typs of nipples

[WALT53]

HI all, I was wondering what nipples you used for BP as apposed to the subs, and the kind of luck you have with them. THANKS WALT.

 

[mooman76]

I've had good luck with Hot Shot nipples. They always do their job.

 

[galamb]

I can honestly say I have never run across bad nipples.

I use/have used the hot shot's from T/C, their regular rifle nipples, T/C short (pistol size), rifle nipples from RMC and the itty bitty "snake eye"/"pepper box" nipples from Track of the Wolf (used on a rifle to adapt to pretty tight geometry between hammer and drum) - all in #11 and all used on various patent breeches.

I shoot 3F Goex (primary), Pyrodex P and RS (in that order) when I run out of Goex (4 hour drive to get it, so has to be a "combo trip").

The only thing I change when shooting Pyro is I go with a CCI #11 Mag cap instead (use CCI due to availability - stay on the nipples well - no issues)

 

[dcriner]

What nipples have you been using? Have there been problems you want to correct?

 

[dcalef3]

Ive only used t/c #11's. Ive never had a misfire. I keep a handful on hand. I have a few i use for plinking and i keep a couple of new ones for hunting.

 

[AZbpBurner]

For all my cap and ball revolvers, any replacement nipples are the Treso Ampco nipples made for #11 caps. Jedediah-Starr seems to have all sizes available for the best price I've found.

For my rifles, I use either the Ampco, or a stainless nipple from Track of the Wolf. They both work flawlessly for both BP and Pyrodex.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I have a few i use for plinking and i keep a couple of new ones for hunting.

As most suggest, the standard Treso/Ampco or the hot shot style are reliable and excellent.
Why you would change is a puzzlement. I know some competitiives shooters who put on new nipples before matches. That used to be advisable in the day of soft steel/iron but the Treso styles can last a very long time and don't need changing.

 

[nkbj]

Have used steel, stainless steel and aluminum bronze. They all did what I wanted.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Have used steel, stainless steel and aluminum bronze. They all did what I wanted.

I'm sure we have nipples available today that are far better made and of better materials than was available in the past. The nipples I have removed from originals were, IMHO, pretty lacking and quite soft.

Edit: and poor design.

 

[Tumblernotch]

I use Spitfire nipples. A friend of mine designed them years ago. I bought some cheap nipples several years ago at a shoot and had to Chuck them in a lathe and file them down and caseharden them. They were extremely soft. I'll stick with Spitfires.

 

[WALT53]

I also use the ampco nipples for BP but I think the hole is a bit small for the sub's.THE stainless nipples seem to work better on the sub;s but don't last as long as the ampco nipples.I have yet to change out a ampco , I have no idea as of yet how long one will last.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I use Spitfire nipples. A friend of mine designed them years ago. I bought some cheap nipples several years ago at a shoot and had to Chuck them in a lathe and file them down and caseharden them. They were extremely soft. I'll stick with Spitfires.

I'll have to use up about 50 nipples I have on hand before I shop for more. Might be a while since 90% of my shooting these days is with flint. :shocked2:
So, I really do not know what the Spitfire is.
The 'hot shot' was designed by Dan Pawlak, the inventor of Pyrodex. Dan was a jet propulsion scientist by profession. He applied those principals to the hot shot using the tiny ignition hole to concentrate more, and hotter, fire into the main charge to help ignition which was, and still is, a problem with Pyrodex. I had the pleasure of meeting Dan. Even though I am not a fan of Pyrodex, Dan was a real class human and big loss when he died. RIP Dan.

 

[dcalef3]

I have a few i use for plinking and i keep a couple of new ones for hunting.

As most suggest, the standard Treso/Ampco or the hot shot style are reliable and excellent.
Why you would change is a puzzlement. I know some competitiives shooters who put on new nipples before matches. That used to be advisable in the day of soft steel/iron but the Treso styles can last a very long time and don't need changing.

I change them because i shoot a lot and they tend to get smashed up and not hold the cap as good. When i go hunting, always a brand new nipple.

 

[AZbpBurner]

I also use the ampco nipples for BP but I think the hole is a bit small for the sub's.THE stainless nipples seem to work better on the sub;s but don't last as long as the ampco nipples.I have yet to change out a ampco , I have no idea as of yet how long one will last.

I'm using Ampco and Stainless on 2 particular rifles, and can't tell the difference between the 2. My .54 cal Investarms/Cabelas runs exclusively on Pyrodex and I've never had any ignition problems with the Ampco's.

I even got a stainless musket nipple just in case I had problems with Pyrodex ignition, but both musket nipple and wrench remain in a parts box, unused.

 

[AZbpBurner]

I use Spitfire nipples. A friend of mine designed them years ago. I bought some cheap nipples several years ago at a shoot and had to Chuck them in a lathe and file them down and caseharden them. They were extremely soft. I'll stick with Spitfires.

I'll have to use up about 50 nipples I have on hand before I shop for more. Might be a while since 90% of my shooting these days is with flint. :shocked2:
So, I really do not know what the Spitfire is.
The 'hot shot' was designed by Dan Pawlak, the inventor of Pyrodex. Dan was a jet propulsion scientist by profession. He applied those principals to the hot shot using the tiny ignition hole to concentrate more, and hotter, fire into the main charge to help ignition which was, and still is, a problem with Pyrodex. I had the pleasure of meeting Dan. Even though I am not a fan of Pyrodex, Dan was a real class human and big loss when he died. RIP Dan.

I'll put my wager on your nipple inventory outlasting you, so put a note in the nipple bin to send them to me in the far off future when your powder horn runs out for the last time ...

 

[Tumblernotch]

Spitfires are currently made by MSM and sold by Cabelas and others. Hot nipple. Like you, I don't use many nipples. Almost all of my shooting is with flintlocks as well.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I'll put my wager on your nipple inventory outlasting you, so put a note in the nipple bin to send them to me in the far off future when your powder horn runs out for the last time ...

That will be an interesting issue when the "powder horn runs out" as you put it. I was discussing with my daughter-in-law recently about what will happen to my dozen or so bear claw necklaces I have. Plus all my other 'stuff' and plunder. I cry to think about it. Did I go ff ? Never did that before. :wink:

 

[Billnpatti]

My personal preference is Treso Ampco nipples. Just be sure that you get the correct threads. They come in both regular and metric threads. If you are shooting a substitute powder, you may need one of the Hot Shot nipples. Combine a Hot Shot nipple with #11 magnum caps and you pretty well insure good ignition with the substitute powders. As long as you don't dry fire your rifle, your nipples should last a long time. Dry firing results in the nipple becoming flattened and misshapen to the point that you will not be able to get a cap on it. You can also hasten the demise of your nipple by shooting heavy loads. They will erode the flash hole in the nipple much faster than a mild load.

I must admit that my rifles have an assortment of nipples in them even though my preference is the Ampco nipples. Several years ago, a man, whom I knew, was getting out of muzzleloading because of health issues. He offered me an assortment of nipples that he had on hand for a price that I couldn't pass up. At the rate I use nipples, I will have enough assorted nipples to last until my last relay at which time, my son and my son-in-law will have to finish using them up.

 

[morehops]

I replaced all of my Lyman nipples with RMC. I found that some brands of caps did not seat well on the stock nips even with firm pressure. They would seat down on the first hammer strike and go off with second. Now no problem.