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Nipples

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Joined
Feb 8, 2021
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Location
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I normally remove the nipples after shooting and clean them out of the cylinder. All the nipples have been replaced with SlixShot in all my pistols. Well last time out when I went to re-install the nipples one wouldn't start on my Pietta 1858 New Army. All the Colt replicas were fine. I bought a 6x.75 tap and retaped the threads and installed the nipple.

So my questions is does anyone clean their pistols without removing the nipples and how does that work for you. To be honest still plan to remove the nipples on the Colts but I can’t see doing that on the Remington.







pietta and Uberta
 
I don't remove the nipples to clean the cylinder and have never had an issue using the following method.

I heat up a small pot of water and drop the cylinder in, scrub around the nipples with a nylon brush and run cleaning patches through the cylinders. Pull it out of the water and let it dry, it gets warm from being in the water and dries quickly. Done in under 5 minutes.
 
The only way to get to the nipple threads is to remove the nipples.

The threads need to be cleaned. Not cleaning nipple and cylinder threads causes rust to form.

The rust causes nipples to be unremovable when it comes time to change out your nipples.

I just gave you permission to play with your nipples. Six times in fact. Put anti-sieze on the threads before installing.
 
Last edited:
I normally remove the nipples after shooting and clean them out of the cylinder. All the nipples have been replaced with SlixShot in all my pistols. Well last time out when I went to re-install the nipples one wouldn't start on my Pietta 1858 New Army. All the Colt replicas were fine. I bought a 6x.75 tap and retaped the threads and installed the nipple.

So my questions is does anyone clean their pistols without removing the nipples and how does that work for you. To be honest still plan to remove the nipples on the Colts but I can’t see doing that on the Remington.







pietta and Uberta
Yes, I remove the nipples for cleaning and all my C&B revolvers (6) have Slix Shots. The nipples are different for Uberti’s and Pietta’s, but I can’t say for sure whether that’s from a thread difference or something else, but you certainly have to order one specific to the make.
 
I normally remove the nipples after shooting and clean them out of the cylinder. All the nipples have been replaced with SlixShot in all my pistols. Well last time out when I went to re-install the nipples one wouldn't start on my Pietta 1858 New Army. All the Colt replicas were fine. I bought a 6x.75 tap and retaped the threads and installed the nipple.

So my questions is does anyone clean their pistols without removing the nipples and how does that work for you. To be honest still plan to remove the nipples on the Colts but I can’t see doing that on the Remington.







pietta and Uberta
depends on if I am shooting e next day or two. If yes then simply do the cleaning with nipples in. If the gun is going back in the rack all the nipples come out and soak in paint thinner. For reasons iI do not under stand they come out with an overnight soak one wipe with a patch and look brand new. Every thing else is scrubbed with a cotton mop pumping moose milk through barrel (on open tops) and cylinder chambers drain, wipe dry and check cleanliness with a final patch, put everything back together with never-size on the nipple threads and go have a cold adult beverage or cup of hot coffee.
About every 75 to 100 rounds the gun is stripped to he frame and completely depot level maintenance cleaned.
Might be a bit AR but tmy guns are run hard but stay looking like new.
Hold center
Make Smoke
Bunk
 
Yes, I remove the nipples for cleaning and all my C&B revolvers (6) have Slix Shots. The nipples are different for Uberti’s and Pietta’s, but I can’t say for sure whether that’s from a thread difference or something else, but you certainly have to order one specific to the make.
Yes thanks, I'm well aware. I have SlixShots for my Pietta and for my Uberti pistols and had no issues until I tried to re-install them on the Pietta 1858 New Army Remington. One would no go, I even tried to install the original nipple and still no go. I had to buy a 6x0.75 tap and run it through the nipple hole before I could re-install the nipple. It is back together I'm just concerned with what happens next time I take it out.
 
I take the cones out once in a while but usually leave them in the cylinder and clean around them with a qtip or small swab. I use patches and cold water to clean the gun, and oil with Barricade. No schlik schlock nipples for me, just standard ones I fit for proper clearance with a file.
 
I remove the nipples for each cleaning.

If there is one nipple that is hard to put back I leave it out since I only load 5 anyway.

I will not buy a used revolver unless the owner will be verify that they can be removed. First thing I do is remove them, any problems it goes back to the owner.

For awhile, Pietta was bluing the cylinders with the nipples in, you could not get the nipples out!
 
The only way to get to the nipple threads is to remove the nipples.

The threads need to be cleaned. Not cleaning nipple and cylinder threads causes rust to form.

The rust causes nipples to be unremovable when it comes time to change out your nipples.

I just gave you permission to play with your nipples. Six times in fact. Put anti-sieze on the threads before installing.
Apply as stated (never seize ) and done ,I do nipples on Mag spark conversions and never remove !! Except 2x I forgot to reinstall and buggered the threads in the 12-13 yrs I've been using them . Never seize and no rust on my Rifles.I don't think it's any different for pistols using never seize on threads , my ROA is cleaned the old fashion way ,replace nipples for cleaning ,not for rusting/Ed
 
Yes thanks, I'm well aware. I have SlixShots for my Pietta and for my Uberti pistols and had no issues until I tried to re-install them on the Pietta 1858 New Army Remington. One would no go, I even tried to install the original nipple and still no go. I had to buy a 6x0.75 tap and run it through the nipple hole before I could re-install the nipple. It is back together I'm just concerned with what happens next time I take it out.
Good deal. Could be that a small piece of metal filing got into the threads. It wouldn’t take much jam those nipple threads up being so small. Might not even be able to see it. I’ve had a similar issue before and it cleared itself up.
 
Yes thanks, I'm well aware. I have SlixShots for my Pietta and for my Uberti pistols and had no issues until I tried to re-install them on the Pietta 1858 New Army Remington. One would no go, I even tried to install the original nipple and still no go. I had to buy a 6x0.75 tap and run it through the nipple hole before I could re-install the nipple. It is back together I'm just concerned with what happens next time I take it out.
First Uberti and Pietta use different nipple thread sizes and are NOT interchangeable. if you tried to put Uberti nipples in a Pietta or vise versa pal you got trouble and I do not have an answer. Perhaps
45D might have something he is a pretty clever fellow if he wants to chime in here..
IRON RULE
only have one gun at a time apart on the bench at one time. DO NOT ask me how I know it is called "experience" the thing you get right after you needed it..
Get some anti-size lubricant at an auto store and put a small amount on every nipple thread when installing and just run them down snugly tight. No need to gorilla them in.
Good luck
Bunk
 
First Uberti and Pietta use different nipple thread sizes and are NOT interchangeable. if you tried to put Uberti nipples in a Pietta or vise versa pal you got trouble and I do not have an answer. Perhaps
45D might have something he is a pretty clever fellow if he wants to chime in here..
IRON RULE
only have one gun at a time apart on the bench at one time. DO NOT ask me how I know it is called "experience" the thing you get right after you needed it..
Get some anti-size lubricant at an auto store and put a small amount on every nipple thread when installing and just run them down snugly tight. No need to gorilla them in.
Good luck
Bunk
First thank you for your insight. I know the nipples for the Pietta and Uberti are different sizes, I ordered them. Not only that they come in little baggies that tell which gun to use them in.
And I NEVER work on more than one gun at a time.
The issue with the uncooperative nipple has been resolved. Thank you for your input. My question was concerning cleaning said nipples.
 
Thanks Bunk!!
Oncewas, First off, you say you "fixed" the problem with the Remington cyl but you're not going to remove them again . . . Ok.

As far as cleaning, I always did when I shot bp. I always put anti-seize on the nipples and for those that don't clean them each time, I would at least remove them initially, clean them and put them back with anti-seize.

For the record, I ALWAYS work on 2 at a time !!!! 🤣

Mike
 
I remove all 6 nipples on my Pietta Colt. I remove the wedge. and barrel, pull the cylinder. Remove the nipples, then put the barrel and cylinder into the ultrasonic cleaner. Scrub each nipple with a brush to remove all of the external fouling. When all parts are clean and dry, I put a dab of Anti seize grease on the threads before reinstalling them into the cylinder.
 
Thanks Bunk!!
Oncewas, First off, you say you "fixed" the problem with the Remington cyl but you're not going to remove them again . . . Ok.

As far as cleaning, I always did when I shot bp. I always put anti-seize on the nipples and for those that don't clean them each time, I would at least remove them initially, clean them and put them back with anti-seize.

For the record, I ALWAYS work on 2 at a time !!!! 🤣

Mike
Okay "fixed" maybe was a little presumptuous, What I should have said is I got the nipple back into its corresponding hole on the cylinder. I will continue to remove the nipples on the Colts as I always have. I don’t know what I’ll do with the Remington. I don’t really like shooting it so I guess I could just leave it.

I’ll see what happens next time I take the nipple out to clean them.
 

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