Second gen colt third model dragoon

[Drago]

Hello, new guy here. I have a third colt dragoon I purchased, in the late 70's and I can't get the caps to fit and the nipples are'nt in bad shape, I never shot it alot, tried number 11 and 10 caps,any ideas? thanks

 

[ian45662]

Did they come with the gun? I would replace them with ampco or stainless steel ones. What brand of caps are you using?

 

[scott taylor]

Are they too tight or loose? I always crimped a RWS #1075 a little bit before I put them on.
Luckily your are in Austin, call McBrides and see if Bob Norment is in and let him look at it or talk to him. He worked the black powder section at a long defunct store called Bullseye on Burnet Rd back in the late 70's and later McBrides BP section. He gunsmiths there now..

Scott

 

[Drago]

They are the originals, I am using cci mag. number 11 and tried remington number 10 they are all to small, guess I will take it to Mc Brides

 

[LeMat1856]

.
.
you could also ask dixie just to be sure. they have a military and "civilian" model.

also, rem 10's (.167 x .168) are the largest, then cci 11's (.166 x .162), and rsw 1075's (.165 x .154).

~d~

 

[scott taylor]

Drago- very strange I have never heard of caps shrinking or nipples swelling up (everybody get your mind out of the gutter) since you have shot it and it used to work. I am reluctant to ask and do not intend to insult you or your intellgence....but how much has it been dry fired if any?
Track of the wolf has 1/4x 28 nipples for Walkers and Dagoons, Colt and Uberti. The looks of Ampco or Stainless would bug me on a fine old gun like that. But see what Bob thinks, he knows more than me.

Scott

 

[don hepler]

I had a 2nd Gen. dragoon but never fired it. Sold it and bougt 2 ROA's. I take a nipple and chuck it in a cordless drill and use a piece of emery cloth to polish it. I have a variety of caps and usally can get at least one brand to fit. On a revolver I want a perfect fit, if it's too tight it will absorb the hammer blow and will take 2 hits to fire it. If it's too loose the cap can fall off and fire could spread to the adjacent cyclinder or hang-up in the rotation of the cyclinder. I chuck up on the threads, but not over tight, and have never hurt the threads. Dry firing a percussion pistol or rifle will peen the top of the nipple and cause problems.

 

[Drago]

Thanks for the reply's, I haven't dry fired it and they do seem to be non uniform. I am gong to order some and will try sanding them in a drill, seem like a good idea to extend the life on others as well.

 

[nilo52]

The hammer on my Dragoon does not touch the nipples when I drop the hammer. Maybe mine is diffrent from yours.

Nilo52