every other shot nipple clog

[cotcrab]

Hi
I have a traditions PA rifle and a vincent riffle. I am new to Black powder. Ive been shooting at the range and have only gone twice. I use Goex in the traditions and swiss in the Vincent. I swab between shots (spit method). the patch comes out black. After shooting 10 shots i noticed that the nipple clogs after every shot. Is this a break in issue with the rifles or amount of powder? Or is this a common muzzleloading issue.

thanks

 

[Pete44ru]

Welcome, Pilgrim ! :grin:

It sounds like you might be pushing fouling down into the area where it can get into the ignition channel.

I would also consider changing the nipples to the "Hot Shot" type nipples, which have a side vent hole drilled sideways through the nipple cone.

 

[Adui]

I too have a Traditions; mine is a Hawken Woodsman lefty.
I began having this problem after I changed the factory nipple, (Ive had the gun 20+ years, it was way past time!)

What I found to be the cause, in my case anyhow, was not getting the patent breech, and the nipple / Drum channel completely free of oil. I tend to oil fairly heavily when done cleaning so I have to clean it out really good just before the next range trip.

Qualifier: I do not use real black, I use (currently) Black MZ and believed that to be the problem till I figured it out.

 

[nwtradegun]

change to a musket cap. I have had no problems scine doing so.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Changing to a musket cap will not solve the root cause. Musket caps are a lot harder to located (the good ones anyway, such as RWS) than #10 or #11 caps these days, especially in areas of the country with little Civil War reenacting going on like out west. OP is in Virginia but that might change some day if he moves, who knows. I sure have a time finding them locally.

OP my guess is that you're using too wet a patch to swab between shots and your pushing a slurry of spit and fouling into your flash channel that slowly builds up as you shoot.

Also, are you using a nipple pick to clean the nipple hole every few shots? Clearly, something is building up in that channel. If the channel is free and the fire can get to the powder, the gun will go off. If the caps are all popping and still no bang, the fire ain't getting to the powder... it's usually that simple.

Keep the channel dry by using only a lightly damp patch for swabbing. Use your nipple pick to clean any debris every few shots, and another thing is to make sure you're cleaning the flash channel and nipple thoroughly and be sure to never have excess oil or grease in there. In fact before going out I'll remove the nipple and clean out screw and swab clean the channel with alcohol and pipe cleaners.

I often fire my plains rifle 30-40 times in an afternoon and have no misfires, swab between shots with a spit patch, and use Remington #10 caps exclusively. Try the above and report back. It's the little things in this game that will keep you shooting and keep you smiling. There's a little learning curve to be sure but we're here to help.

-Smokey

 

[Rifleman1776]

OP my guess is that you're using too wet a patch to swab between shots and your pushing a slurry of spit and fouling into your flash channel that slowly builds up as you shoot.

Yepppers. My first thought also. Try just dampening the cleaning patch, not wetting it. I use saliva. Not much is needed for between shots swabbing. Also, try switching to a Hot Shot nipple.
Curious, why use different powders? Are you pushing a bullet or patched round ball from the Vincent?

 

[Grenadier1758]

Yes, the clogging of the nipple is a common issue with percussion muzzle loading rifles. What is the most likely common problem is the jamming of fouling into your flash channel. The solution is to fire a cap to clear the fouling from the flash channel. You should also just use a damp patch, not wet, to wipe the bore between shots.

 

[Maven]

In addition to all the other suggestions, consider using a nipple pick as well.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Long story short, lots of ideas and one solution:
I had the same issue, it got discussed and I found my solution:
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/305843/

Griz

 

[russellshaffer]

I bought some aquarium air tube from Walmart for about $2. After firing, I put the tube over the nipple and blow on it. This won't clear a plugged nipple but it sure lets you know about it without popping a cap and getting a misfire. This trick saved me a couple of misfires the last time out. I only use the nipple pick when I can't blow through.

 

[Idaho Ron]

Here is a video on shooting and field cleaning.

https://youtu.be/ibU-5uCuy_I

 

[Danny Ross]

Another issue "might be", and don't ask me how I know this :redface: . If your swabbing patch is to tight when running it down the barrel you are pushing more crud down the barrel then you are getting out when swabbing it. I had never had a problem previously but one day I was using a tighter patch and was having an issues like you. I believe it was Zonie that figure out my issue :bow: and I went back the a thinner swabbing patch and no more problem. You can get a spit patch to wet also. I use a mister bottle to dampen my swabbing patches and have better control in how damp I make them. DANNY

 

[Griz44Mag]

I put a jag on the grinder and took a few thous off it, and stated lightly spraying my patch with windex. Last trip out was around 60 balls, with no clogged nipples. The top of the nipple got so dirty that I did get a failure to pop, so I stared wiping off the top of the nipple when it gets gunky looking. Just takes a second or two.

 

[ayetter2003]

Don't wipe between shots

 

[Griz44Mag]

Don't wipe between shots

I get much more consistent groups when I do a single pass wipe between shots, half the size as when I do not. I have discovered that not wiping causes the groups to progressively degenerate. I have also discovered that the first shot from a clean barrel is always high right of all shots that follow. Every barrel is it's own boss, give it what it likes. And the only way to find out is to put it through the paces and try different means and methods.
Griz

 

[cotcrab]

when wiping between shots, do you recommend just one wipe or multiple (till the patch comes out not as black). The reason I ask is because the first wipe is black.
thanks

 

[azmntman]

damp not wet patch all the way down, count 5 and all the way out in a single "swipe" and yer done. Your not "cleaning" the bore just removing the vast majority of fouling. Dont "pump" the swipe patch as if cleaning, in, count 5, out, DONE (ya patch is ugly black)

 

[Rifleman1776]

I put a jag on the grinder and took a few thous off it

Good move. :thumbsup:
Yes, too large a jag can cause the problem you describe. The jag needs to be small enough to allow pushing of the patch down the barrel without shoving gunk ahead of it. On withdrawl the patch bunches up into the rebate (narrowed area) behind the jag and then pulls gunk up and out. Another way to reduce jag size is to chuck it into a drill (don't tighten very hard to avoid damaging threads) and hold the flat side of a file against the brass jag. Take only a little off and try. If you need to remove more, repeat the process. When doing this I often use a broken file to deepen the grooves in the jag. I've also made my own jags this way from a variety of materials. Fancy tools and extensive machinist knowledge not needed.

 

[Walkingeagle]

Damp patch, single wipe down and back out. Then run a single dry patch in and out. Follow by snapping a single cap. You're done. No more misfires.

 

[Zonie]

I don't know how your wiping your bore but I've seen a lot of people, especially people new to muzzleloading, run their wiping patch rapidly up and down the bore, like they were actually scrubbing the fouling off.

That is a sure fire way to cause problems.

The rapid pumping not only knocks the mostly dry fouling off, the air pressure under the patched jag will blow that loosened fouling back thru the flame channel back to the nipple where it will clog up the small hole.

The rest of the fouling that remains in the flame channel will greatly reduce the amount of flame from the cap on the next shot and this will cause mis-fires.

Walkingeagle in the post just above this one, has the right method. The only thing I would add to it is, when you've run the damp patch down to bore to the breech, let it sit for a few seconds before you pull the patch back out.

This pause will allow the moisture left on the fouling above the wiping patch to soak into the bore fouling and soften it.

Then, pulling the wiping patch back out of the bore will bring almost all of the fouling with it.