hawkins .50 cal single shot fires on 3rd try

[griffiga]

This issue is just about always a result of the cap fit to the nipple. Either a new nipple that is slightly oversize for the cap, or a used nipple where the top has mushroomed. If a used nipple that has mushroomed you should replace it. If a new or newer nipple then take the nipple out, chuck it in a drill and run it on a flat file to remove some material. Do a little at a time and check with a cap as you go. Cap should go on with a snug fit but you should feel it bottom out.

Hot Shot nipples work great for me.

 

[ormond tony]

Here are some pix

 

[jeff b]

I have one and the way i fixed it was to loosen plate screw on the left side plate

 

[ormond tony]

Latest update: changed nipple with slixshot uberti 12-28 thread cap and ball using a remington 11 cap. It fired the first time. I used CCI 11(second time), CCI magna 11(third time), and 1075(third time). As I look at the pix, it looks like hammer is on the nipple just a bit more on the front part. The slixshot nipple is half the length of the original nipple. Thanks for everyone's help and advice.

 

[sdilts]

Put some Prussian blue or inletting black on the nipple then drop the hammer on it. The mark inside the hammer nose will tell you how the hammer is hitting the nipple.

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

First check that a cap is not stuck, as has been suggested, then try a different (brand) nipple.

 

[Cowboy]

Several things come to mind. Cap not fully seated?
Nipple cone to long? Change out nipple possibly? Another thing to check is if the hammer cup is aligned properly? Does it sit centered over the nipple cone? Had a muzzleloader one time that only the lip of the hammer struck the nipple thus creating multiple tries to fire off the cap.

That is what I was referring to my friend. Sometimes the cone of the nipple is to long thus shortening the hammer throw. That coupled with the hammer cup not properly centered on the nipple can cause these types of problems.

Regardless, glad you got it worked out my friend.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[Rifleman1776]

s issue is just about always a result of the cap fit to the nipple.

Amen, Bro. 99% of the time that is the problem.

 

[Crow-Feather]

I have a hawkins .50 single shot. I have placed a #11 cap (CCI and rem) and it took 3 hammer hits to fire the cap. I think the hammer needs to move farther back before releasing but why does the cap fire on the 3rd try? Could it be that the hammer does not have enough force and the first 2 times it seats the cap into the nipple a centimeter or 2 farther from the hammer release point? I am going to search youTube for how to adjust the hammer. Thanks for any help.

See if your cap sits on the nipple completely. Take your nipple off, put a cap on and measure it by putting a nipple pick up the cap hole. If it doesn't sit tightly on the nipple. put the nipple threads into a drill chuck and hold sandpaper to the nipple until the cap sits fully on the nipple.