ignition troubles

[Zonie]

I've done it and it seemed to help.

The gun was a CVA Frontier .50 cal. and it seemed to have a real problem firing reliably.
Slow ignition and mis-fires were common.

This model had a round protruding drum so I used a 1/16" diameter drill bit to drill a hole thru the wall to intersect the flame channel that ran thru the center of the drum from the nipple hole into the bore.

I located this small hole facing forward at about a 45 degree angle upwards so the fire coming out of it would be directed well away from my face or anyone standing around me.

Adding this small vent did improve the reliability of the gun and after doing this, it rarely had a hang fire or mis fire.

 

[crockett]

Thanks Zonie, as I said, I had read about it in Dixie Gun Works catalog but never knew of anyone that did it. I'd say it ought to be a last option in most cases but good to know it's available.

 

[rafterob]

Adding a "vent" to a percussion gun was a fairly well known option when I first started shooting muzzleloaders in the '70s. That being said, I never actually knew anybody that did it. Using a magnum cap usually solves the ignition issues with pyrodex, assuming one is not goobering up the works with a sloppy wiping patch or pumping up and down while wiping.

 

[Barry Duggan]

I would go ahead and replace the nipple, if for no other reason than I would then know what nipple is in there and how long it had been in the there.

 

[cynthialee]

you wouldn't happen to have a picture would you?

 

[AZbpBurner]

You'd think that if it had any real impact a vented nipple would be a hot item that all manufacturers would be offering in their parts line up. Lazer cut, blah blah blah would all aid jacking up the price of such item.

If a rifle doesn't fire with a normal nipple & maybe a mag cap, then there's more of a problem extant than just needing a vented nipple.

 

[Zonie]

No. I sold that gun years ago.

For a minds eye picture imagine yourself holding a rifle with the butt going away from you towards your left and the barrel going past your right arm while you look down on it looking at the round drum that's coming out of the side of the barrel towards you. (Right hand rifle required. :grin

About 1/8 inch from the side barrel flat you would see a tiny 1/16 inch hole going down into the drum.

That hole is deep enough to break thru the drums wall into the flame channel that goes thru the middle of the drum.

 

[Jmullins555]

Great news. Tried the shuetzen fffg black powder today with regular Cci #11caps and it touched off every time with no hesitation. I'm still looking for the magnum caps locally to try but it felt great to shoot every time with no worry of a hang fire.