Oversized #11 Nipples?

[Stormin.40]

Is it normal for nipples to be over sized? It seems to take 2 hammer strikes maybe 3 out for 10 tries the rest being set off as expected on the first try I am pushing the caps onto the nipple pretty hard.

Can I just take some emery cloth to the nipple and take a little off?

 

[Crawdad1]

Something is wrong there it shouldn't misfire that often.

 

[B-man '06]

my 1858 Remington has this problem. one of the nipples was squatted from the factory, so getting a cap on can be a trick , i helped it by chucking the nipple in my drillpress and then used a file to slim it down( this does not work at all with ampco nipples). also, if you happen to get the RWS caps, they are a tad smaller than a true #11.

 

[EljaySL]

Just to clarify - only one nipple is doing it? I have a little laundry list of things that can cause light hammer strikes if it's every nipple... if it's every nipple speak up and I'll tell you all about it.

 

[Stormin.40]

Sorry for the delay, been playing g with the kids. This is a CVA mountain rifle. I agree something is wrong and it appears to be the seating of the caps as the second hammer strike sets it off. I assume making the nipple smaller in diameter would allow the cap to seat easier and therefore would ignite more reliably.

I just want to make sure I am not missing something. I have used CCI, Winchester Magnum, and Remington caps. All seem to be similar but I haven't shot the rifle enough nor taken notes to compare.

 

[tactikel]

I had the nipple on my rifle get peened by the hammer, the first strike seated the cap and the second set it off. I used a metal file to true up the profile of the nipple. I switched to an Ampco nipple and no problems.

 

[44 Dave]

I worker on one for a friend, the nipple drum was not quite right and the hammer was not hitting square.

 

[EljaySL]

Gotcha. Yeah, sanity check that it's not something with the alignment but if they're just not going on nothing bad will happen if you remove a little material from the outside of the nipple if you're so inclined. Or you can just buy a quality aftermarket nipple.

Remington caps seem to be softer than CCI and easier to set off, so if you've already tried that the only other thing that leaps to mind is that if you want to test the seating theory try getting a wooden dowel and seating the cap very firmly using the dowel to push on it. If that fixes it at least you know what you're dealing with.

 

[Stormin.40]

I will stop by Cabela's and pick up another #11 nipple and see if that helps. I don't think the hammer is misaligned but I don't know much about side lock firearms. Given the second strike has always worked I assumed the cap just wasn't seated firmly. The wooden dowel route is another option I will have to try if the new nipple doesn't work.

 

[EljaySL]

Just make sure the new nipple has the right thread pitch.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

Buy the Pedersoli nipples at Cabela's only if you have a Pietta or Traditions (made by Pietta Flli) gun, for which the screw pitch is correct. They will not necessarily fit a Uberti or other manufacturer's gun.

As to the problem, you may have either a light hammer strike or a nipple for which the cap does not fit. I can't tell from your post which is the case but, if the cap doesn't go off, it is likely a light strike. If it goes off but you get a misfire or hang fire, it is more likely a problem with the nipple.

Good luck,

FH

 

[Stormin.40]

I wasn't having hang fires when the cap went off, just took 2 strikes of the hammer 30% of the time.

Today I put on nipples from Traditions and 5 of 5 ignited without any issues. I also noticed that I did not have to push the caps onto the nipples, if anything they fit loose.

Time will tell but I expect this issue is solved.