Percussion cap stuck

[conder0289]

Hi,
I was snapping some caps on my newly acquired Old Army revolver, I was able to remove all but one :banghead:, seems to be really stuck on, how can I remove it without scratching up my cylinder. I can't get a thin blade under the edge of the cap to slip it off, any ideas?
Thank you

 

[IansROA]

I just use pointy nose pliers and just twist lightly

 

[JohnKSa]

One or all of the following should work.

• Use a non-marring object (something made of plastic/wood or something similar) to pry the cap off.
• Get a steel pick and poke it through the cap from the hammer end of the nipple and then pry upwards to remove the cap.
• The gun should have come with a nipple wrench. Use the nipple wrench to remove the nipple and then run a thin item through the hole from the chamber end of the nipple to push the cap off.

 

[conder0289]

Thanks guys,
The wrench that came with the gun won't fit on the nipple with the cap still on it. I did find a way in the mean time though, with the cylinder off the gun, I put it nipple side down and sprayed some gun oil into the chamber and let it sit for a few. After a few minutes, I was able to flick it off with my finger nail .

I've shot BP for over 30 years and this was a first for me, even considering that I have owned a Ruger Old Army 20 years ago, but this is a high polished 5 and half incher and its in immaculate condition

Thanks again,
Stephen

 

[J-Bar]

What brand of cap were you using?

 

[4v50 Gary]

You could use a pin. Remove the cylinder and push the pin in from the mouth of the chamber and through the flash hole. Push it out from the front.

I'm also thinking of hydraulic where you use water, a dowel. Fill the chamber with water, put the dowel over the chamber and strike it with a hammer. It's messy, but the water should push the cap out. This method works with berdan primers.

 

[44 Dave]

Once the cylinder is out grab with needle nosed pliers, shouldn't hardly slow you down. I would rather caps that do this than fly off into the works.

 

[EljaySL]

I keep a pair of needle nosed pliers in my black powder case. You just never know where some pesky cap fragment is going to end up.

 

[Prairie Dawg]

Watch the "flicking it off with a fingernail" activity.
I used to do that until I cut the hell out of my finger on a cap fragment.
Now I carry a small neck knife for that purpose.
--Dawg

 

[conder0289]

Thanks guys,

I didn't have a needle nose in my tool box, but I have everything else, figures

Not sure which brand of caps they were, I had some in the patch box of my rifle, they are the correct size, they have fine ribbing around the outside diameter, not the smooth finish that I prefer, the smooth ones split nicely and usually fall off which the hammer is lifted.

I had remembered the hydraulic method but I didn't had a wooden dowel that was even close to the right size, all too small

Thanks again

 

[conder0289]

 

[Panzerschwein]

I always bring my Leatherman Wave to the range and use the pliers/knife etc. if I have a cap get stuck.

Works very, VERY well to have a multitool of some kind when shooting cap n' ball revolvers!!! !!!