Got a Hoppes Ethan Allen Double Barrel .36 Many Misfires?

[5282jt]

I got this as a "new" old stock item.. I cleaned it and it misfired on both barrels. I cleared the nipples with a guitar string, that just fit through all the way. I then shot 3 more caps through and still got many misfires. The only way I could get it to fire each time it misfired, was to remove both nipples and add some pyrodex under the nipples-then both fired.I took the nipples out yesterday and soaked them in boiling hot water, with a bit of Dawn dish liquid. I then put a couple of drops of Denatured Alcohol in the nipples and blew it out with my air compressor. I also did the same through the 2 holes, where I removed the nipples and watched and heard it blow out the end of the barrels. Just wanted to let you know what I've already tried.
I read somewhere on the internet, that this gun needs to be redrilled inside to 1/8" with an aircraft 12" drill bit. [The info said it was not in center, but at around 6:15 O-Clock.]
I got the bit, but when I look with a light in the barrels, that hole looks a lot smaller than anywhere near 1/8" ??? I don't want to mess it up with too large a hole and maybe get backfire through the nipples???
Anyone dealt with this?
I will hold off on any drilling until I get some good advice.
I am new to all black powder and this is my 3rd gun. My 1st is a Cabelas 1858 New Army .44 and second was a .45 Jukar. I have not had a misfire with those, after many shots fired!
Thanks!
Chuck

 

[ebiggs1]

Try new nipples first. My Pedersoli did the exact same thing on both barrels and new, "aftermarket" nipples fixed it. If your thread size is 1/4 x28 it will be easy and non-destructive.

 

[bioprof]

The problem is most likely not with the gun. The problem is with the powder you are using. Try real black powder and I bet your problems will disappear. I went through the same thing and haven't had any problems when I switched to Goex.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

I have one of those double barrel pistols also. I don't think there was much if any trouble getting it to fire. As has been said, try blackpowder and change the nipples.

 

[jerrywh]

My guess is that you are trying to use pyrodex in this gun. I think if you will go to real black powder it will solve your problem. I have seen this before and black powder solved the problem.

 

[Zonie]

Welcome to the Forum.

You may have been reading one of my old posts which was about the Hoppes' reproduction of the Ethan Allen Sidehammer Single Shot Target Pistol.

On that pistol there was a very small hole drilled thru the face at the bottom of the barrel.
This hole intersected a crossdrilled hole that intersected the nipple hole.
I used a 12 inch long 1/8 inch diameter aircraft length drill to enlarge the hole at the bottom of the barrel. This essentially made the hole into the crosshole much larger and it greatly increased the reliability.

I'm looking at a photo of a disassembled Hoppes' Double barrel pistol in the 1987 Dixie Gunworks catalog and I cannot tell if it is of a similar design. It looks like the nipples might be drilled directly into the bores but based on your description of adding powder under the nipples this may not be true?

In any case, there needs to be a fairly large hole that connects the barrel with the nipple.

When any of these percussion guns fires there is a great deal of pressure below the nipple. That is normal so you should not concern yourself with having a large hole connecting the nipple with the bore.

As an example of this, consider the underhammer guns. On those, the nipple is screwed directly into the bore with no ill effects.

My advice is if you can get a straight shot at drilling out the connecting hole without messing up the nipple treads or the bore then enlarge the hole.

My Hoppes' Target pistol uses pistol nipples. They are short and have a wide base.
They have 1/4-28 threads.

 

[5282jt]

Got real black powder and fired it 12 times today with no misfires! From now on, I'm only buying the real deal!
Thanks for helping me out everyone!

 

[rafterob]

I had one of those back in the day. I had it nickle plated and put ebony grips on it. It was sweet! Only firing problems I had were the occaisional double firings. Wish I still had it. I keep my eye out for them but they rarely come available and usually go for more than I will pay. May I ask what you payed for yours?