ROA caps jamming the cylinder

[Quint]

First, I am very new to the Black Powder scene and I am having a problem with a ROA and wonder if others are having similar problems. The percussion caps just seem to explode and binds the cylinder on almost every shot. The caps will separate into several pieces and stay in the nipple area preventing the cylinder from rotating. Pointing the revolver up and/or rotating it to the side has no effect. The caps parts must be picked out of the nipple area with a small screw driver.

The components I am using are:
Remington # 11 caps
20 grains of Hodgdon 777
Lubed wad
Cream of Wheat filler
Hornady .457 RB

I have tried to use CCI # 10 caps and they are too small. No stores in this town sells CCI # 11 caps. A Pietta revolver I have, and use an identical load except it uses # 10 caps, does not cause the caps to separate as much. It only hangs up periodically.

Do any of you guys have any ideas about how to correct this problem? The ROA is a used stainless one that I just bought.

 

[Patocazador]

Remington #10 caps should solve your problem. They fit the ROA's nipples the best.

 

[expat_alaska]

Remington #10 caps should solve your problem. They fit the ROA's nipples the best.

Even though I don't have a ROA, I agree. One must experiment and find the best solution.

Jim

 

[Quint]

Thanks for both of your replies.

As stated in my original post, CCI #10 caps were tried but they are too small for the nipples on my ROA. I had to force them on. No place in this area sells CCI # 11 caps, all are Remington. The Remington caps fit the nipples well and I have not had a misfire with them, just the problem stated. I am just wondering if the walls of the Remington caps are thinner, causing them to just blow apart.

Later this week I will be traveling to the Flagstaff area and the Sportsman's Warehouse there has some CCI # 11 and # 11M caps. My plan is to buy some of each and try them. I will post the results after using the CCI brand.

expat... I also am an ex-Alaskan. Moved to Kingman Arizona a short time ago.

 

[drobs]

Try Remington #10's. Also make sure you nipples are screwed all the way down.

 

[rodwha]

Thanks for both of your replies.

As stated in my original post, CCI #10 caps were tried but they are too small for the nipples on my ROA. I had to force them on. No place in this area sells CCI # 11 caps, all are Remington. The Remington caps fit the nipples well and I have not had a misfire with them, just the problem stated. I am just wondering if the walls of the Remington caps are thinner, causing them to just blow apart.

Later this week I will be traveling to the Flagstaff area and the Sportsman's Warehouse there has some CCI # 11 and # 11M caps. My plan is to buy some of each and try them. I will post the results after using the CCI brand.

expat... I also am an ex-Alaskan. Moved to Kingman Arizona a short time ago.

I replaced my OEM nipples with similar ones from ToTW after Rem #11’s needing pinching to secure them and CCI #11 mags often needed two strikes to ignite so my observations aren’t precisely yours, but Rem #10’s have worked flawlessly (when the compound didn’t fall out) without any fragmentation jams in my ROA or Pietta NMA.

Save yourself the frustration of CCI #11 mags.

 

[Acorn Mush]

I replaced my OEM nipples with similar ones from ToTW after Rem #11’s needing pinching to secure them...

I agree with rodwha regarding nipple replacement if you or the previous owner have not already done so. Or perhaps the OEM nipples have already been replaced with Hot Shot nipples, which might cause the situation you describe. Do the nipples have two tine holes 180 degrees apart close to the top end?

I replaced my OEMs with Ampcos purchased from Track of the Wolf several years back and have not had a bit of trouble since. I usually use Remington #10s but can also use CCI #11s interchangeably.

Hope you can solve your dilemma and enjoy shooting your ROA!

 

[LonesomePigeon]

Like Acorn said, Hot Shot(or is it Slix Shot?) nipples have two holes on the side, which could blow apart the caps. The other thing I was thinking is maybe the flash holes are corroded on your current nipples. If the flash holes are worn it might be causing more blowback.

 

[daboyleroy]

Check the cavity in the hammer and the gap/clearance between the hammer and the top of the cap.

 

[J-Bar]

A couple of possibilities come to mind.

