Are my caps too small??

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NCWanderer

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I've been wondering if I'm using the right size caps. They seem to fit the nipples on my1858 Remmie New Army (Pietta) well enough. but yesterday I had my first misfire. The cap fired but the charge didn't. I checked to make sure the barrel was clear and then recapped the offending chamber after which it fired OK. Then after reloading I was checking the caps and noticed that some of the caps appeared to be seated just a little crooked. I rechecked and they appeared to be firmly seated. Could this be an indication that my caps are too small? Or am I just not lineing them up properly when sliding them on the nipple? I'm using CCI # 10 caps. I'm thinking of trying a different size or brand, but I don't know which ones to go to next. Also I would like to add that I'm using the original nipples that came on my gun. Is that bad? :confused: :banghead:
 
I'm not sure what it is that makes you think they're not the right size. If I read your post correctly, your caps all fired when struck, so it sure sounds like they're ok. The only thing that didn't fire was the main charge, one time only. If the cap fired but the main charge didn't, it's not the cap's fault - it did all it could do.

Then you thought they looked like they were crooked, but when you rechecked them, they weren't. That suggests the only thing wrong is your eyesight...?

I don't see any issues with your cap size or the nipples. One misfire, of the main charge, not the caps, isn't a cap size problem.
 
There are many reasons the main charge failed to ignite when the cap did. A plugged flash channel is certainly one; contaminated powder is another. Too many possible reasons and not enough information to really say anything thing more than, "Maybe...". We can pretty certainly say it wasn't a cap that was too small, however.
 
They were a little a little crooked. That's what made me think they were too small and couldn't be seated properly. All so I'm sure the nipple was clear because my gun was clean and this happened on my first loaded cylinder of the day. But I guess you're right the cap did what it was suppose to. But this WAS my first misfire and being still somewhat of a newby at BP shooting, I was concerned that something wasn't right. If there are more misfires I'll probably consider some Treso nipples. I understand they are the Cadillac of nipples.:)
Thanks
 
Glinda+the+Good+Witch.jpg

Glinda the Good Witch of the South said,
"Click your heels together and repeat these words, use a nipple pick after cleaning, use a nipple pick after cleaning, use a nipple pick after cleaning." :D
 
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I had a dream about Glinda once....never mind.

Good advice from articap, as usual. Also, another common problem after cleaning is leaving some cleaning residue in the bottom of the chamber. Very easy to do since you can't see in there without much extra effort. This 'residue' can contaminate the first bit of powder that's loaded and cause a misfire; one that's then cleared on the next attempt.

So, be sure to dry the chambers, and use the nipple pick.

Now, as for that dream about Glinda and the nipple pick....
 
When I read your first post I was thinking "Hmmm, I wonder if this was the first cylinder of the day". The reason I was thinking that it could very well be powder contamination. Specifically, excess gun oil in the nipple or bottom of the cylinder chamber from your previous cleaning could be wetting the powder around the nipple area. Many folks will recommend you fire all six cylinders with a cap (no charge) to clear the nipples free of any junk or oil. I always do this. Some folks will fire two caps per nipple but so far I've found one cap seems to blow it out clean. Also, I assume you are using BP. If you are using 777 keep in mind that 777 is harder to ignite than BP. This probably means it takes less oil contamination to screw up 777 versus BP.

As mykeal said: There isn't a thing wrong with the cap. The cap did it's job.
 
Yes, this was the first cylinder of the day and I confess I didn't fire a cap on the nipples before firing, because after I cleaned it last time I blew all excess oil from the nipples with compressed air......or at least I thought I did. I guess that may not be good enough. Maybe some oil could have seeped in from else where.
As someone else pointed out, it was only one misfire and it fired with a second cap.
 
FWIW, after cleaning I always hold the cylinder up to the light, and make sure I can see light through each nipple.
 
I fire one cap on the empty chambers before loading the first batch. I have heard about using as many as three caps each. I can see through the caps before the first so I think three may be overkill. I use old or wrong sized caps to clear my nipples.
Clear my nipples. Sounds like I'm talking about the nipple witch now.

jim
 
We'd better do a study... I'll check the women... you check Jaegermeister !!:neener:
Click to expand...

