New nipples on the revolver.

[cynthialee]

So I put new nipples on my revoler and they are perfect #11's all around.

The revolver came with mismatched niples 3, 10's and 3, 11's NIB. One of the minor issues that really kinda pissed me off...I figure that someone likely dry fired it somewhere along the process of it getting into my hands. But that doesn't make sense because it was in a serious plastic package that required alot of effort to get it out and I am the first and only owner other than the shop keeper who's display case it sat in.

Now I am sitting on a tin of #10's that will not get used unless I have to put on the old nipples.
Besides the point...

Anyways it is better this way because I am using the same nipple size on both my rifle and pistol now. No need to keep two sizes of caps any more.
The neat thing is I acidented into it. I didn't know they made #11 pietta pistol nipples, I thought they were all #10's for the pistols from Pietta and I was just looking for the Traditions package of pistol nipples that said it fit Pietta pistols.

 

[Dickydalton]

I have found that different tins of CCI #10s are different sizes. Some are a perfect fit on my Piettas and the others are loose. I have switched mostly to Tresso's and Remington # 10's now and all is well. One thing about it is that I have a boatload of spare nipples now! :grin:

 

[Zonie]

Glad to hear you fixed your problem.

Needing two different size caps would be a PITA.

As I'm sure you know, percussion nipples and caps are really not standardized. That is, there is no universally accepted sizes and tolerance requirement so each company works to their own numbers and that's what we end up with.

The Dixie Gunworks catalog used to have a chart showing some of the sizes of the caps they measured years ago.

Above the chart they mention that some nipple was .168 +/- .002 at the bottom and .163 +/- .002 at the top.

They go on to show a #10 Alcan cap as being .167 inside diameter and .178 long. No tolerance was shown.

A #11 Alcan cap was .168 inside diameter and .153 long.

A #1075 Dynamite Nobel cap was .170 inside diameter and .170 long. We usually think of this cap as a #11 but as you can see it's pretty close to a #10 Alcan.

To throw another monkey wrench in to it, a #11 Remington cap was .170 inside diameter and .190 long.

With all of these sizes it's easy to see why people have problems with their caps and their guns nipples. That's why many of us will buy one brand of caps that fit the guns nipples pretty well and stick with that brand.

 

[barnettshale]

Glad your search was successful. I have shot C&B revolvers since the late 70's. Cap fit to nipple has always been a problem. When I find 10's are tight and 11's are loose I polish the nipples until the 10's are a good tight fit. Wrap the threaded shank with tape, chuck in a drill or drill press, use a strip of sanding cloth and polish lightly until the cap is a good fit. Some times the 11's are tight on some so I do the same thing for those. I have several revolvers so I have to keep track of which pistol takes which cap.

one more, NAA 22 C&B

Last ditch, stick up their nose backup

Can only use Remington 11 caps on the NAA. The skirt depth of the cap is correct. Any other cap is too long and locks up the cylinder.

 

[garandman]

In my fairly limited exerience, I like Reminton / RWS better than CCI caps.

 

[Dave Marsh]

That pistol in the 5 o'clock position looks like a Thompson Scout with a custom grip. Am I correct in that and if so is it 50 or 54 caliber??

Sorry not trying to get off the topic.

 

[cynthialee]

As I was just chatting to start conversation and I wasn't looking for any advise: I don't mind if we meander off the trail. Some of the most illuminating things said around here are off topic.

 

[barnettshale]

The pistol you are referring to is a Palmetto, uses a .433 PRB, normally with 20 grains of 3F, # 11 caps. Shoots fairly well considering it has a welded in breech plug.

 

[Dave Marsh]

Ahh -- thanks. Looked like the Scout metal I have one in 54 cal and was looking for input on loads.

Thanks Cynthialee.

 

[cynthialee]

can you use minies and maxis in those single shot pistols that you load with PRB?

never used a single shot pistol, its always been revolvers mainly colt clones

 

[Zonie]

Sure you can use bullets in a single shot pistol.

Depending on the fit of the bullet the accuracy may be pretty good or really bad.

Also, because a minie or maxi is heavier than a patched roundball the recoil will be more pronounced.

Up to a point this isn't bad but many of the single shot pistols have fairly weak stocks so a heavy bullet combined with a stout powder load has been known to split the stocks wood.

The stocks weakness on the traditional guns is an inherent flaw that (IMO) wasn't considered with the original guns.

Pistols were thought of as short range, defensive arms for use against other people. That didn't take a whole lot of power so super strong beefy stocks weren't needed.

Little did they imagine that 170 years in the future some folks might want to use a pistol as a first choice in killing large game animals where heavy slugs would be of greater use.

Again, in my opinion, if someone wants to load a minie' or maxi slug in a pistol they would be wise to load a tight fitting wad or over shot card over the slug.

Pistols are usually carried muzzle down when they are not in use and where a patched ball wouldn't move down the bore off of the powder load, a slug could. The over slug patch or card will help to hold it tightly against the powder charge while the gun is being carried.

 

[Dave Marsh]

In my 54 TC Scout pistol I have tried loads with triple 7, Pyrodex and Goex as the powder. I've tried roundballs and TC maxis but seem to get my best results using Powerbelts with Goex ffg.

With roundballs the problem is loading as you need a stand to hold the gun while you push the RB in. I need to try a smaller ball and batch combo. The Powerbelts take a good shove but go in pretty easy just holding the gun in your hand.

Of course the biggest issue is she kicks like a very, very large mule if you use the stout loads recommended by the factory. I am still working on loads and have not found that sweet spot.

Dave

 

[crockett]

Zonie: it seems to me there might be a trade off. The conical will drive deeper and at long ranges maintain momentum better but the PRB will be moving at a higher velocity at the muzzle and since pistols are generally used at short ranges I'm wondering what is the better: the PRB or the Conical. Instinctively I favor the conical but the PRB may do as well. Personally I have no idea- just wondering.