In my experience, fragmented caps can't jam the ROA unless they get caught between the cylinder and slot in the recoil shield through which the nose of the hammer protrudes when falling on the capped nipple. When I'm shooting my ROA, the spent cap looks like a 4-petaled flower, completely opened up and flat, but the hammer spring is strong enough to hold that flower on the nipple, rather than letting gas blow it back into the recoil shield. And that "flower" falls out nicely at the capping trough as the cylinder rotates for another shot.

So, since this is a revolver you purchased as a used gun, the original hammer spring may have been replaced by a lighter spring, which makes the gun easier to cock, but invites blowback problems. If you know what a factory Ruger Blackhawk hammer spring feels like, the original ROA spring should feel about the same when the gun is cocked. Checking the nose of the hammer for a burr that might be dragging the spent cap backwards off the nipple is a good idea, too. The hammer nose should be smooth and clean.

As others have noted, gas blowback will increase if the vent hole in the nipple ( the little hole inside the bottom of the nipple where fire squirts through into the powder charge) is too big. The larger vent holes will allow more gas to flow backwards through the nipple, pushing the hammer backwards and blowing the spent cap off the nipple. So compare the vent holes in your gun with the vent holes in the nipples shown in this post in the ROA thread (page 116, post #2881, link below). You will also see that factory original ROA nipples have a hexagonal base, so you can easily tell if your present nipples are the ones that originally came with your gun. If your nipple vent holes are larger than those in the photos, you should replace the nipples.

A perfect storm causing your problem would be a reduced strength hammer spring and worn-out or Bubba-modified vent holes (been known to happen). I think either or both of these is causing your woes, not the caps themselves. I prefer Remington #10s for competition, but my ROAs do not jam when I shoot other brands; they just sometimes require a double strike of the hammer.

Link to referenced post:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/the-ruger-old-army-club.538088/page-116#post-10680183

 

[Quint]

First, I would certainly like to thank all of you who have responded to my problem. All have been good advice and I appreciate your timely to reply. Since I am a "newbie" on black powder revolvers any advice is helpful.

Today I went to the range, along with another ROA that I borrowed from a friend. He also had an extra container of Remington # 10 caps that I bought. Using my same original loads his ROA did not have any problems with either size cap.. Then I tried my ROA with Remington # 10 caps and had the same exact problem as before. So, to my way of thinking, that eliminates caps as the problem. Then I switched nipples with the cylinder in my friend's ROA and shot both revolvers again. My ROA shot both # 10 and # 11 caps with no problems. My friend's has the same problem with both types of caps !! To me, that proves that I need new nipples for my revolver.

Again, thanks to all of you for your help.

 

[J-Bar]

I agree. You conducted a smart experiment, because you were fortunate enough to have another ROA for comparison. I’m gratified my guess was correct.

Pleased don’t be discouraged that you had some difficulty at first. I think your new nipples will allow you to have a lot of fun making noise and smoke with your new revolver. Percussion revolvers can become an addiction; welcome to the club!!

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

As a former High School Science teacher, I give you an A+ in understanding and employing the Scientific Method to solve your problem!!!

 

[whughett]

I own three ROA's and all function with what ever cap I have. As a pessimistic type of guy I'm mystified as to why any one would replace Ruger nipples for any after market brand. On the occasion a cap does hang against the recoil shield, an assist with thumb and forefinger on the cylinder while thumbing back the hammer will clear the jamb.

 

[Quint]

(" I own three ROA's and all function with what ever cap I have. As a pessimistic type of guy I'm mystified as to why any one would replace Ruger nipples for any after market brand. On the occasion a cap does hang against the recoil shield, an assist with thumb and forefinger on the cylinder while thumbing back the hammer will clear the jamb.

whughett,
In answer to your above question/reply ..... My revolver would rupture the caps to the point where the cylinder would not rotate, therefore the hammer could not be thumbed back. The remnants of the cap would have to be removed with a tool of some sort. I used a very small screwdriver to pick them out. Using my friend's nipples in my cylinder eliminated the problem in my ROA, while using my nipples in his cylinder (and revolver) caused the problem in his ROA. That was enough proof for me. I have ordered a new set of nipples for mine.