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How Often Nipple Replacement
- Thread starter gradog
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I do not shoot as often as many of the others here, and I am overly careful about nipples. If the rifle is second hand, I don't care what the guy says about the nipple. I replace it immediately.
After I have fired a gun a couple hundred times I start to think about the nipple and it bugs me. So I get a new one on there as soon as I can.
If it is a revolver, I don't care if it is brand new from the store, I get after market nipples for it. The nipples from the factory on the revolvers they are making now are crud. IMHO After about 100-200 shots on a nipple I want it replaced.
Now for a side lock single shot pistol I am not as anal. If the nipple looks good, it is likely good enough. With the single shot pistols the nipples don't have to be perfect like a revolver, and we are not loading as much powder as we are in our long guns. So I do not replace them until I notice the fire hole is opening up.
After I have fired a gun a couple hundred times I start to think about the nipple and it bugs me. So I get a new one on there as soon as I can.
If it is a revolver, I don't care if it is brand new from the store, I get after market nipples for it. The nipples from the factory on the revolvers they are making now are crud. IMHO After about 100-200 shots on a nipple I want it replaced.
Now for a side lock single shot pistol I am not as anal. If the nipple looks good, it is likely good enough. With the single shot pistols the nipples don't have to be perfect like a revolver, and we are not loading as much powder as we are in our long guns. So I do not replace them until I notice the fire hole is opening up.
I only replace them when they malfunction.
I have only replaced them when I have gotten a new to me used ML. Most I have are used. Replace as needed.
yep... replace as needed. I've noticed my Jim Bridger Hawkens nipple has a tendency to flatten out, rather than open up.
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Kinda depends on the variety of nipple and how hot your loads. I'm generally not shooting super hot loads, so I don't have to change them as often as folks who do.
My highest failure rate is with "hot shot" style nipples that I reserve for use with subs like Pyrodex. I've had them split lengthwise in a little over a year of use. Ampco bronze nipples seem to last forever, while stainless don't last nearly so long.
My rule of thumb is to change them annually on guns that are getting regular use. If I pick up a gun that hasn't been used for a while, but suddenly I start shooting it more, I'll change the nipple after I've used up a couple of tins of caps, then once a year.
If I had to do it in an organized way, I'd change hot shots and stainless each New Years, and the Ampco's every other year. If I started shooting a lot more or a lot hotter loads, I'd do it at half that interval. YMMV.
My highest failure rate is with "hot shot" style nipples that I reserve for use with subs like Pyrodex. I've had them split lengthwise in a little over a year of use. Ampco bronze nipples seem to last forever, while stainless don't last nearly so long.
My rule of thumb is to change them annually on guns that are getting regular use. If I pick up a gun that hasn't been used for a while, but suddenly I start shooting it more, I'll change the nipple after I've used up a couple of tins of caps, then once a year.
If I had to do it in an organized way, I'd change hot shots and stainless each New Years, and the Ampco's every other year. If I started shooting a lot more or a lot hotter loads, I'd do it at half that interval. YMMV.
stinkyfeet
50 Cal.
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When it becomes squeezed down and the cap wont fit or the hammer hits it and the cap doesn't go off. Or of course when the hammer recocks on its own from blow back.
Billnpatti
Cannon
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2 Tall uses the same criteria as I do. I concur with him.
Yep, one of the malfunctions I mentioned.
When I clean a percussion gun, I remove the nipples - even for a revolver. I inspect them and clean them using a pipe cleaner. If all looks well, and there is no mushrooming beginning to start, I reinstall them - using anti-seize on the threads.
Tighten the nipples snug, but not tight. They tend to tighten while firing.
For modern reproductions, I follow Cynthia's suggestion - replace them immediately. I have experienced brand-new Italian repro revolvers with nipples so over-tightened, I needed to use easyouts to loosen them. Best to get them out before firing the gun.
I, too, like Ampro nipples - but I have a couple of old, original guns on which I wouldn't like the looks of a brass-colored nipple.
