Idaho shooter
Member
I tried pinching the caps slightly before putting them on. Worked perfect, no caps came off while firing. Is there any danger in pinching these caps, like possibly causing a chain fire?
caps coming off Pietta 1858 remington .44
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Malachi Leviticus Blue
Member
It is a commonly accepted source of chain fire, but it is done by plenty of folks none the less.
nothing is 100% safe, there are always risks. You decide if it is worth it.
nothing is 100% safe, there are always risks. You decide if it is worth it.
BullSlinger
Member
Pietta cap and ball pistols require # 10 caps. Get some and problem solved.
351 WINCHESTER
Member
I have to pinch some of mine and have never had a problem, but I have heard that it will increase your chance of a chainfire, but I have never had one. Remington no. 10's fit mine the best, but not as snug as I like.
Erwan
Member
There are two theories: chain fire coming from front and the other coming from rear.
With good bullet at the good size I don't believe that the chain fire come from front (grease or not), that's what I think, I never had a chainfire in almost 50 years shooting cap and balls...
Anyway it is not your real problem: a chain fire is coming mostly when a cap escape from nipple. If your caps stay on their nipples you dont risk a chainfire. Pinching the caps is a good way for Pietta but also for Uberti...
Doing so is a good habit right size or not, always pinch the caps: it make them still in place and dont fall when shooting...
With good bullet at the good size I don't believe that the chain fire come from front (grease or not), that's what I think, I never had a chainfire in almost 50 years shooting cap and balls...
Anyway it is not your real problem: a chain fire is coming mostly when a cap escape from nipple. If your caps stay on their nipples you dont risk a chainfire. Pinching the caps is a good way for Pietta but also for Uberti...
Doing so is a good habit right size or not, always pinch the caps: it make them still in place and dont fall when shooting...
Erwan
Member
Since now almost fifty years now I always pinch my caps. I never had this problem of chainfire..
OP
OP
Idaho shooter
Member
Thanks friend, appreciate the input.
Fingers McGee
Member
If you use correctly sized caps, they don't need pinching and will not even have the remotest possibility of chain firing.
This might be of interest:
This might be of interest:
The problem is that there is no real standard for percussion cap size and the dimensions of percussion caps even from the same company vary in dimensions from time to time. Maybe it has to do with the cheapest manufacturing flavor of the season.
The same size caps among different brands almost always vary. People deal with this by pinching caps or filing their nipples to accomadate the dimensions of their supply of caps.
I think another alternative is to buy those expensive percussion caps used by target competitors that have consistant dimensions and filing and shaping your nipples to accomadate them if necessary.
Otherwise in general know that standard percussion cap dimensions are all over the place.
The same size caps among different brands almost always vary. People deal with this by pinching caps or filing their nipples to accomadate the dimensions of their supply of caps.
I think another alternative is to buy those expensive percussion caps used by target competitors that have consistant dimensions and filing and shaping your nipples to accomadate them if necessary.
Otherwise in general know that standard percussion cap dimensions are all over the place.
delrom418
Member
Here's an interesting read. This is one paragraph taken from the link below:
http://geojohn.org/BlackPowder/bps2.html
"In test after test, I put caps only on every other chamber with the two adjacent chambers loaded, but uncapped. I then would fire the three rounds. After firing I'd reload and then put caps on the three chambers unfired from the previous round and then shoot them off. I did this over and over again on several occasions now and you know what? It didn't work, I never got a single chain fire no matter how many times I tried it. I would have all these open nipples and never get a chain fire. I also tried capping one chamber at a time and I couldn't get it to chain fire that way either. To me, this is very strong evidence, if not exactly proof positive, that poor fitting caps (or in this case, no caps at all) have nothing to do with chain firing."
http://geojohn.org/BlackPowder/bps2.html
"In test after test, I put caps only on every other chamber with the two adjacent chambers loaded, but uncapped. I then would fire the three rounds. After firing I'd reload and then put caps on the three chambers unfired from the previous round and then shoot them off. I did this over and over again on several occasions now and you know what? It didn't work, I never got a single chain fire no matter how many times I tried it. I would have all these open nipples and never get a chain fire. I also tried capping one chamber at a time and I couldn't get it to chain fire that way either. To me, this is very strong evidence, if not exactly proof positive, that poor fitting caps (or in this case, no caps at all) have nothing to do with chain firing."
