loose caps cure?

1KPerDay said:
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.
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I've tried and tried to get a chain from the nipple end and can't do it.
 
hawg said:
I've tried and tried to get a chain from the nipple end and can't do it.
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Understood, and your testing certainly adds some validity to your point. But that’s different from saying it CAN’T happen. I’ve swum in the ocean many times and never been bitten by a shark. But I’d never claim it can’t happen.

Or “I’ve shot 40,000 rounds of titegroup reloads using range brass through my .40 Glock with unsupported chamber and never had a problem. Kabooms can’t happen.” :)
 
Just going back to the original topic - cap fit.

FYI - fired caps, falling off the nipples, is normal.
I find my Pietta revolvers work best with Remington #10 caps.
 
Dark Skies said:
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.
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Very interesting. My one and only chain fire, after 30 years of shooting cap-N-ball, was with 777. Blew the loading lever latch-stud, and the front sight, clean off. But I have no idea, or opinion, as to which end of the cylinder caused the "event". !!!
 
I've got one that cuts a good ring but it will chain every time if I don't use lube or wads. I've left all the caps off and it won't chain. Leave out the lube or wads and it chains whether it has caps or not. I've tried to get other guns to chain by leaving all the caps off and they wouldn't do it. They wouldn't chain if I left the lube or wads off either tho.
 
Jackrabbit1957 said:
Interesting Hawg, that kinda says there's something wrong with that cylinder to me. Like a out of round chamber or two. What brand is it?
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Rigarmi. Yeah there's something wonky about it but point being as long as wads or lube is used it won't chain. When it chains it's anywhere from three to six chambers.
 
Jackrabbit1957 said:
Wow, it's a wonder it hasn't destroyed itself or your hand!
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Chain fires aren't dangerous to you or the gun unless you're using T7. Other than Ugly Sauce I've heard one other report from somebody I trust of a chain with T7 that knocked off a lever latch on a Colt. Mine is a Remington. The only thing it ever did was bend a link pin and that was after God only knows how many chain fires. I bought the gun new when I was 12. The first time I fired it it set off all six chambers and it wasn't scary at all. I had a lot of chain fires with it. The only ball that has any real pressure behind it is the one that goes down the bore. The rest just go a few yards and drop. Back then there was no internet and nobody I knew was shooting C&B. I had to learn on my own. It took me a little while to figure out if I put a drop of oil around the balls it wouldn't chain. I have had my wrist and lower arm peppered with cap fragments but only drew a drop of blood a few times.
 
hawg said:
Chain fires aren't dangerous to you or the gun unless you're using T7. Other than Ugly Sauce I've heard one other report from somebody I trust of a chain with T7 that knocked off a lever latch on a Colt. Mine is a Remington. The only thing it ever did was bend a link pin and that was after God only knows how many chain fires. I bought the gun new when I was 12. The first time I fired it it set off all six chambers and it wasn't scary at all. I had a lot of chain fires with it. The only ball that has any real pressure behind it is the one that goes down the bore. The rest just go a few yards and drop. Back then there was no internet and nobody I knew was shooting C&B. I had to learn on my own. It took me a little while to figure out if I put a drop of oil around the balls it wouldn't chain. I have had my wrist and lower arm peppered with cap fragments but only drew a drop of blood a few times.
Click to expand...
I’ve heard of Colts losing the lever latch and had it happen once too. It had nothing to do with the load used, just the dovetail was a trifle loose. I replaced it, peened the edge of the dovetail and dropped a bit of solder in there and it hasn’t moved since. Since I replace front sights as a matter of course, I always solder them in place too.
 
hawg said:
Rigarmi. Yeah there's something wonky about it but point being as long as wads or lube is used it won't chain. When it chains it's anywhere from three to six chambers.
Click to expand...

Check the chamber mouths for burrs. Rigarmi was not known for their finish work. Even Sam Colt found that a slight bevel on the chambers cut down on the risk of chainfire.
 
Big Bore 44 said:
Check the chamber mouths for burrs. Rigarmi was not known for their finish work. Even Sam Colt found that a slight bevel on the chambers cut down on the risk of chainfire.
Click to expand...

That gun was made in 1969. I doubt there's any burrs left.
 
hawg said:
That gun was made in 1969. I doubt there's any burrs left.
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What I mean by "burrs" would be steel rolled/smeared across the chamber mouths by a dull cutter. A quick pass with a chamfer tool will remove them.
 
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