New to black powder ?'s and excitement

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Joshboyfutre

Joshboyfutre

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Recently acquired two black powder guns for a very good price, so glad that I got a good price or I probably wouldn't have bought them, now that I've shot then I am completely ruined! lol. One problem that I'm having Is that my percussion caps don't seem to want to ignite. Replaced the nipple and it seems like they are not sliding all the way down onto it. Any suggestions
 
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Cva .50 plains pistol, I think. Definately Cva/.50 tho. Got a m6×1 cva nipple. Originally had Remington caps but heard they can b unreliable so I got some Winchester magnum. No ignition on the first drop of the hammer but almost always fires on the second. The other one is a classic arms .36 snake eyes derringer (same problem but unaddressed till I figure out the other one)
 
You may have #10 caps. If that's the case, try #11 caps. Remember that the sizes vary from maker to maker, and the numbers are just a general guideline. Remington #11 isn't the same as CCI or RWS #11.

Do the nipples look mushroomed at all? If so, you can either replace them or dress them with a file. Sometimes people just can't help dry-firing their guns, and it's tough on nipples.
 
Yeah I think the old ones had been dry fired too much on both of them so I filed the ones on the derringer down and replace the one on the 50 it makes sense that the Winchester are different than the Remington caps because Remington seem to fit a little better, I bought the Remington caps at a gun show, could they have gone bad or spoiled or something they don't look like they've been wet by the way thank you for the speedy replies
 
You may have #10 caps. If that's the case, try #11 caps. Remember that the sizes vary from maker to maker, and the numbers are just a general guideline. Remington #11 isn't the same as CCI or RWS #11.

Do the nipples look mushroomed at all? If so, you can either replace them or dress them with a file. Sometimes people just can't help dry-firing their guns, and it's tough on nipples.
Click to expand...

Good advice as cap sizes are different. You want something that fits tightly without having to force it down. Nipples do get beat up.

What about hammer strike? Does the nose of the hammer touch the nipple or does it hover above it? Is the mainspring weak?

Black powder is good messy fun. What I find amazing, is the level of accuracy that can be achieved both in ball and powder guns, and blackpowder cartridges.
 
I think my hammer is good the strike is a little bit off square though but I can't seem to get the part loosened to rotate it, but like I said it fires on the second shot every single time so I'm thinking my caps are not getting seated correctly. Bottom line is I'm new to black powder. And you are correct in the fact that it is good dirty fun, you get a lot more enjoyment per round compared to modern firearms IMO.
 
I had issues with the magnum caps often needing a second strike. You may need Remington #11's. Mine use Rem #10's though, which are smaller.
 
I am guessing that you are correct about the caps not being fully seated, which is why it is necessary to get the proper size caps. The cap should not be so loose as to fall off the nipple but neither do you want to try to "pound" then on as that is a recipe for disaster. I use a brass capper to install my caps and have very few problems with misfires. If you have your cap seated all the way down on the nipple and the hammer is striking the cap squarely it should go bang. Try dropping the hammer gently on a piece of paper over the nipple and look at the impression it leaves. Is the circle uniform and even around the circumference of the nipple or does it just leave a mark in one place?
 
Try pushing the cap all of the way down with something like a short piece of dowel and look to see if the cap still has a little bit of room before the open end bottoms out on the cone.
I have found that Remington caps are more forgiving as to size of nipples the way they are formed lets them open when forced
Yes, also the hammer face needs to strike square.
 
I guess the lesson of the day is it really important to get a good combination of cap and nipple and strike for consistency, thaks everyone for the replies and patience. Being a rookie I thought u could just get any old cap and chuck it on there and b good to go. I will just keep experimenting with different mixes. One ? About the brass cappers tho. Does using one of those actually help with seating the caps or is it more of a dispensing tool.
 
Joshboyfutre said:
I guess the lesson of the day is it really important to get a good combination of cap and nipple and strike for consistency, thaks everyone for the replies and patience. Being a rookie I thought u could just get any old cap and chuck it on there and b good to go. I will just keep experimenting with different mixes. One ? About the brass cappers tho. Does using one of those actually help with seating the caps or is it more of a dispensing tool.
Click to expand...
No, it doesn't help with seating.

