Grinding Pyrodex for nipple primer?

[koauke]

I bought a nipple primer from track of the wolf to clear misfires, clogs, etc. On their website they suggest grinding up 2f or 3f into dust a half teaspoon at a time using the back of the spoon if you don't have 4f.

I only have pyrodex. Can I do the same to pyrodex?

 

[flintlockmdj]

Since it is a percussion gun you probably could. However if you go to a rifle match and ask, someone will sell you or probably give you enough black powder to fill your nipple primer. Then you can take it home and grind 1/2 spoon full at a time as a safety consideration..

 

[Eterry]

I'm not sure what you would get if you grind pyrodex...it definitely couldn't make it HARDER to ignite...maybe I should've tried that when I was shooting it.
Just one of the many tips Ole Turner Kirkland printed in his DGW catalog was grinding priming powder in a saucer using a spoon. I've actually done it and still have all my digits, so it CAN be done.
BTW, I tried his recipe for Hardtack...now I see why those men were ready to fight...that stuff's awful!
Eterry

 

[Pete G]

A properly built nipple and drum/snail does not require priming. If you are experiencing slow ignition you have other problems with your setup and putting powder in the nipple will harm, not help.

 

[necchi]

I'm kinda with Pete G here,
Sell the nipple primer,, it purpose is to eliminate a problem that doesn't exist.

If you dry ball or otherwise need to "clear misfires or remove clogs",, just remove the nipple,, trickle a little powder under the nipple directly into the fire channel,, re-install the nipple and fire in a safe direction.

The space under the nipple will easily hold 2-3grns or more,, and that's plenty of powder,, :wink:

 

[Jim C]

Exactly. I've never "pulled" a dry ball in my 40 yrs of shooting muzzle loaders. I've always shot them out with a couple grains of powder placed in the drum under the nipple. I use a nipple pick to clear the nipple about every third shot and very rarely ever have a misfire.

 

[Zonie]

...
Sell the nipple primer,, it purpose is to eliminate a problem that doesn't exist.
...

You surprise me.

You've been in this game long enough to realize, no one ever sells the worthless stuff we buy. :rotf:

What you should have said is,

"Put your new nipple primer in a fairly large, safe place and place it somewhere out of the way where you can find it.

This is your new "Accessories Storage Vault" and over the years it will accumulate an amazing amount of stuff.

It's always fun to pull this ASV down and to look thru it every year or so and then pull something out at random and ask yourself, "What the hell was this supposed to do and how long have I had it?"

:rotf:

 

[Dewey]

That's funny ... and even more so because it's true, LOL !!! :haha:

 

[MacRob46]

I have had misfires with percussion guns (rarely) due to a clogged nipple but that is what a nipple wrench and/or a nipple pick are for; that and firing a couple of caps on an empty chamber before loading and after wiping the oil out of the barrel first. A good quality nipple is also a requirement. Finally, ditch the Pyrodex and go for the black powder that you gun was intended to shoot in the first place.

 

[Jim C]

"Finally, ditch the Pyrodex and go for the black powder that you gun was intended to shoot in the first place."

Exactly! There are some companies out there that have seemed to bend themselves over backwards attempting to try and re-invent 200 yrd old technology with the end results accomplishing nothing more than confusing and confounding new shooters attempting to join the game. I say stay traditional as is possible and leave the miraculous earth shattering new "inventions" at the store where they belong.

 

[MSW]

OK - mark it down ... the Vermonter agrees with the fellow from the northwest...

the world is full of manufacturers and marketers who want nothing more than to pull the money from our pockets into their pockets ... junk we don't need with money we don't have to try and impress people we don't know ...

if you go with 'true black' you will have more money to spend on stuff you do need (like more powder and shot, but that's a rant for another day)

by the way, Zonie, the ASV has the added benefit of turning your heirs into de facto archeologists: "what did Dad do with this? And it must have been precious to him, 'cause he put it away for safekeeping, so what do we do with it?"

:rotf: make good smoke!

 

[Dphar]

I bought a nipple primer from track of the wolf to clear misfires, clogs, etc. On their website they suggest grinding up 2f or 3f into dust a half teaspoon at a time using the back of the spoon if you don't have 4f.

I only have pyrodex. Can I do the same to pyrodex?

Pyrodex is not BP and may not respond as one might think. I would not grind this stuff.
But then I would not use it either. Have you removed the nipple and looked at the passages under it?
Dan

 

[Dphar]

Many percussion guns have weak mainsprings and this can contribute to misfires. The much higher ignition temp of substitutes is likely the root problem. Its not Black powder.

Dan

 

[koauke]

Thank you for the info. I was having misfire and hang fire issues the first few times out with the rifle. The last couple of times I've gone out I have had no issues at all and ignition was quick. I made sure I gave it a good tap opposite the lock to get powder into the drum. For now the problem is solved. I also purchased a hot shot nipple and a spitfire nipple to experiment with next.

Black powder is difficult to find around here so pyrodex is what I have which is why I posed the question. The nipple primer was just purchased as a "just in case" so I don't have to pull the nipple or the drum screw if the gun doesn't fire after using a nipple pick.