1851 Navy & beginner

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I have a nipple pick my father gave me but haven't needed it in the few years I was shooting, typically at least once a month for hours at a time.

Haven't needed or used cap keepers either. I could see them being beneficial with a Colt that jams often. But were it me I'd fix the issue instead of bandaid it. Not to mention I'd think those would add another layer of tedious, and being somewhat tiny I'd think hard for someone with big fingers to fiddle with.
 
The ??? in my prior post means "What the hell is this!?"

...but I'm just now learning that from here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141321540211
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5935286

Why one package contains 300 of them and not 6? Does that mean when the cap "explodes" that the cap keeper gets damaged too? But they wrote that they're "reusable".

If that will prevent pieces of spent cap to jam my revolver, I say this is good invention! Why hasn't anyone mention that this exists? There was a lot of talk here recently about problems which spent caps can cause.
 
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I have a nipple pick my father gave me but haven't needed it in the few years
I thought we're supposed to clean nipples by sticking nipple pick through them?


This nipple pick is 0,9 mm in diameter (the seller confirmed me that just now) - is that ok for the nipples on my revolver? http://www.emshootingsupplies.com/store/p368/BRASS_3-IN-1_TOOL.html
How wide is the hole on Pietta Navy nipples? I see now around the web that some mention it's 0,75 mm.
 
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I don't think you need the nipple pick. If you haven't already - watch these 2 videos on cleaning your gun:




I use an old plastic toothbrush to clean my nipples after hosing them down with tap water and in my case generic windex.
 
The ??? in my prior post means "What the hell is this!?"

...but I'm just now learning that from here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141321540211
https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5935286

Why one package contains 300 of them and not 6? Does that mean when the cap "explodes" that the cap keeper gets damaged too? But they wrote that they're "reusable".

If that will prevent pieces of spent cap to jam my revolver, I say this is good invention! Why hasn't anyone mention that this exists? There was a lot of talk here recently about problems which spent caps can cause.

I'm not familiar with them but some people believe they help seal the chambers against moisture which would be helpful for hunting or long term storage loaded.
 
After reading about cap keepers on several sites (even saw drobs' posts on one), I have decided that cap keepers are awesome and will use them. Seems that only one guy in a world sells them, and he ships only domestically (USA). How about that? I can order revolver from another country, but I can't order tiny pieces of plastic tube. So I'll make my own. I like that "modification" better than drilling my revolver to install that famous cap rake. Would that cap rake be in a way (pun (not)intended) once I have a conversion cylinder? (And I will have one, that deal is already made.)
 
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I thought we're supposed to clean nipples by sticking nipple pick through them?


This nipple pick is 0,9 mm in diameter (the seller confirmed me that just now) - is that ok for the nipples on my revolver? http://www.emshootingsupplies.com/store/p368/BRASS_3-IN-1_TOOL.html
How wide is the hole on Pietta Navy nipples? I see now around the web that some mention it's 0,75 mm.

I've never done anything to the interior of my various nipples. I peak through them after cleaning the exterior but never noticed any buildup or blockage.
 
I use an old plastic toothbrush to clean my nipples after hosing them down
Yes, when you take apart your gun and clean it completely. But what if I just want / need to clean the hole of a nipple, and I won't / can't clean the whole revolver? Wouldn't the nipple pick be useful then?
 
I've yet to try cap keepers. Cap jams aren't that often of an occurrence for me. There is one video on cap keepers on youtube and that is loading caps in the tubing.


Personally I'd tell you to hold off on buying those till you've fired the gun with black powder a couple outings.

As long as the cap rake pin is kept small there shouldn't be an issue with it blocking the firing pin on a conversion cylinder. .
 
Thanks drobs, saw that video half an hour ago. I can't buy cap keepers so I'll make my own, the cost will be around zero. Can anyone find anywhere - I'm trying unsuccessfully for the last 2 hours - how wide is the hole in a middle of nipples on Pietta Navy?
 
Yes, when you take apart your gun and clean it completely. But what if I just want / need to clean the hole of a nipple, and I won't / can't clean the whole revolver? Wouldn't the nipple pick be useful then?

No, never needed the pick. When I'm home on vacation I'll usually shoot everyday, leaving the stinky guns in my unheated / un-cooled attached garage and then clean them once per week.
I'll shoot 3 to 4 cylinders per day. I have a 25 yard range right out my back door.
 
Thanks drobs, saw that video half an hour ago. I can't buy cap keepers so I'll make my own, the cost will be around zero. Can anyone find anywhere - I'm trying unsuccessfully for the last 2 hours - how wide is the hole in a middle of nipples on Pietta Navy?

A pet store that sell fish tank supplies might have the tubing. Some hardware stores might sell tubing.
I wouldn't use them for normal range shooting as they add an unnecessary tedious step to the loading process.
Feel free to try them and report back how they work.

If you are going to keep the gun loaded (after cleaning it) for self defense, if they work - might be a good thing.

Question - how tight is your barrel wedge? Are you able to remove your barrel wedge and barrel w/o tools? (Question is in regards to the barrel wedge tool).
 
Of my 2 Pietta 1860 Army's, one barrel wedge comes out with thumb pressure. The other needs a tool and a plastic mallet.

I made my own wedge tool by crushing a fired 5.56x45 casing, bending it over, and then smashing that in a bench top vice. You could do the same with other sizes of fired brass casings and a hammer (or big rock).

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My internet is real slow this morning - typing is difficult so kindly ignore my grammar issues.
 
My best friend is top expert for fish tanks, so I'll give him that task first thing tomorrow. I consider that already done. I will try cap keepers and probably continue to use them after trying, because they seem such a simple and brilliant idea. Cheap too! Best ideas are always simple.
I won't keep my gun loaded. We have a couple of wars in every century, but crime rate here is incomparably lower than in the USA.
My barrel wedge seems tight, I don't think it can be removed without tools. I still haven't tried to remove it. I have a plastic mallet and wood pieces for that job.
 
I have a homework assignment for you.

Completely disassemble the gun. Take the barrel off, cylinder off, take all the internals out, degrease them with ballistol, give the inside of the frame a blast of ballistol, and re-assemble the gun.
I recommend you put the screws in a container so they wont roll away and disappear into the carpeting.

Report back once complete - with what issues you had.
 
I plan to do that after my first shooting - which should be soon now. Just waiting for the damn paper from the police so that I can go pick up black powder. Every day I expect it to arrive.
 
1861, I've been keeping up with this thread since the beginning. Im excited for you to finally shoot this gun that you've been jumping through so many hoops for. I'm more excited for your range day than I am my own. Please post pics and range reports. How long now 'till you can fire it off?
 
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