loose caps cure?

[Cliff6]

I recently purchased my first black powder gun, a Pietta 1851 Navy 36 caliber.
When I place the caps on the nipples, they are fairly loose and easily removed. I've read that some shooters slightly "oval" their caps, but that doesn't seem to help.
I'm using Remington No. 10's.

I've only shot 10 rounds from it so far. What is left of the caps seems to stay on the nipple, just hanging, and blown all to hell.

It shoots fine and is a lot of fun.

Any ideas? Is this just the way it is? If so, I'll be okay.

Cliff

 

[Bibbyman]

I bought a bunch of RWS that were too big. Being a tight wad, I modified a pair of wiring pliers to "squoze" them down a little. Time consuming but I had the time.

 

[Cliff6]

I ovaled a few to try out. They expanded when I put them on the nipples and didn't stay all that snug. How were your after you pressed them on to the nipples? Maybe I'm just expecting them to be too snug. I think I do tend to overthink things They stay in place....sooo.

 

[woodnbow]

I ovaled a few to try out. They expanded when I put them on the nipples and didn't stay all that snug. How were your after you pressed them on to the nipples? Maybe I'm just expecting them to be too snug. I think I do tend to overthink things They stay in place....sooo.

Mine are all fairly snug, they slide on with a bit of resistance and require a screwdriver to remove. Some guys swear by the old Uncle Mikes stainless nipples, others use Slixshot and others, myself included, like Ampco nipples. Still others just squeeze the caps and bang away… Uberti cones seem tailored for the Remington 10’s, as are slixshot and Ampco.

and yes they’re all blown all to hell after firing, mine usually drop off in the channel to the right of the hammer opening in the recoil shield as the cylinder rotates for the next shot. Occasionally they’ll hang on through all six rounds.

 

[hawg]

Pinch them a little tighter. When I use #11 caps I don't have a problem with looseness. Or try CCI #10.

 

[.38 Special]

Imperfect cap fit is pretty standard. If you really want significant improvement, you'll get some aftermarket cones and then stick with the brand and size of caps the maker recommends. Short of that, you can get some CCI caps (at least in theory, anyway) as they are of slightly smaller interior diameter than the Remingtons.

Or, you can continue to pinch the Remingtons and carry on, as most people do.

 

[Mizar]

1. Get either Ampco, Slix Shot, or Track of the Wolf stainless aftermarket nipples.
2. Shorten the original ones - it depends on the particular revolver, but once you loose contact with the hammer, you can safely leave about .004 - .006" distance between the hammer and the nipples.

P.S. I'm not too fond on pinching the caps on percussion revolvers for several reasons not worth mentioning here, because it may drift the discussion away...

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

if you want to tighten up the caps, file a bit off the end of the nipple/cone
Since it's cone shaped, the OD gets larger the shorter it gets.

 

[hawg]

if you want to tighten up the caps, file a bit off the end of the nipple/cone
Since it's cone shaped, the OD gets larger the shorter it gets.

CCI #10's are a snug fit on my stock nipples. File off too much and they won't fire.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

CCI #10's are a snug fit on my stock nipples. File off too much and they won't fire.

If the caps are already snug, then they don't need to be tightened up.

 

[Mizar]

Stock Pietta nipples cost only about $10 for a set of 6 (blued) - you can get a couple of sets and fit them for different caps, depending on availability. The good thing (and bad) is, that they are so inconsistent in dimensions from batch to batch, that you can end up with a perfectly fitting ones without any alterations. Or you may not...

 

[Jimster]

Or buy Slixshot nipples and use Remington #10s. Don’t use RWS 1075s! SliXshot nipples have two vent holes on the side to reduce blowback. My Uberti 1860 is as reliable as my Uberti 1873 SAA 7th Cav clone.

 

[hawg]

If the caps are already snug, then they don't need to be tightened up.

No, they don't. They're fine.

 

[Bighorserider]

Slixshots fit CCI 11s perfectly. They fell off my stock Pietta nipples.

 

[Cliff6]

Or buy Slixshot nipples and use Remington #10s. Don’t use RWS 1075s! SliXshot nipples have two vent holes on the side to reduce blowback. My Uberti 1860 is as reliable as my Uberti 1873 SAA 7th Cav clone.

I was thinking about the Slixshot nipples since I've read quite a bit about them. Seems to be the way to go.

 

[J-Bar]

Ampco (Treso) or Slix-Shot nipples with Remington #10 caps have been the rule for years in cowboy action competition.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

I found that the diameter of the nipple needs to be .174 at the middle of the cone to properly fit #11 caps. This gives them a slight press fit and they won't slide off. Your best bet is get a set of replacement nipples that fit right. It can get real interesting when the pistol chainfires from loose caps.

 

[Cliff6]

Thanks for all the advice. I just placed an order for a set of Slix-Shot nipples.
Happy shooting guys.

Cliff

 

[Cliff6]

Received my set of Slix nipples today. They fit perfect and really hold the #10 Remington caps well. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for all the advice.

Cliff

 

[woodnbow]

And thank you for coming back with a report… best of luck with your BP pursuits!

 

[hawg]

I found that the diameter of the nipple needs to be .174 at the middle of the cone to properly fit #11 caps. This gives them a slight press fit and they won't slide off. Your best bet is get a set of replacement nipples that fit right. It can get real interesting when the pistol chainfires from loose caps.

From my own experiments I don't believe for a New York minute that chain fires can come from the nipples.

 

[hawg]

Here's a video that backs up what I've always said about chain fires.

 

[Dark Skies]

From my own experience, I've fired thousands of rounds and only experienced ONE chain fire. From the back. The previous owner of my (first) Pietta 1851 had fitted after market nipples. Fine with black powder. But one day I tried a black powder substitute and the very first shot caused a chain fire. Ball was a very tight fit and a decent ring of lead. In those days, I also greased over the ball (I don't now). Closer inspection revealed the finer than black powder substitute was prone to leaking out the nipples. Not much, just the odd grain or two and not every nipple, but one or two. Enough to be dangerous with less than super tight caps.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

My old Walker chained several times due to poorly fitted nipples, it actually blew out 2 of them on a chainfire. After I tapped the cylinder and fitted Hot shot nipples no more chainfires. I now believe chainfires can come from either end of the cylinder. Used to think it only came from the nipple end until my 1860 navy chained. That one was from spilled powder on the front of the cylinder in spite of greased balls.

 

[1KPerDay]

From my own experiments I don't believe for a New York minute that chain fires can come from the nipples.

IMO saying they CAN'T happen from either end is not reasonable. To me it makes more sense that flame can get past an ill-fitting cap or an empty cone than past a ball that cut a ring upon seating. But I wouldn't bet my life on either and I'm confident that chainfires have happened from either end. Thankfully I haven't experienced one yet.