Hot wax for sealing nipples?

I read somewhere that a drop of melted wax from a candle was a technique used to seal percussion caps back in the day. Never heard of using it on the chamber end of the cylinder, though.

I wouldn't mess with the hot melt glue gun, though. Just use a candle - of course don't impinge the flame on the cap.

Think they used sealing wax

I'd consider using melted straight beeswax(it's not petro) and a toothpick to apply it.

Sealing wax has hardeners in it to make it dry with a harder shell unlike pure beeswax you could pull beeswax off and put it back on but not sealing wax. It was made so you could tell if a letter, bottle, or other item was tampered with

The traditional natural sticks are still made today and would work well it is designed to seal items like this

Not trying to start an argument, but I am curious why you want to store a loaded capped percussion revolver?

If the caps fit the nipples they way they are supposed to, the caps will not come off under recoil...why are you concerned that they will fall off during storage? If it is a concern about moisture or condensation getting to the powder and rendering the gun unusable in an emergency, I would store a cartridge gun instead.

My first thought was to keep them dry and more dependable?

But like j-bar said if the caps fit properly they should seal. Mine fit tight enough that im sure they are sealed.

I kept my Ruger loaded for about 2 years. Out of 6 caps only 1 went off. They were cci no 11's and fit just fine. I'm beginning to wonder if my nipples were completely dry and free of oil.

If you can find them. They sell cap sealers. Some of them are to long for handguns, all you have to do is cut them in hafe. I live in Indiana where you don't need a permit to carry blackpowder-cap&ball handguns. I fire them atlest once a year to clean and reload. Nevere had a misfire or a low powered shot in 15 years of useing them. I love my 1858 Rim.

The "cap sealers" are just little sections of tubing i believe?

Lanolin keeps mine from getting sore in the winter.

I've thought about fingernail polish and wax. Haven't tried either.

The cap sealers I've seen looked like pink vinyl tubing.

I didnt think this would go very far.

What if you take some masking tape and put it on the front of the nipple right at the edge where the end of the cap sits.

Then dunk the nipple in wax and let it cool. Unpeel the tape wich should leave a little wax ring. Then push the cap on it should start to scrape off the wax and dig itself under the wax.

fill the end with bore butter just cover the whole thing cap and all with a blob of bore butter.

Vermonter said:

I'm interested in sealing the caps onto the nipples better for loaded storage.

...I'm thinking of using a wax stick in a hot glue gun.

Would this also work on the other end of the cylinder, just in case the ball / bullet didn't get a good seal?

Click to expand...

Good way to set yourself up for a misfire. Just make sure the cones fit proper like and you'll be fine. Make sure though those chambers and cones are absolutely clean and free of oil and debris before loading for obvious reasons.

I would also store it pointed down. If you use borebutter or anything that could leak in around the balls

Sam Colt used to demonstrate the reliabilty of his revolvers by loading and capping the cylinder than dropping it in a bucket of water. He would continue the sales pitch and after 15 minutes (or more) retrieve the cylinder, mount it in the revolver and fire it, six times.

If everything fits properly, why do you need any additional sealing goop?

If I were to consider "sealing" a percussion cap in a loaded state for long-term storage (which I'm not),
I'd just paint the exposed edge w/ clear nail polish and forget about it.

But being as I've hunted/shot in both driving and drizzling rain w/o ever a misfire,
I don't see the requirement.

What Strawhat said, proper fit is the most important factor, why gum up a nipple?

Only if you were betting your life on it to fire maybe? Instead of hoping everything "fit perf.".
I'm not being flippant, I'm just saying a misfire because of a non-perfect fit that may otherwise have not been a misfire with added precautions is a terrible way to learn a lesson (with the loss of your life).
The question of having a cartridge gun may not be an option for some, and it may be criminal for others. You don't want them to break the law do you ?


45 Dragoon

45 Dragoon said:

Only if you were betting your life on it to fire maybe? Instead of hoping everything "fit perf.".
I'm not being flippant, I'm just saying a misfire because of a non-perfect fit that may otherwise have not been a misfire with added precautions is a terrible way to learn a lesson (with the loss of your life).
The question of having a cartridge gun may not be an option for some, and it may be criminal for others. You don't want them to break the law do you ?


45 Dragoon

Click to expand...

If the caps don't fit, gluing them on is not the way to correct the problem. Either get the correct size caps or find proper cones for the caps you have.

I will agree with you on that. You gotta know what your weapon needs to function properly. That being given, taking precautions for long term storage (preventing moisture intrusion) is a smart thing to do. Insurance in this case isn't a bad thing.


45 Dragoon

Gotta agree if I have a percussion revolver by my bed for emergencies I want to know it will go bang 100% of the time

StrawHat said:

Sam Colt used to demonstrate the reliabilty of his revolvers by loading and capping the cylinder than dropping it in a bucket of water. He would continue the sales pitch and after 15 minutes (or more) retrieve the cylinder, mount it in the revolver and fire it, six times.

If everything fits properly, why do you need any additional sealing goop?

Click to expand...

But those were brass caps wernt they? or were they copper #10 CCI like we use today?

I've shot at least 5000 rounds thru my 2 Pietta 58 Remingtons (2500 thru each), and never had one round not go off shooting CAS. I did after the initial shooting shoot the front of the cylinder with Pam Cooking oil, in order to keep the cylinder turning freely during the match.

I can't say I never had a spent primer jam up the action momentarily, however all my shots managed to go boom once cleared. Further I think enough of my life, and my family, not to use the percussion revolver for home protection, because of the possibility of a failure.

Not being flippant, I prefer a .40 S&W Critical Defense load in my Springfield XD. For as much as I enjoy shooting the real "BP" handguns, rifles, and shotguns, I realize I'm not an early 19th century centurion, as I'm absolutely certain it won't fail me, if and when I need it.

My grandpa always carried a chapstick ,I do the same.
It works for chapped lips, and sealing caps on nipples.
In a pinch it will lube a stuck zipper ,or a lose screw.
I've used it to help get wet kindling burning.
but yeah it will seal out moisture on your nipples.

"I can't say I never had a spent primer jam up the action momentarily, however all my shots managed to go boom once cleared. Further I think enough of my life, and my family, not to use the percussion revolver for home protection, because of the possibility of a failure."

Yet for various reasons not everyone can get the best modern handgun. In Massachusetts where I used to live you can only get a permit to purchase one if the local police approve, or maybe you have a 30 year old domestic misdemeanor you would have fought if you knew it would come back at you this way, or live in a country that the only gun you can own is percussion. Or maybe you judt dont want to register your firearms like in MD. I dont have any of those and can own a modern gun but many can't.

If so then a CnB revolver beats a sharp stick or a rock and anything that can be done to make it more reliable helps