Drum tightness

[Rabbit]

I am in the process of building a percussion long rifle for my daughter and I tapped for the drum this weekend. My question is, how tight does the drum have to be? As tight as a nipple is or as tight as the breech plug is? And if this drum does not line the nipple up with the hammer (it is already drilled and tapped for a nipple) can it be adjusted by using a brass shim/washer?

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Absolutely, the use of brass or soft steel shims is PC. Some may argue the point, but it sure speeds up the fitting process. If you have access to a lathe, drum can easily be faced off and fitted without the use of shims.

There is tight, and there is "TIGHT", all depends on the thread size and requirements. Myself, for the drum I prefer a very snug to tight fit. The more you load the threads by over torque, the more pre-load is imparted. I do not care to have every normal shot become a proof test load by already having a built in over stress present.

As an aside, always use the largest diameter threads you can get by with, 1/4 inch versus 5/16" is no contest, go with the 5/16".

 

[Rabbit]

For added safety could the drum be soldered or welded to the barrel or do you not need to go that far? And if it was soldered/welded would this harm(weaken) the threads for the nipple? I remember Dixie used to sell a long rifle that could be converted back and forth from percussion to flint by taking out the drum and replacing with a liner for flint. Always made me wonder if taking the drum off and on would have made for a looser fit over time, affecting tightness and alignment.