Percussion nipple threads jamming

[N.Y. Yankee]

Lyman GPR .54, 100gr FFg. SS Hotshot nipples. Nipples are threaded in properly. Used blue grease, nipple was very difficult to remove. Tried Birchwood Casey Choke Tube Lube, thought I would rip the threads out tring to remove it at the range. Would beeswax on the threads help? Am I supposed to flush the barrel first? What am I doing wrong? I don't remember having this problem before. Are the threads too long?

 

[jdw276]

Lyman GPR .54, 100gr FFg. SS Hotshot nipples. Nipples are threaded in properly. Used blue grease, nipple was very difficult to remove. Tried Birchwood Casey Choke Tube Lube, thought I would rip the threads out tring to remove it at the range. Would beeswax on the threads help? Am I supposed to flush the barrel first? What am I doing wrong? I don't remember having this problem before. Are the threads too long?

What are you doing different? Stouter load? Same blue grease? Different nipple from last time?

 

[jambuster]

You know I used my GPR for the first time yesterday and I noticed that the threads on the Lyman nipple seemed tight as it threaded in . After shooting and cleaning everything seemed fine and the nipple went back in with that same tight feeling. Maybe their tap is on the minimal side of the allowable tolerances .

 

[Eutycus]

Blue Grease? Is there a color code for different colors of grease? I've seen it in various colors but never figured out why the variety.

 

[jdw276]

You know I used my GPR for the first time yesterday and I noticed that the threads on the Lyman nipple seemed tight as it threaded in . After shooting and cleaning everything seemed fine and the nipple went back in with that same tight feeling. Maybe their tap is on the minimal side of the allowable tolerances .

Did you use the lyman nipple or a hotshot nipple? The .25x28 is very close to the .75 metric nipple threads. Threads maybe could be dressed up, cleaned up with the correct tap?.

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

Hotshot nipple. 6x.75mm I think?

 

[Britsmoothy]

Sounds like a thread mismatch!
And leave the grease out!

 

[Buzzard II]

Check the threads in the gun. If they look OK, screw in the stock nipple. Does it go in easy? If the threads are messed up, STOP and bring it to a good gunsmith. If the threads are messed up, you will need a larger nipple, and it does not sound like you have the tools and parts to do this. If the stock nipple goes in easy, coat it with Never Seize after cleaning the gun threads and nipple threads and re install it. Don't use Hot Shot nipples. It sounds like you may have gotten the wrong size/thread. You should always clean the gun of any oil in the barrel with a wet then dry patch prior to shooting it. Always clean your gun after shooting it and run wet then dry patches down the bore EVERY couple of shots. Clean the gun after shooting it with plain tepid tap water. You can add a couple drops of Ivory dish soap then plain tepid water. Then remove the nipple and clean it, apply Never Seize to the threads every time you clean it or you will never get it out. Run a wet patch down the bore after a day or two to get any remaining residue out. Good shooting. Get Never Seize at an auto parts store. Permatex brand works good.
Bob

 

[Grenadier1758]

The Lyman rifle requires a 6mm x 0.75 threads. You have an aftermarket nipple. Like others, I think you have a thread mismatch.

 

[Ames]

Try putting in the nipple, THEN the clean out screw. If the nipple threads are too long they are jamming with the screw.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Lyman GPR .54, 100gr FFg. SS Hotshot nipples. Nipples are threaded in properly. Used blue grease, nipple was very difficult to remove. Tried Birchwood Casey Choke Tube Lube, thought I would rip the threads out tring to remove it at the range. Would beeswax on the threads help? Am I supposed to flush the barrel first? What am I doing wrong? I don't remember having this problem before. Are the threads too long?

I had issues like this until I stopped at the local auto supply and got a small tube of anti-sieze (for spark plugs)
Dope the threads, don't over-torque, just snug is all you want.

 

[SDSmlf]

Hotshot nipple. 6x.75mm I think?

You think? Or know? 6x0.75mm is the correct factory thread.

Did you use the lyman nipple or a hotshot nipple? The .25x28 is very close to the .75 metric nipple threads. Threads maybe could be dressed up, cleaned up with the correct tap?.

The 6x0.75mm thread will start pretty easy in a 1/4-28 tapped hole, but it is significantly more difficult going the other way (1/4-28 into a 6x0.75 hole), as the 1/4-28 thread is the larger of the two.

When you initially installed the HotShot nipple, how difficult was it to seat? Has the gun been shot and cleaned before? If first time out, I know Lyman used to use some kind stickem in their bores and imagine if not removed from nipple threads could work like LocTite after gun has been shot.

