First day shooting black. Lots of lessons learned!

[Fat_46]

Finally made it to the range with my 45 Hawken. First shot with a patched ball over 45gr Goex FFFg made me giggle like a schoolgirl.
I ran a patch wetted with water and several dry patches. Here was lesson one...I cleaned it on the rests with the rifle slightly canter onto the lowered hammer. As you may have guessed, while the bore was dry the nipple and flash hole, due to the angle, were full of wet, and the hammer served as an effective plug.

Reloaded and put the cap on, pulled the trigger and click. The cap didn't even go off! I pulled the cap and immediately saw the wet sludge. Removed the nipple, dried as best I could and click again.

Now for the second lesson. Although I pulled the nipple and ran more water down the hole there I was shaking using the puller!

Everything ended up ok, and I purchased a co2 discharger on the way back home but it was a learning experience!

 

[JohnD13]

Black powder will teach you some interesting lessons! Now when you get to wanting a flintlock................

 

[Shinbone]

Same here. My first day shooting BP was about 2 weeks ago with a 1858 Rem. At the time I thought it was a very slow and tedious procedure and I didn't intend to go through that again. Caps were falling off nipples from the recoil, etc. (So I bought from Possible Shop 6 Treso Ampco nipples for the 1858 for use with #11 caps just last night.)
But I think it grows on you, because I can't wait to go and shoot again. It's a relaxing time at the range, if you're not in a big hurry to put lead downrange.

 

[junkman_01]

Be advised that all cap numbers are not the same. I use the Treso (Ampco) nipples and Remington #10's work great. I believe that that the Remington #11's are the same size as the Remington #10's only a little bit longer. Other manufacturer's #10 +11's are slightly different in their dimensions.

 

[Whacked]

Wait until you get a delayed fire.
Happened to me last nite. A interesting experience. cap fires, split second later BOOM.
Or a little too much TC #13 and the gun becomes a smoky sparkler.

Junkman is right on caps. On my Pietta .44, the CCI #10 are much too tight. CCI #11 a little too loose but the REM #11 fit perfectly

 

[Shinbone]

That's what I have; the Remington #11's.