Getting a lot of Misfires.

[Pauly Walnuts]

Like the title states, I’m getting a lot of misfires. In my pedersoli scout, I have to pull the nipple off and load the nipple area with powder for the powder in the barrel to ignite, then after I swab for the next shot, I’m having issues with the powder igniting.

Tried both pyrodex and triple 7. Is there something I’m doing wrong causing these misfires? Missed a pretty large buck opening day of ML season because I basically popped a cap at it.

 

[Dave Marsh]

Try real black. I missed an elk as I could not get the 777 to go off until the third cap which was too late to get the elk.

 

[woodsnwater]

Your flash channel is dirty. You probably have a patent breech too so they are harder to clean. If it has a cleanout screw opposite the nipple take it and the nipple out and feed a small pipe cleaner through there.

 

[woodsnwater]

Search "how to clean patent breech" I'd quit swabbing between shots too. Unless you do it right your just packing that crud down into the breech between your powder and cap.

 

[nchawkeye]

Go to FFF real black powder, the flash point is lower...Also, have you ever pulled the nipple and clean out screw to see how much of this actually gets into the drum, below the nipple after you load it?? As mentioned, if it is plugged with grease or has oil in it, this will keep the powder from igniting..But, I've also seen some drums that needed coning, so I screwed them out coned them, enlarged the drum opening just a touch and this fixed the problem, your's may not have a removable drum if so, sorry...Point is though, you need to correct whatever is keeping powder from getting under the nipple...Good luck..

 

[Stykbow]

Dump some powder in the barrel, pull the nipple, lean the rifle towards the drum side, give it a shake, and see if powder trickles into the drum. If not, you most likely have a problem with your cleaning procedure. If you get powder to fall in the drum then something else is up. Seems like someone else was having a similar issue with a TC and it turned out something had gotten jammed in the breech causing a partial blockage.

 

[Bushfire]

I'd be willing to put my money on improper cleaning leading to clogged flash channel.

Your gun has an ante chamber "patent breech". You can't just swab with a bore diameter jag. There are lots of different threads on it one at least has been pinned somewhere. Follow that and you'll be fine. Not that I shoot percussion much anymore, but I rarely ever have ignition issues.

 

[Britsmoothy]

then after I swab

Stop it!
And stop storing it with gun oil in the barrel muzzle up.

 

[dave951]

One thing you guys missed is the lack of complete load data. Here's a few, Pdex or T7, how much and loaded how. PRB or conical? If PRB, what (if any) patch lube. Conical- what lube and applied how. Over powder wad? Wiping- how and any solvent used of any kind? How is the gun cleaned before storage? Any oils used in the bore? Stored muzzle up? So back to symptoms- first shot misfires or only after wiping?

Lots of stuff can lead to a clogged flash channel in a patent breech and other misfire causes can be as simple as what components he's using.

 

[Bushfire]

Stop it!
And stop storing it with gun oil in the barrel muzzle up.

I store mine with lots of oil and muzzle up, never had a problem as long as it's cleaned out properly.

 

[Britsmoothy]

I store mine with lots of oil and muzzle up, never had a problem as long as it's cleaned out properly.

Very happy for you.

 

[Okie Hog]

Is there something I’m doing wrong causing these misfires?

Probably. Stop swabbing.

Run a bristled pipe cleaner in and out of the bolster several times.

 

[Urban Coyote]

Lots of good suggestions here, you should try everything mentioned. The Pedersoli Scout does not have a patent breech, it uses a drum and nipple. By removing the nipple and clean out screw during gun cleaning, cleaning the drum with a pipe cleaner, should keep the ignition channel clear. This being said you mention wiping between shots is where you seem to have the problem, a couple of things. First, if you have a well maintained bore, depending on the lube being used, wiping between shots shouldn't be required, especially if you're using Pyrodex. I have no experience with Triple 7, I got a pound with a rifle some years back but gave it away. There are a number of factors which make bores foul, in my experience lube can be a big one. Second, how wet are the patches you're using to wipe the bore between shots? If there is a need to wipe between shots the cleaning patch should be lightly dampened, not wet.

I was shooting a caplock Springfield Hawken this morning. I took a fullstock. 54 Hawken, historically correct, but as an afterthought I threw in the .50 Springfield along with some Pyrodex RS. I never got around to the .54 focusing on the .50. I started with 70 grains by volume of the Pyrodex, a .490 ball, ticking patch with spit lube and a CCI magnum #11 cap. First shot perfect ignition, the next four all had delayed ignition. I switched to GOEX FFG, I forgot my FFFG, ignited by a standard CCI cap and sailed through the next 25 shot without a hitch, I did wipe the bore every 5 shots but I could have shot a longer string without doing so.

I know blackpowder can be hard to find these days but when it comes to reliable ignition nothing I've ever shot beats it.

So, with a properly cleaned and stored gun, real blackpowder propellant, wiping between shots, if necessary, with a damp not wet patch and I'd bet your problem goes away. Oh, and using a fouling scraper as part of your cleaning process might be a good idea.

 

[Buckskinquin]

Like the title states, I’m getting a lot of misfires. In my pedersoli scout, I have to pull the nipple off and load the nipple area with powder for the powder in the barrel to ignite, then after I swab for the next shot, I’m having issues with the powder igniting.

