 3 or 4 nipple wrenches, including the crossed one with the screw-driver on one side. The screw-driver comes in handy when cleaning the hammer's cup that hits the caps. Digs the crud out real well. The one in your photo is handy with the nipple pick quite useful! The pick is thin enough to be used with the cylinder still in the revolver! I pick the nipples after I push cleaning patches down the cylinder/bore, just in case I pushed crud up into the other side of the nipples. Gets rid of problems BEFORE they start!

Dave

 

[oldwolf]

Is your small wrench for the 1860 also made by CVA? I couldn't find a smaller one in their catalog?

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

No, it's made by a company called "MSN" or something like that. I bought it at Dixon Muzzleloading Shop, Inc. in Kempton PA. They have a web site, but not an online catalouge. They do mail-order all of the time. Their web site is: [url] dixonmuzzleloading.com[/url] . Greg sold me the wrench for my 1860. Ask for the "small revolver wrench" with the sliding "T" handle and he should know what you're talking about! Tell him it's not the one for the Dragoons, that you want the small one that he started keeping in stock after my request for a small wrench!

Now go make some smoke with that thing (and the Dragoon!).

All the best,

Dave

 

[Bender]

I went in to my local BP shop and told them I had a new uberti dragoon and needed a few supplies, including a nipple wrench. They sold me a "Revolver Nipple Wrench" and said it was the correct one. It was a Traditions I think. Turns out it won't fit over the nipples... its not deep enough to go down all the way.

Wasted my money. The shop is on the other side of town, and its a pretty good drive... so I said forget it...

can someone provide a link to a wrench at an internet retailer that is a correct dragoon nipple wrench? I don't want to waste more money.

edit: I found this (kind of expensive):
[url] http://www.trackofthewolf.com.../POPUPS/POPSINGLE.ASPX?PARTNUM=NW-WALKER[/url]

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

There are about four different kinds of nipple wrenches...and I have them all! The one that track sells is the one for the Walker and the Dragoons. The post I did above outlines the T-handle type with the two sizes it comes in...small for the 1860 Army cylinder and large will work on the Dragoon & Walkers.

Nipple wrenches wear-out, so get over it and suck it up and buy two or three and you'll have spares or the right size for your next revolver.

Call Greg Dixon and He'll tell you what the two sizes he has in stock work for which revolver.

Remember that the shipping charge can be spread-out over several wrenches. Greg doesn't carry the one for the Walker that's in the link to TOW.

Wish that there was a quick cheap fix, but there really isn't any. Once you find the correct size for NOW you'll want at least one spare when the first one breaks. It's the nature of the beast!

Dave

 

[Bender]

Ok, thanks. I'm new to the hobby. just picked up my Dragoon (Third model - uberti). Took it shooting 2 days ago for the first time (fun...!).

Are the nipples really tough enough to get off so that nipple wrenches break or bend? Wow.

guess I'll get 2 different styles for the Dragoon, and 2 different ones for smaller revolvers. I may get a Rem 1858 uberti, and maybe a pocket model that my kid can shoot.

 

[Bender]

will this fit a dragoon? I emailed Dixie, they replied but they were not sure... they did not have a Dragoon in stock to check the fit.
[url] http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=7624[/url]

The 2 reviews for this wrench only mention trying the wrench on smaller revolvers...

 

[mykeal]

Are the nipples really tough enough to get off so that nipple wrenches break or bend?

Depends on what you mean by break. They do not fail catastrophically (like, snap in two pieces). However, nipple wrenches are typically not hardened steel and the 'ears' that fit around the nipple will eventually (sometimes pretty quickly) get worn and fail to fit tightly. The looser they get, the quicker they wear out completely.

It's possible to buy hardened wrenches that last much longer but that greatly limits the choice of sizes, so finding a hardened wrench to fit a Walker becomes a chore.

As to the Dixie wrench you specified - I have no idea but it's unlikely. If it doesn't say it will fit a Walker, it probably won't. That's a feature that they would advertise if it were the case.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Im sure that mykeal will agree with me in that it's always good to have a spare! Also always use a drop of oil on the threads before you re-install the nipple, and be careful not to over tighten them into the cylinder(s). Just cinch them up and don't worry about them falling out...when you've fired the revolver enough the nipples will become dirty enough to hold themselves in! You'll find this out for yourself when you go to take the thing apart to clean it!

I as well as mykeal also have the 3rd Model Dragoon by Uberti! You'll find that approx. 40 grains of 3Fg Goex does a very good job with that revolver. I use an over-powder lubed wad from ox-yoke and then a .454 ball.

One last tip for this post: Butch's Black Powder Bore Shine, distributed by Lyman does an incredible job in loosening up the BP fouling and really does a great job on nipples. I take the nipples out of the cylinder and soak them in a small cup and swirl them around several times so as to enable me to clean the rest of the revolver while the Bore Shine is cleaning the nipples all on it's own! Just a simple wipe with a paper towel will do the trick and you don't have to worry about getting any oil in the nipple hole itself. Less missfires this way!

Have a great Christmas and make some smoke!!

Dave

 

[irataylor]

I clean my revolver nipples exactly the same way. Great minds must think alike.

 

[Bender]

thanks, smokin' & mykeal. The reminds me, the nipple wrench that I bought that isn't deep enough for my dragoon... I used the screwdriver end to tighten a few screws on the revolver. Some screws were so loose they freely turned. I BARELY tightened them... just so they would not freely turn anymore... and the screwdriver tip bent a little... jeez...

I suspect you are right about the Dixie wrench. I'm surprised that the Company itself didn't know the answer.

For my first shooting experience... I loaded the first cylinder of 6 with 22gr goex 2F. Very light... too light...
Next two cylinders full... I went up to 25gr. Was better.

I had some "binding" problems after around 10 shots. Wouldn't index quite to the next stop. Turns out there was a fired cap down in there somewhere.

 

[mykeal]

Im sure that mykeal will agree with me in that it's always good to have a spare! Also always use a drop of oil on the threads before you re-install the nipple, and be careful not to over tighten them into the cylinder(s)...

NO! I disagree!

TWO spares, minimum. :grin: :grin: :grin:

And I use Gorilla Grease rather than oil on the nipple threads. Smells better. :shake:

 

[Bender]

oops, I said "2F" above... I meant "3F".

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

You may want to up that charge a little! 25 grains is a good charge for a 1858 New Model Army and a very accurate but stout charge in my 1860 Army Colt. Somewhere between 30-45 grains is the range to be in depending upon whether you're just plinking or hunting.

Dave

 

[oldwolf]

Get the CVA wrench I mentioned above. Google it and it shows up at quite a few places.

I put a drop of CLP on the threads of all my nipples before installing them. Anyway, nipples don't have to be real tight to begin with.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

I have it and use it! The nipple pick comes in handy and is useable when the cylinder is still installed into the frame of the revolver!

This is one of the four models that I currently own & use.

Dave

 

[Bender]

Get the CVA wrench I mentioned above. Google it and it shows up at quite a few places.

I did google it, and found it at several places. So there is only one size right, and it fits the dragoon? I didn't see anybody showing "large" or "small" sizes for it.

 

[oldwolf]

The AC1488 fits my Uberti 1847 Dragoon perfectly.