Worn out nipple?

[henbrook]

How does one know when it's time to replace the nipple?How many shots are nipples generally good for before they need to be replaced?

Lately my "new to me" TC Hawken.45 is not detonating the cap reliably.It often takes two hammer falls before the cap goes off,and seems to always go off on the 2nd try.First I thought it was dirt and soot on the exterior of the nipple preventing the cap from seating properly,but it's now whistlin' clean and the problem persists.Is this a sign of needing a new nipple or is maybe the hammer spring too weak?I've only fired app. 50 loads through this rifle,as mentioned,it's "new to me",no idea how many loads the previous owner shot with this nipple?It worked fine for the first 30-40 loads,now it seems to need two attempts for every shot.HELP!! :surrender:

 

[FPDoc]

If it always fires on the second try it sounds to me like the nipple may have mushroomed a bit and it's taking the first hammer fall to fully seat the cap. I'd try to clean up the nipple a bit while you are getting a new one and a spare or two.

 

[necchi]

It may not be the nipple at all.
The T/C and Lyman locks are notorious for a little problem easily fixed.
Remove the lock, inside you'll see 2 screws (3 on the Lyman) holding in the bridle plate. If those two screws are the tinniest bit loose the fly detent will tip and stop the hammer short of striking the nipple.
Some cleaning and a little lube to the parts inside the lock,(I like to put a drop right on the fly,it'll work it's way to underneath the tumbler) and being sure those two screws are tight usually solves the problem.

 

[henbrook]

If it always fires on the second try it sounds to me like the nipple may have mushroomed a bit and it's taking the first hammer fall to fully seat the cap. I'd try to clean up the nipple a bit while you are getting a new one and a spare or two.

It doesn't appear to be mushroomed to me...then again I'm new at this and not sure how "blunt" or "sharp" for lack of better terms the nipple head should be?

 

[henbrook]

It may not be the nipple at all.
The T/C and Lyman locks are notorious for a little problem easily fixed.
Remove the lock, inside you'll see 2 screws (3 on the Lyman) holding in the bridle plate. If those two screws are the tinniest bit loose the fly detent will tip and stop the hammer short of striking the nipple.
Some cleaning and a little lube to the parts inside the lock,(I like to put a drop right on the fly,it'll work it's way to underneath the tumbler) and being sure those two screws are tight usually solves the problem.

thanks necchi,I'll have a look at that tonight. :thumbsup:

 

[rafterob]

Seeing how you are in Canada it may be the temperature. I was shooting my revolver with #10 caps last week in the cold (40 f.) and it would take two stikes to set off the caps. Never done that before, but I had never shot it in the cold before either. Never had this problemm with my rifles and #11 caps in the cold. A new nipple can never hurt.

 

[Bill Hall]

Here's another thought. Sometimes when you buy a new tin of caps, they're just a little too small. Even if they say #11, the actual size can vary slightly from lot-to-lot, or from different makers.

I ran ito this problem about a year ago with a percussion plains rifle I just built. I had to manually seat the caps by carefully pushing the hammer against it, otherwise it would take two hammer strikes to fire it. I thought maybe I got the geometry of the hammer lined up incorrectly and decided to just live with it. After I used up all the caps I had then, I bought another brand and found I had to pinch the caps to keep them on the nipple, but no more manual seating or double hits were needed. I know the bigger caps I used were CCI magnums, but I don't remember for sure what brand the tighter caps were, maybe Remingtons.

If none of the other fixes mentioned solve your problem, you might try some different caps. Just a thought. And yes, a new nipple can never hurt. Bill

 

[henbrook]

mmmmm....I dunno?It really hasn't been that cold yet,quite mild actually,and I've shot caps in ALOT colder weather in past years,like -30C,no problem.

40F...that's only around 3 or 4C!!!....a rifle that won't fire in that kinda balmy weather is no good to me.

 

[ohio ramrod]

The nipple edge should be knife sharp. If it is flat put the nipple in a drill chuck and use a tool stone to "sharpen" it.

 

[Tom Compton]

Back when I was a shootin those new fangled per-suctiuon guns, an occasional cap or 2 or 3 would sneak under the hammer and lurk there for a while causing misfires.

TC

 

[Zonie]

You make a good point 40 Flint that's worth checking out.

My TC's just love to split the caps and then paste the remaining fragment inside the cup in the nose of my hammers.

I've learned that when cleaning these guns its always wise to check this hollow end and to pick out any brass or copper cap fragments that have been stuck there. I almost always find at least one.

 

[henbrook]

You make a good point 40 Flint that's worth checking out.

My TC's just love to split the caps and then paste the remaining fragment inside the cup in the nose of my hammers.

I've learned that when cleaning these guns its always wise to check this hollow end and to pick out any brass or copper cap fragments that have been stuck there. I almost always find at least one.

good point 40Flint and Zonie,but I've already learned that lesson the hard way,lol.No,there is no cap fragments stuck in the hammer...1st thing I check after a non-detonating cap.i didn't realise the nipple is supposed to be "knife sharp"...mine is definately mushroomed then in that case.I'll try sharpening it some with a drill and stone for now since I can't buy a nipple locally and have to order in almost everything BP that I need.There's only one decent gunshop within 100miles of here and even he only has limited BP stuff.Damn liberals and CDN gun regs drove most everybody outta bizness! :cursing:

 

[paradox]

Try fixing it if you cant get a nipple in fast enough. If it can wait, wait!! a new nipple might fix everything and save you from playing in the side lock if you arent comfortable doing so. If your gun is clean and hammer seems to poncture cap enough for it to fire, perhaps tapping the barrel while loading the powder will help powder enter the breech/firing chambers better and improve ignition. I highly doubt its the weather. I shot mine 4 days after loading and it shot fine if not better then usual (extra taps to barrel while loading, hunting mode) Weather was about 0 degree Celsius, rain, snow, slush. (keep in mind, i kept rifle encased on most occasions to keep it dry but in no way limited my hunting options, it fired when needed.