Diogenes415
Member
I use #11 Rem caps on my Pietta and Uberti Colt and Remington repros. I point, pull the trigger and they fire. Never had a chain fire but then I keep my revolvers dry and don't goop up the works with powder attracting oil/tallow sludge. My reloads are dry, clean and quick... kinda like the old days when users weren't over-thinking things.
Cap selection is by far the least of one's worries when it comes to chain-fires.
Cap selection is by far the least of one's worries when it comes to chain-fires.
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I have had multiple chain fires over the last 30 years shooting 1858's and #11's. Startles you more than anything else and occasioanlly requires some lead cleanup on the frot of the cylinder cutout of the frame. I currently use the RWS or #10 Remingtons and havent had a problem since I switched. I pack one camping or hiking and dont use grease since it makes a mess in the holster. I dont believe chain fires are initiated from the front of the cylinder around a swaged lead ball.
Smokin'Joe
Member
Oversize caps are easily and symmetrically re-sized using a small socket from a ¼'' ratchet set. Either a 5/32” or 4mm size will work.
Simply place cap on hard flat surface open side up and apply downward force with the socket. A gentle tap may be required. If the re-sized cap resists being removed from the socket gently grab it with pliers and rock it back and forth.
I modified my socket slightly with a pointed stone on a Dremel tool to provide a forcing cone of sorts.
Simply place cap on hard flat surface open side up and apply downward force with the socket. A gentle tap may be required. If the re-sized cap resists being removed from the socket gently grab it with pliers and rock it back and forth.
I modified my socket slightly with a pointed stone on a Dremel tool to provide a forcing cone of sorts.
il.bill
Member
That is a Smokin' idea, Joe.
A 'Tip o' the Cap' to you - thanks! I will give it a try.
A 'Tip o' the Cap' to you - thanks! I will give it a try.
caps on Pietta..
I started off having these problems when I first started shooting my revolvers. I started pinching them and 95% of the time that solved it... and then, though I like the socket idea and will try it out tomorrow in fact... I started using needle nose pliers to tighten them up and that works with no failures so far....
However... these are all band aids and I'm all for making sure that squished or not, that one use some sort push stick to keep them as snug as possible on the nipple. Switching out nipples seems to have solved the problem on a couple of my cylinders, but making sure caps are tight on the nipple is still important... in my OPINION.
I started off having these problems when I first started shooting my revolvers. I started pinching them and 95% of the time that solved it... and then, though I like the socket idea and will try it out tomorrow in fact... I started using needle nose pliers to tighten them up and that works with no failures so far....
However... these are all band aids and I'm all for making sure that squished or not, that one use some sort push stick to keep them as snug as possible on the nipple. Switching out nipples seems to have solved the problem on a couple of my cylinders, but making sure caps are tight on the nipple is still important... in my OPINION.
TruthTellers
member
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Try both Remington and CCI #10's. Shoot with whichever are tighter.
I see a lot of people have issues with caps flying off Pietta's and it's always dependent on what size tolerance was held at the factory by both Pietta and the percussion cap maker for that given production run.
What I'm saying is that CCI may work great with the Pietta's, but be horrible with Uberti. It's just one of those things.
I see a lot of people have issues with caps flying off Pietta's and it's always dependent on what size tolerance was held at the factory by both Pietta and the percussion cap maker for that given production run.
What I'm saying is that CCI may work great with the Pietta's, but be horrible with Uberti. It's just one of those things.
I pinch, always have, always will. That's the way it was done when the firearms were new.
Oh, and the first thing to do is throw away (well I guess you could keep them for spares) and by some good nipples. Not only do they tend to fit caps better, but they also provide a smoother pathway from the cap to the cylinder.
Oh, and the first thing to do is throw away (well I guess you could keep them for spares) and by some good nipples. Not only do they tend to fit caps better, but they also provide a smoother pathway from the cap to the cylinder.
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