In my opinion, they are more trouble than they're worth. Just seat them by hand, and use a small wooden dowel to push them all the way firmly on the nipple.

Cappers are a waste of money IMHO. They jam up all the time, and are simply no faster than just using one's finger and a dowel rod.
 
Can u imagine being shot at while trying to seat a cap. Here's one guy that has that much more respect for the soldiers of old!
 
I used a brass straight line capper for my Great Plains rifle because at half cock there wasn't room for me to easily cap it by hand. I then pressed it down onto nipple nice and tight with my finger tip. I don't use one to cap my '59 Sharps infantry rifle. Musket caps are much easier!
 
I use the straight brass cappers for all my #11 caps as it is too hard for my fingers to place the cap properly without dropping a few. Your fingers my be younger and not suffer from arthritis though.....
 
So even with the problems that I have experienced,I enjoy shooting these black powder pistol that I have. That brings me to a new question I'm looking at buying a Traditions 1860 Army revolver, does anybody have any insight with this company. The price is pretty low and I'm sure that you get what you pay for with black powder the same as you do with modern firearms. Any input is appreciated
 
Traditions are made by Pietta, and Pietta makes pretty good stuff these days. You will want to read up on "tuning the pietta cap and ball revolvers" if you want the best performance. Or send it to Goon's gun works and he'll do it for you. :)

But they are fine to shoot as is. Here are mine, completely stock, shooting black powder and pyrodex. https://youtu.be/ouYrlqvp1Uw

They may peen the cylinder bolt stop notches after a while due to soft cylinders, strong bolt springs, and improper fitting bolts. But it's par for the course with these, and it can be repaired.

Keep your eye on cabelas.com for sales. I found mine for $179 and they are below $200 pretty often.
 
IME, the RWS 1075 caps in a Ted Case rifle capper work best on single shot pistols & rifles. Rifle Capper Brass 18-03 $24.75 from The Possible Shop. http://possibleshop.com/s-s-cappers.html

Winchester Magnums are rebranded CCIs. If you can't find the RWS caps, Remington 10s or 11s should work.

Pietta Revolvers are reliable and fn to shoot. 1K is right about tuning them up using Pettifoggers articles:
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Pietta_Part_One.pdf
http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/Tuning_the_Pietta_Part_Two.pdf

You'll need a Ted Cash revolver capper & #10 Remingtons to make it a joy to shoot.

I seat the caps on my C&Bs with the capper. They go off first time every time.
 
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Cooldill said:
No, it doesn't help with seating.

In my opinion, they are more trouble than they're worth. Just seat them by hand, and use a small wooden dowel to push them all the way firmly on the nipple.

Cappers are a waste of money IMHO. They jam up all the time, and are simply no faster than just using one's finger and a dowel rod.
Click to expand...
Have you used the Tedd Cash snail capper? It's all I use for capping revolvers at a cowboy action match, very reliable.

website:

http://www.tdcmfg.com

capper:

http://www.tdcmfgstore.com/agora.cgi?cart_id=96935622.20286&p_id=C-CP&xm=on&ppinc=search2

I still seat the caps all the way onto the nipple with a small dowel after getting them started with the capper, but it sure beats fumbling little caps with cold arthritic fingers.

Edit:

Sorry Fingers, don't know how I overlooked your post.

Great minds...!
 
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Hey thanks for all the input fellas, this is the first time I've ever posted on a forum for advice and wish I hadn't waited so long. So in the end I filed down the outside of my nipple a little bit and the Remingtons are sliding right down now, And as far as a cap and ball I found a Uberti at a place called and buds gun shop online for a pretty decent price. I think I'm going to order that one. Really excited to get into the cap and ball game now! Kinda wish I had discovered black powder in a little warmer season tho lol.
 
I have three of the CVA cap and ball single shot pistols. The Philadelphia Derringer, the Patriot pistol and the Kentucky. I've had ignition problems with all three at one time or another. It's due to the main springs not being tempered enough/correctly IMHO. Each one has failed on numerous times to fail to fire on the first go. Everything else being equal, it's the force at the hammer fall that's an issue especially if the cap is seated all the way down on the nipple.
 
I have an Indiana hunter that I have a 2 power scope on and it has a 8 in barrel it is very good at 50 yards. I have not shot scene 2000.
 
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