For reference, you can see the difference in the thread pitch between 1/4-28 (on the left) and 6x0.75mm (on the right) in the photograph below. Don’t have a 6x1mm picture saved, but that is the size for Spanish (CVA, Traditions) nipples and would mess up a 6x0.75 hole if forced.

 

[Britsmoothy]

To be fair...when I got a replacement for my Italian armisport it was tight for a while. It's better now but it was tight so.....

 

[Feltwad]

I will never understand why nipples are taken out after each outing I never take mine out it is asking for trouble with crossed threads ,if when cleaning the barrels which should be flushed with boiling water which also flushes the nipples that's all that is needed . I have used this method for many decades I very rare have a miss fire and I can fire a hundred shots in a outing ,my advice leave them alone
Feltwad

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

I will never understand why nipples are taken out after each outing I never take mine out it is asking for trouble with crossed threads ,if when cleaning the barrels which should be flushed with boiling water which also flushes the nipples that's all that is needed . I have used this method for many decades I very rare have a miss fire and I can fire a hundred shots in a outing ,my advice leave them alone
Feltwad

I take the nipple out to open the passageway through the barrel so that I can pump the cleaning water in and out more freely. With the nipple in, it has a very tiny hole and would greatly impede the flow of fluid so I don't see how you could flush your barrel with a nipple installed. I drop the nipple into a small container of Windex to soak until I'm done with the gun. Take it out, clean it, lube the threads and reinstall it.

The gun requires a 6x.75mm nipple and I have used Hotshot nipples before. They screw in easily, although I am going to check the clean out screw for interference.

I always try to just snug the nipple in as I am afraid to strip threads on guns.

I'm going to try a bit of Anti Seize on the threads after I check things out some more. I have a feeling it's just crud buildup under the nipple but we'll see. I may try bee's wax too. I will report on it after the next outing.

I appreciate all the ideas guys.

 

[Flintfan69]

Also be sure not to over tighten when installing the nipple. It just needs to seat, you do not need to torque it down.

 

[Feltwad]

I take the nipple out to open the passageway through the barrel so that I can pump the cleaning water in and out more freely. With the nipple in, it has a very tiny hole and would greatly impede the flow of fluid so I don't see how you could flush your barrel with a nipple installed. I drop the nipple into a small container of Windex to soak until I'm done with the gun. Take it out, clean it, lube the threads and reinsta

The type of nipple with a small hole my advice throw it away ,they are one of the main reasons for a misfire .Use a nipple with a larger hole not too large that it will blow the hammer back to half cock , load with the hammer on the nipple so the air escapes but not the powder which is at the nipple cone and there fore it will fire every time , the nipple then can be flushed when cleaning the barrel so there is no need to remove them
Feltwad

 

[Ames]

Two sided coin.
I take the nipples out so after cleaning I can swab the barrel with Barricade, but I want to be sure of the drum. With the nipple out I can Qtip any moisture out of the drum and hidden corners. Can also Barricade around the corner with another Qtip. Dry and clean it goes back in.
BTW, same with my flinters. I pull the liner every time. Nipples are no harder.
Just me, but I sleep better knowing I got it all out.

 

[Griz44Mag]

The type of nipple with a small hole my advice throw it away ,they are one of the main reasons for a misfire .Use a nipple with a larger hole not too large that it will blow the hammer back to half cock , load with the hammer on the nipple so the air escapes but not the powder which is at the nipple cone and there fore it will fire every time , the nipple then can be flushed when cleaning the barrel so there is no need to remove them
Feltwad

Strange..... I use HOTSHOT nipples on everything I can get one to fit.
I do not experienced any of the issues you list......And I have a pretty wide variety of nipple guns. (.36 to .69)
I want the main charge to leave the barrel at the muzzle, not blow back up through a nipple with too big of a hole in it.
It takes 10 seconds to remove a nipple, 30 seconds to wipe some anti-sieze on it and put it back in. I have never had an issue installing a nipple with the correct threads. Whats the big problem here?

 

[Frontier's]

Lyman GPR .54, 100gr FFg. SS Hotshot nipples. Nipples are threaded in properly. Used blue grease, nipple was very difficult to remove. Tried Birchwood Casey Choke Tube Lube, thought I would rip the threads out tring to remove it at the range. Would beeswax on the threads help? Am I supposed to flush the barrel first? What am I doing wrong? I don't remember having this problem before. Are the threads too long?

Use a 1 inch long piece of white plumbers tape, cut it in half, wrap nipple threads and that issue will be a thing of the past.