DAMN YER HIDE! You just about made me spit my scotch on the monitor and keyboard ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! WARN me next time you're going to do that would'ja.

And.... to help keep this on topic if it helps I ran a pipe cleaner through my own nipples... er... my CYLINDER nipples to clean out the majority of the oil but leave a light film. This was the last thing I did after patching out the chambers to remove the majority of the oil in them. As it turned out I shot my first round without a clearing cap just because I was new to both my new 1858's as well as the CAS shooting so I just plain forgot. Out of my first 10 shots in my first stage I had one cap fail to fire despite 3 hammer falls. The rest all went off and that one cylinder fired just fine in the second stage with a new cap. So it seems like if you can minimize the oil then you won't have any trouble with the shooting. And it takes such a light film to avoid rust that many would not realize that so little will do so much.
 
I am not sure about Glinda - looks about a 32 A cup which is bit lacking!!!!

Equally nipple lint???? quick spruce up with an ice cube gets attention followed by a good dollop of bore butter does not go amiss, if you have the correct flavour, but do not even mention nipple picks - they scream and run for it!:what:

D/J is probably into axel grease and sump oil :evil:
 
Another thing that may help in the future.
In my range bag, I keep a small bottle of 91% rubbing alcohol & some Q-tips, with those I will wet one end of the Q-tip with the alcohol & swab the chambers then turn the Q-tip over & swab the chambers dry.
So far "knock on wood" I've yet to have a failure to fire from cleaning or oil residue contaminating the powder charge.

I also do this with my refles too, just wet a patch with the alcohol & swab it down & then follow behind with a dry patch.
 
No Sump Oil please

I much prefer , an much rather , use Rump Oil thanks anyway :)

Ummm , I always , and I mean ALWAYS fire caps on my empty cylinder just prior to loading . That is the most entertained idea I have ever known , and its in your MANUELS , might want to read once in awhile fellas . :D
We may want to debate the meaning of life over this , or if its safe , or if your getting your moneys worth out of an un-elitist firearm or not , wheres flmason anyway , we can screw this threade up too , ooops too late . :what:

Out of all the responces to this post I only see one of you that does this nipple clearing the right way ? That baffels me ? A nipple pick does littel to comfort me as far as clearing a nipple . The cap fireing heats up the channel, burning off any goo that might be around also , the pick does not .
Here , lets debate this to death now , wheres flmason anyway ? :banghead:

Das Jaeger
 
Sundance44s is right......the right way goes boom. And I was wrong not to fire a cap on each cylinder first. I reckon I figured I would be wasting caps since I was sure the gun was clean. Didn't even think about excess oil. I guess too much of a good thing can be bad too.........sometimes :evil: :D
 
Maybe back

in the day they used to conserve caps ? I am sure they did too :)
Today they are sooooo cheap , tis good insurance on functioning and fireing though . A nipple pick wouldn't be a bad idea too after fireing caps on an empty cylinder , but I have never had a problem either from just poppin caps to do it .

Jaeger

PS....it is also a good idea to use a gas welders tip cleaning pick set to keep the walls of the nipples clean from buildup of residue from the fired caps also once in awhile , like EVERYTIME you clean the gun . They are in fact little gun barrels when you think about um .
 
Out of all the responces to this post I only see one of you that does this nipple clearing the right way ?
Click to expand...

So what's my prize Jaeger? How 'bout I get to pick AND keep any firearm out of your collection? Sounds like a fair and equitable prize....don't ya think? :what:
 
Really does

sound like a great deal Clembert , for you :D Equitable prize , ummm , yes , it would be that , hee hee he , umm nope . :) I will award you the wisest one award , both in revolver know-how and wise A$$ know-how department :D
You are officially awarded with Intellegence and Abilty to READ award . :D

I am surprised more people didn't do that , honestly surprised ? Scratchin my head still ? I hope they will now though :D

If I was to offer the prize , out of curiousity , what would you pick ? Probably my Springfield Longslide huh ? Darn good thing I aint takin pictures of whats in the SAFE !

Jaeger , cheers, over and out :D
 
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