Tried both pyrodex and triple 7. Is there something I’m doing wrong causing these misfires? Missed a pretty large buck opening day of ML season because I basically popped a cap at it.

You probably have a patent breech In that gun. Get a 22 cal. Brush, run it down the barrel and clean it out. An endoscope or a search on the forum will show you the profile. Unless you are able to flush the barrel and breech with water this part of your rifle fouls; and fouls hard! I have gun with one and until I learned to clean it, it was the “King of Misfires!”. Good luck!

 

[Bushfire]

Lots of good suggestions here, you should try everything mentioned. The Pedersoli Scout does not have a patent breech, it uses a drum and nipple. By removing the nipple and clean out screw during gun cleaning, cleaning the drum with a pipe cleaner, should keep the ignition channel clear. This being said you mention wiping between shots is where you seem to have the problem, a couple of things. First, if you have a well maintained bore, depending on the lube being used, wiping between shots shouldn't be required, especially if you're using Pyrodex. I have no experience with Triple 7, I got a pound with a rifle some years back but gave it away. There are a number of factors which make bores foul, in my experience lube can be a big one. Second, how wet are the patches you're using to wipe the bore between shots? If there is a need to wipe between shots the cleaning patch should be lightly dampened, not wet.

I was shooting a caplock Springfield Hawken this morning. I took a fullstock. 54 Hawken, historically correct, but as an afterthought I threw in the .50 Springfield along with some Pyrodex RS. I never got around to the .54 focusing on the .50. I started with 70 grains by volume of the Pyrodex, a .490 ball, ticking patch with spit lube and a CCI magnum #11 cap. First shot perfect ignition, the next four all had delayed ignition. I switched to GOEX FFG, I forgot my FFFG, ignited by a standard CCI cap and sailed through the next 25 shot without a hitch, I did wipe the bore every 5 shots but I could have shot a longer string without doing so.

I know blackpowder can be hard to find these days but when it comes to reliable ignition nothing I've ever shot beats it.

So, with a properly cleaned and stored gun, real blackpowder propellant, wiping between shots, if necessary, with a damp not wet patch and I'd bet your problem goes away. Oh, and using a fouling scraper as part of your cleaning process might be a good idea.

Having a drum doesn't mean you don't have a "patent breech". I have a pedersoli jager, it has a drum and a "patent breech" Ante chamber if you want to be nit picky.

Edit: I know people misquote what a patent breech is often, but colloquially I think most of us know what people mean.

 

[Britsmoothy]

It's funny.
I never ever clean out a patent or or what ever it's called chamber.
I do though use hot water. I've never had an issue with ignition.

The only time I have had problems is when oil has been present.

If I ever own a muzzloader again that has a nipple drum I will swap out the clean out screw for a screw that can be removed without tools.

 

[French Colonial]

Please take everything I say here in context and for some clarification I do not shoot ML benchrest matches, I am an HC/PC shooter so I try and shoot as close to what Boone, Wetzel etc. would have done. (and spare me the "did you ride a horse to the match" nonsense)

I have never wiped between shots, mostly load from the pouch and use a spit patch. I do not have these ignition problems that are discussed weekly on these threads and stare in wonder at shooters at our club that have numerous failures to ignite their powder.

Why oh why do people make this so much harder than it has to be, when shooting offhand your scores will not be any better wiping than not because the limiting factor is YOU and your shooting ability not whether you wiped or not.

Rant over, back to your regular scheduled wiping advise

 

[Richard Dittman]

I was having the same issue with a couple of my muzzleloaders. First is I make sure I cleaned the flash channel with a pipe cleaner when cleaning the gun. Also make sure the nipple is clean. I also use a pipe cleaner and a small drill bit to make sure it is clean. Then when I get ready to shoot, I run a lightly lubed a patch down the barrel to clean up the oil. Follow that with a dry patch. I pop a couple or caps with muzzle pointed down and see if a leaf or grass moves when fired. Then I load a small amount of powder, grab the gun and tap it against the ground to make sure powder is seated. Then I fold up a patch and seat it against the powder. Aim and set off. I stopped the way I was swabbing in between shots. I shoot off a shot then load for the next shoot. After loading then I run a lightly lubed patch down the barrel. I haven’t had a misfire since I changed to this method. I also use real black powder.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Please take everything I say here in context and for some clarification I do not shoot ML benchrest matches, I am an HC/PC shooter so I try and shoot as close to what Boone, Wetzel etc. would have done. (and spare me the "did you ride a horse to the match" nonsense)

I have never wiped between shots, mostly load from the pouch and use a spit patch. I do not have these ignition problems that are discussed weekly on these threads and stare in wonder at shooters at our club that have numerous failures to ignite their powder.

Why oh why do people make this so much harder than it has to be, when shooting offhand your scores will not be any better wiping than not because the limiting factor is YOU and your shooting ability not whether you wiped or not.

Rant over, back to your regular scheduled wiping advise

Agreed!

 

[Okie Hog]

I never ever clean out a patent or or what ever it's called chamber.

Like Britsmoothy i never clean the patent breech. A pipe cleaner with bristles is used to clean the flash channel. After loading powder the rifle is leaned lock down and the stock given a couple good whacks.