Nipples on Uberti Dragoon

[colonialrob]

I took my Dragoon out to shoot it cap & ball style for the first time last week. I normally only shoot it with a conversion cylinder, but wanted to 'test' the c&b style.

On almost every cylinder load, one or more caps would not fire; on one cylinder, only three fired. A visual inspection made it appear the hammer was reaching the cap, and there were no obstructions noted anywhere, but three and four strikes with the hamer would not fire the caps. I even changed out the caps with no luck.

Just as something to check, I took the cylinder out, backed the nipples out about 3/4 a turn, and every cylinder fired. It was like the nipples are too short for the hammer to reach, although sometimes a given cylinder would fire. Anyhow, shooting it with the nipples loose was not something I would want to do regularly, but these are the nipples that came with the gun new.

I am probably going to get some after-market nipples, possibly Tresco, but I was wondering if it would be possible to put a tiny washer, or collar, under the nipples to lengthen them.

Anybody?

Colonial Rob

 

[hildo]

I was told that back in the old days, when the hammer did not reach the nipples correctly after the gun had seen a lot of use, they filed away a piece of the hammer where it touches the frame. Then the hammer would have a longer reach and should fire the caps again.

Can imagine you don't want to file the hammer though.
I don't know about lenghening the nipples by shimming them outwards.
There would be less thread in the cylinder, maybe it would not be safe?

 

[Bad Flynch]

If you are unaccustomed to shooting a cap-and-ball revolver, then you might not have had all of your caps seated firmly on their nipples. A sure-fire clue is that they will fire the second time, so: After all of the caps are first seated, press down on each cap with the hammer (carefully) to make certain they are seated well. Best done outside with the muzzle pointed down range.

Cylinder loose? Take a little end play out by tightening up the wedge.