Dreaded Chain Fire

[FishDFly]

Thanks to all, learned a lot.

Seems that a chain fire and winning the lottery are about the same. It does happen but not often.

Thanks

RDE

 

[PRM]

Rare is correct - I have shot C&B revolvers regularly since the mid-70s and have never had one.
May have just been lucky, but I try to be very meticulous when loading??? I always used lube over the ball or a wad between the powder and ball. Also, I make sure to get the correct size ball. I always crimp the caps slightly before placing them on the nipple. Kind of force fits them and keeps them on better.

 

[Dances With Coyotes]

Here's a thought...Would you be more safer with pyrodex instead of the real stuff as Pyrodex ignites and burns at a hotter temp?

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

As long as you load properly and use the correct ball and cap sizes, there is no safety issue and no need to use fake powder. :v

 

[Blizzard of '93]

from my own personal observation I'm thinking that if a properly sized ball/slug is pressed into the chamber (I use a 1/16" felt atop powder then greased slug) the cap/nipple area is where the chance of flash-over lies.
both my ROA and '58 Rem use #10 caps, I press them on with thumb then CAREFULLY use the hammer to squeeze them firmly atop the nipple - pointing the muzzle towards ground. taught this to my nephews and we've never had a chainfire, shot 1000's of shots in ROA, Remmys and Colts(nephews .44's)
I have no idea why, but all these revolvers group slightly better when loaded with Pyro 'P' which we don't use much of BP 3F being cheaper.

 

[Zonie]

There is little doubt that chain fires can occur if the cap(s) become loose on the nipples.

Even with a properly fitting cap an exposed nipple such as was found on some of the Pepperboxes could (and did) cause chain fires.

That is why among his many Patents, Colt Patented the idea that put the nipple down into the pocket that you see today on Cap & Ball guns.
Actually, he didn't Patent the pocket, he Patented the idea of putting a solid shield between the nipples (think of the material between the pockets as this shield).
During a law suit about Patent infringement this "shield" idea was a major issue and another company who tried to use it lost their case in Colts favor.

Chain firing was also the reason that Colt redesigned the original Paterson Pistol.
Number 1 had a fully enclosed area around the chambers nipples and testing proved that this enclosure caused chain firing.
It was eliminated before the first production guns were marketed.

 

[SAJones]

In 1965 I obtained a Navy Arms 1851 Colt & a 5 lb bag of 00 buckshot. No instructions, so no grease or anything in chamber but powder & ball. Shot about 800 rounds that summer working in the woods, & had no chain fires.

Since then I've shot 1000's of rounds through the dozen or so revolvers I have/had with only one causing chain fires. That was a cheap Italian 1851, and it did it twice. After the second time I got rid of the pistol, so don't recall the make. I know this is a common topic, with lots of theories, but I believe a lot has to do w/ how the cylinders are bored, thus the problems w/ individual pistols.

 

[Zonie]

Speaking of guns with weird chamber bores, the Navy Arms 1851 Colt Fergetful Jones mentioned must have been one of them.

Dixie Gunworks Catalog might be wrong but it says that a American size 00 buckshot is .34 in diameter.
It also says a American size 000 buckshot is .36 in diameter.
They also show a "No. 1 Western Size Buckshot" which they say is .38 in diameter. They don't show any "American Size Buckshot" that is .38 in diameter.

I know that all of my .36 caliber C&B guns shoot a .375 (or slightly larger) diameter ball so those .34 or .36 balls might be more than a little loose in the .368-.372 diameter chambers found on most modern reproduction guns.

 

[smoothshooter]

Richard; For several years, I used grease over the loaded chambers with good results, except that this same grease created such a mess even when only one shot was fired, that I had to wipe the gun down before re-holstering to keep from getting a dirty grease buildup on the leather. Then, about three years ago,I read the instructions that Colt's sent out with all or most of their percussion pistols and found that there was no mention of grease over the chambers or any kind of wads.These recommended loading proceedures never changed all through the years that Colt made percussion revolvers. Samuel Colt always said that their revolvers would never chain fire if properly loaded (meaning properly tight-fitting balls and caps).I have not used grease over the chambers since, and have never had a chain fire-the gun stays so much cleaner that it was hard to believe the difference. I do, however use loose fitting greased wads under the ball for lubricating purposes only. Just my $.02 -- Smoothshooter

 

[jeepwj992002]

Here's a thought...Would you be more safer with pyrodex instead of the real stuff as Pyrodex ignites and burns at a hotter temp?

I would not think so. The embers of pyrodex would already be at a higher than ignition temp when it reached the other chambers, just as regular gunpowder would.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I use a mixture of toilet bowl wax or beeswax mixed with a little lard and cooked in a double-boiler as grease for slugs and over ball. it doesnt melt like lard or bore butter or blow off when the near chamber is fired, does good for the pin too.
some fella here (Plink IIRC)has pefected the technique of cutting 'cookies' out of a similar mix that he uses over balls. I just smear it on with a small butter knife or dip slugs in it while liquid.