I have used 777 and Pyrodex (both FFG equiv.) and have had some ignition problems. Typically the first shot b/c of grease and oil, and after 20 shots or more I start getting short hang-fires...(click,Boom instead of just Boom.)I use a little plastic tube to blow out the nipple each shot, and I use the pick once every five shots or so. Would black powder solve the problem? ::
No I don't think black powder alone will solve your issues with misfires.
Also, I've never needed the hotshot or ported nipples either.
Not sure you really need to blow out the nipple each shot if you try the following (I've never done that anyway regardless of how many consecutive shots).
Not knowing what rifle you are shooting... Each one is different as to how long you can shoot until some cleaning is required. Your powder, the size of your charge and cap choice also has a great deal to do with this. Larger hunting loads = more fouling. Lighter target loads = less fouling.
Make sure your patches are not too gooped up with lube when loading. You really only need enough to moisten the patch with lube. If you are packing more than that, all of the excess is going to end up in the bottom of the bore and in the flash channel and sooner or later that can cause a misfire..
777 and Pyrodex FFG are among the more difficult to ignite (higher flash point). You could switch to a finer grain FFFG, just remember to reduce your loads by 15% for the finer grain powder. You will have much less fouling with 3FG powder.
Try Black Mag'3 or 777 3FG next time. Excellent substitute powders.
For black powder I cannot more highly recommend Swiss 3FG. The most clean, consistent and powerful BP I've ever shot. Otherwise Goex 3FG is a decent second if you cannot afford Swiss. Again, remember to reduce your 2FG loading data by about 15%. I shoot about 10 pounds of Swiss every year.
Caps = RWS Dynamit-Nobel #1075's. I can't count how many I've shot (10,000+?) without so much as one misfire as a result of the cap.
The grease and oil is easily taken care of before you start shooting.
Clean the bore with a dry patch to remove any excess lube, then re-lube the bore with a "lightly" natural lubed patch. Remove the nipple and "fish" the flash channel or clean the bolster drum with q-tips or pipe cleaners soaked in alcohol, followed by dry. Also clean your nipple with alcohol and dry.
This will remove any excess lube that had accumulated.
Re-grease the nipple and bolster threads with anti-seize lube and install a clean nipple. Now you are ready to go shooting.
At the range or in the field.
Then load as normal. However after adding your powder, with the bore upward, give your rifle a couple of taps with the palm of your hand on the nipple side of the barrel near the bolster or drum. This will help settle some powder into the flash channel and under or near the nipple.
This should help ensure that your first and each subsequent shot fires. Then periodically as you mentioned, you will need to pick the nipple and flash channel to ensure that it's clear.
I would loosen and then tighten (just snug) the nipple every 15-20 shots anyhow to ensure that nothing seizes up. Depending on how much fouling you are getting and how many shots you wish to do consecutively, you may need to remove the nipple every now and then to re-fish the flash channel, grease and re-install the nipple and continue.
:thumbsup: :imo: :m2c: