Odd problem

[Black Hand]

Hammers can also be bent.

 

[Gene L]

Hammer at rest, past half cock: [/URL

Hammer at full cock:
[URL=http://s1222.photobucket.com/user/genelangston/media/P1010097_zpsvycgkt1q.jpg.html]

 

[Black Hand]

Looks like I'd try a shorter nipple. You could shorten the one you have.

You may also be able to order a nipple where the part that screws into the drum isn't quite so tall (shorter distance between the bottom of flats that engage the wrench and the threaded portion going into the drum).

 

[Jumpshot]

That's a pretty long looking nipple. May be just how it appears in the picture but it looks long.

 

[AZbpBurner]

Start with the simplest solution first. As others have mentioned, and from what the picture indicates, you need a shorter nipple.

Here is a source for the best selection of nipple sizes in a single place that I've found yet. Click on the size box & you'll get a dropdown menu of sizes. You'll need to know the thread pitch of your current nipple.
https://www.jedediah-starr.com/closeup.asp?cid=76&pid=863&offset=0

All this talk of heating, bending, filing, grinding and replacing a perfectly good lock is pure foolishness at this point. And Ampco nipples are widely regarded as the best made at any price.

 

[Gene L]

Yeah, I ordered a couple of .300 nipples from Track. The one shown is .480. Too high.

I didn't realize they sold shorter nipples until I looked. They don't sell but one short nipple, though.

 

[Clovis]

I'm going to suggest trying something that will likely get me laughed off the internet, but looking at your pictures why don't you try taking the hammer off (I'm assuming it is square) and turning it back one and reattaching it and see if that will give you a half and full cock? It looks like it could go back more on full cock to me. If I am wrong I apologize for you wasting time trying it.

 

[Zonie]

Also risking the big BOO-HA-HA-HA from the troops here, I'll suggest, if the shorter nipple does't work, one could always grind some of that long nose on the hammer off.

Yes, that will remove the cup that keeps cap fragments from bouncing off the shooters forehead but one of those brass nipple cups might be used to shield the fragments.

 

[Gene L]

I'm going to suggest trying something that will likely get me laughed off the internet, but looking at your pictures why don't you try taking the hammer off (I'm assuming it is square) and turning it back one and reattaching it and see if that will give you a half and full cock? It looks like it could go back more on full cock to me. If I am wrong I apologize for you wasting time trying it.

I tried it but rotating the hammer back 90 degrees won't work. The hammer is just too far back and hung up on the stock.

I'm pretty sure the short nipple will solve things. It should give me a little less than 2/10" and I think that will be enough.

Thanks for all the help. Zonie, the face of the hammer hitting the nipple is the contact point. I'm not skilled enough to file it and rebore the hammer face.

 

[M. De Land]

I would simply pull the hammer, TIG weld the hole shut, drill a new hole and file out the corners to a new square hole that snugly fits and re-harden the hammer.

 

[Pete G]

You could also file a small flat on the drum where the nipple seats. Most drum installations have plenty of thickness to allow for this. It might also be possible to find a revolver nipple with the same threads. They are considerably shorter than those generally sold for rifles.

 

[Tinker2]

Find a good gunsmith, should cost less than a replacement lock and should work.
If you just want to do it yourself, you got some good addvice on how to.


Alexander

 

[Swamp Rat]

NVM

 

[Gene L]

Well, I switched to the .300 length nipple today and found the half-cock notch. Still, it's only about 1/16th from the cap in the half-cock, which is not comfortable to me.

I may (will) replace the lock.

 

[Zonie]

Do as you wish but a clearance of 1/16" is safe.
The only problem is, it isn't easy to see if the gun is in the fired position or at half cock.

There are a lot of factory guns, TC and LYMAN GPR come to mind, that have very low half cock positions. I think it might be to keep the cap from getting knocked off of the nipple but I'm not sure about that.

In any case, it sounds like you've found the problem and fixed it.

Kinda nice, knowing you fixed it without needing to go to someone else to do the job, isn't it?

 

[bpd303]

There is no guarantee that a new lock will correct the problem. I agree with Zonie, go with what ya have.

 

[Gene L]

Yeah, it's nice to have fixed it myself, but the addition of a cap won't let the hammer rest in half-cock. Which is unacceptable for me. It's a anal-retentive thing with me, but I must have a fully functional anything before I'm satisfied.

Call me whatever. I've got four cap lock rifles and none rest on the cap at half-cock. Can't live with that.

My Lyman GPR has a healthy distance at half-cock between the cap and the hammer. So does my Pedersoli Blue Ridge rifle. I feel safe and secure at half cock with those.

 

[fleener]

I NEVER use a half cock.

To each his own.

Fleener

 

[Gene L]

I NEVER use a half cock.

To each his own.

Fleener

What do you use to keep the hammer in an acceptable and safe distance off the cap? And do you have the capability of half-cock? Interesting.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Leather....A really thick piece of saddle type leather.....20" thick.....The cap will not fire even if the hammer is dropped from full cock. tie a lanyard to it and tie to the trigger guard....it is held against the nipple by the hammer and falls away when you cock the gun exposing the cap.