Tighten the nipples snug, but not tight. They tend to tighten while firing.
For modern reproductions, I follow Cynthia's suggestion - replace them immediately. I have experienced brand-new Italian repro revolvers with nipples so over-tightened, I needed to use easyouts to loosen them. Best to get them out before firing the gun.
I, too, like Ampro nipples - but I have a couple of old, original guns on which I wouldn't like the looks of a brass-colored nipple.
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I let my gun tell me. When the split, spent cap starts blowing off the nipple under the hammer drop or the hammer is blown back to half cock it it time. Mike D.
If the hole isn't burnt out and still small but the nipple is getting flattened you can carefully file or sand it to fit again.
I generally get around 200-250 shots out of a nipple, the groups begin to open a bit then hammer comes back to half cock.
If your getting hammer blow back it's time to change for sure.
If your getting hammer blow back it's time to change for sure.
MacRob46
45 Cal.
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I have a GRRW Leman Trade Rifle that I bought in 1974. I do not shoot it much now but did in the past and really don't know how many times I have fired it but must be closing in on 1000 shots. I have never replaced the nipple or had to make any modifications to it. Don't know what it is made of but it does not look like the handful of spare nipples I have in my shooting box - I now shoot flintlock almost exclusively.
stinkyfeet
50 Cal.
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Yes Sir it sure does. It when the bottom hole on the nipple opening gets to wide and the pressure from the powder igniting is forced out the nipple as a means to escape the pressure will blow the hammer back to half cock, and you will feel it as well. Its the same idea as the charge coming back out the torch hole on a flintlock.
Snakebite
45 Cal.
I've never had a blowback, but I do replace the nipple when I start getting a lot of misfires. I've never had one burn out. Of course I'll clean the nipple before seating a new cap becasue a really dirty nipple will keep the cap from seating. But if you start getting a lot of misfires, replace the nipple. If you're going to dry fire your gun, get a small rubber washer and put over the nipple so it protects the nipple.
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Nipple replacement depends a lot on how hot your loads are (as Brown Bear noted). It's pretty regular with long heavy conicals.
On the other hand I have a 20 gauge Pedersoli SxS that I bought in 2006. It must have well over 3000 rounds through it by now (spread over both barrels). The original factory nipples are still on it, and haven't opened up enough to be able to see a difference in size visually. However, I'm shooting roughly 68 grains of FFg under 5/8 ounce of shot. So, it's not a hot load, and a shot gun is not a precision shooter, by definition.
On the other hand I have a 20 gauge Pedersoli SxS that I bought in 2006. It must have well over 3000 rounds through it by now (spread over both barrels). The original factory nipples are still on it, and haven't opened up enough to be able to see a difference in size visually. However, I'm shooting roughly 68 grains of FFg under 5/8 ounce of shot. So, it's not a hot load, and a shot gun is not a precision shooter, by definition.
hanshi
Cannon
I've never replaced a nipple or had one burn out. The only "blow back" I've experienced was with an underhammer and a smidgen too much powder for the flat mainspring. I've used heavy loads in side hammers, too. The fact that I use prb exclusively and eschew subs probably has a lot to do with it.
Ya know that very well could be the issue with me burning out nipples so fast, I use stout loads of T7.
The T7 is expensive but it gives me some superb accuracy and reliability, I guess coughing up $10-12 each season for nipples isn't that big a deal.
FWIW, I split a case of BP with a member here last fall and will be moving back into BP as a preferred powder as soon as the T7 is gone.
well maybe I'll save some T7 for the 54, it sure is a tack driving load, :wink:
The T7 is expensive but it gives me some superb accuracy and reliability, I guess coughing up $10-12 each season for nipples isn't that big a deal.
FWIW, I split a case of BP with a member here last fall and will be moving back into BP as a preferred powder as soon as the T7 is gone.
well maybe I'll save some T7 for the 54, it sure is a tack driving load, :wink:
