Misfires, on my first use

[bobl]

Hi all, I fired my PH Enfield for the first time today. Had to use 3 caps to get my first shot away. Next two shots went ok, then went through 5 caps to get the next 3 away.(nipple was new barrel was clean and dry, used 60 grns of FFp. caps were (Dynamit Nobel made in Germany).
Any suggestions as to why the misfires.
Would appreciate any comments

 

[arilar]

Are you sure its a clean channel from barrel to reach bottom of nipple? Maybe full of grease or foulings?
ARILAR :grin: :thumbsup:

 

[renovato]

Bob, try removing the nipple and running a pipe cleaner through the flash channel. Put a flashlight to the flash channel and take a look in the barrel to see if you can see light. While you have the nipple out, look it over real good too. It sounds like you have some crud blocking the flash somewhere. While you have the nipple out, you might want to stick the breech end in a bucket of warm soapy water and pump it in and out of the barrel with a patch a few times just to make sure you got any debris out. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[JWP]

Not sure if you tried. Pull the nipple out and run a small wire (safety pin works good for this) through the hole in the nipple. Keep the safety pin with you as it doens't hurt to prick the nipple often.
The wife likes the German caps (can't think of the name but they have the red and black label).
Always cap off a few caps to dry the nipple and barrel out after running a few patches through it.
Last - have someone watch and see if they feel the hammer is dropping correctly.
hope this helps :hatsoff:

 

[Mad Professor]

It does sound like blocked channel between nipple/breech (e.g. grease) , all of the above suggestions sound good.

After cleaning, with the nipple out, blast the barrel with some starting fluid, it cuts grease real good, evaporates quick, and will not leave any residue. Be careful of stock, not sure if it will effect the (your) finish

 

[Snuffy]

Hi all, I fired my PH Enfield for the first time today. Had to use 3 caps to get my first shot away. Next two shots went ok, then went through 5 caps to get the next 3 away.(nipple was new barrel was clean and dry, used 60 grns of FFp. caps were (Dynamit Nobel made in Germany).
Any suggestions as to why the misfires.
Would appreciate any comments

Powder is not getting down under the nipple. That blockage could be anything from packing grease to metal burrs.... etc.... etc. After I pour the powder, I wrist-shake the barrel sideways - then slap the side of the barrel near where the powder sits a few times with my open hand. Don't pour with the barrel at an angle - unless the nipple-end is at the low spot. Also don't pour the powder from the measurer fast - pour it on the slow side. I always do it with the barrel standing straight-up.


You could prime underneath the nipple to blow-out any obstruction. Pour some powder down there - pack it in a little - add a few grains more -- then put the nipple back on - keep the muzzle pointed upward & load your usual non-magnum powder charge and bullet - then fire it.


You also need to make sure you flush the powder channel out when cleaning. Removing the nipple, run hot water down the muzzle. If I suspect alot of fouling down there, I get my garden hose & gun. Just turn your head before thrusting that much water in that 50-caliber muzzle hole.

Otherwise.... you get a free bath. :blah:

By-the-way... you could put that barrel in a bucket of soapy water & power-flush it that way. I never use that procedure. I have full stock sidelocks - I have scoped sidelocks.

I know - I know ... scopes are a traditionalist's sin! So what's another year or two in Purgatory? :grin:

 

[bioprof]

What kind of powder are you using? I had problems with misfires when using black powder substitutes like Pyrodex. Problems went away when I switched to Goex.

 

[JWP]

I know - I know ... scopes are a traditionalist's sin! So what's another year or two in Purgatory?

True, except for the fact my dad used a 2X extended eye releaf (Leopold) and couldn't understand why I didn't want to. I enjoyed the times we shared - him with his scope, me without and wish I had the chance to be in the woods with him again.

Don't beat yourself up :hatsoff:

 

[bobl]

Thanks for the help Guys, re all of your suggestions for my misfire problem. I think that I may have sourced the trouble. I removed and compared the original nipple with another one, and found quite a difference in the size of the lower vent hole, the 2nd nipple having a a far larger hole than the original. I am very much hoping that this will fix things

 

[Zonie]

Try it out, by all means but if the hammer gets blown back to the half cock position when your using a moderate powder load like 65 grains, the hole is probably too large.

Most nipples thru hole is a little less than 1/32 of an inch in diameter (about .028).

zonie

 

[bighole]

I had alot of hangfire problems using substitute powders when using heavy bullets in my LRML. I did several months of reliability testing. I doubt the nipple hole size is the problem here with missfires especially with the first shot and using real bp. If using substitute powders, after a few shots, nipples with smaller holes may clog up faster and give hangfires and maybe even missfires. I'd agree with most of the posts here that the flash channel is clogged up or has oil or grease in it. Was the barrel pumped out with hot soapy water before taking it out?

Just thought I'd mention that in my testing of different nipples, Knight Redhot's and TC's Hotshot hole was .035, TC's std nipples were .038 all brand new. The Ampco Bronze nipples were .027. Using a hole that's too large for the weight of bullets that are being used may blow the hammer to half or full cock just as was posted above by Zonie.

 

[Snuffy]

Too large of a flash hole allows for easier moisture penetration too. A friend of mine kept getting wet powder under the nipple after sitting for half-day hunts here in humid Michigan. We finally figured it out. His hammer did pop back to half-cock on him sometimes.

 

[crockett]

I know a lot of shooters don't want to waste caps but to eliminate various causes try snapping a cap between shots. If you are swabbing the bore between shots you may be pushing residue down the bore and plugging up the drum.
When you snap the cap point the muzzle near the ground, at some grass. The force of the cap will move the grass. If you have assertained the passage is clear you can then consider the nipple, powder, caps, etc. if you are still having problems.