Trip to range sort of!! long

[TomADC]

Well shot the Zouve first planned on just 5 rounds because I wanted to play with the Hawken. Zouve 60 grs FFg 515 gr mini ball lubed with Wonder Lube 1000 with the cavity filled. Was limited to 25 yds today, rifle shot very high but I was having a hard time seeing the whole front sight maybe because its so far away!! Will white dot it.
So I switch to the Traditions hawken started with 55 grs FFg with a patched (.012) round ball of .490 patch lubed one side with wonder 1000 Did find out no matter how hard you try you can't use a 58 cal bullet starter in a .50 cal rifle, I use the Traditions ram rod the one that came with the rifle and got it stuck at the bottom of the stroke in the wad I'd guess so I borrow a pair of pliers and get it free double check with the other ramrod that bullet is seated properly. Fiber optic sights are easy to see first ball is tad high about 2 o clock in the 8 ring, not bad I'm thinking for 1st round, next I try 60 grs same patch etc ramrod doesn't get stuck I used the other one, 6 o clock hold, hole at 1 o clock 9 ring, shot 3 was a duplicate of two but the nipple fractured broke a piece out down the whole front of the nipple were the cap sits, good thing I ordered a couple of spares but they don't get here until this evening.
So not much shooting, I also need to get a powder dispensor, I have a adjustable measure but was pouring the powder from the can into it, did have a bowl to catch the excess.

 

[BCRider]

Yep, if it's not one thing then it's something else. That's why it's always good to take a few extra things with me "just in case".

Split the nipple? I wouldn't think that this is all that common. Obviously an infant mortaility issue that should be covered under a warranty replacement. At least you've got spares on the way.

 

[arcticap]

That shooting is not too shabby for patches made from an old bedsheet!
By gosh, as warned the nipple did happen to split and thankfully some replacements are on the way!
A Traditions original factory nipple has never failed me. I don't what has gone wrong with their production of factory nipples but hopefully the replacements will be 100% A.O.K.! It sounds like they're too hard and brittle.
I'm looking forward to hearing about more good shooting soon.
How about breaking open a bottle of grape juice and spilling some on the new barrel for good luck!

 

[TomADC]

I wonder if I could be the cause I was playing with the set trigger and dry fired it once with out a cap. The new nipples appear to be stainless steel.
These patches BTW were new close weave cotton not the used bed sheet. That said I don't think I could use a pillow ticking patch of .018 thickness, they would be super tight, maybe wth the proper starter it would be okay.
Soon as the wife gets off the desk top I'll try posting a picture of the broke nipple.

 

[TomADC]

Not a great picture but you can see the broken part. The break was at the 12 o clock position.

 

[arcticap]

I'm aplogize for having thought that the patching was old linen.
A dry firing really shouldn't cause a nipple to crack and split.
I had mentioned that it was reportedly happening during recent years, but unfortunately they haven't corrected the problem by dumping the bad nipples.
A piece of wooden dowel from Walmart or the hardware store and glued into a wood block or other handle should serve as a functional ball starter.
And a longer piece of thick dowel can serve as a non-abrasive ramrod, unless a muzzle guide [or muzzle guard] is used with the aluminum factory rod. They're often made from Delrin, Nylon or brass.
A plastic sleeve made from a piece of a plastic food tub or container can also serve as one. Or even a paperboard sleeve would work.

 

[TomADC]

I had heard the same about bad nipples, hope that is behind me. I need to make a block with a notch in it that I can clamp to the shooting bench so the rifle will stand by itself during loading and patch running between shots, a small funnel to pour powder down the barrel. I have some 1/2 dowels didn't think of that.
They mini ball fit the Zouve good easy to seat, but should the patch balls fit tight? How much pressure is to much when ramming it down the barrel?
If that nipple hadn't broke I would have tried the worn out bed sheet

 

[4v50 Gary]

Fractured nipple. Well TomADC, you just had a Civil War soldiers' experience as a lot of the replica Enfields (knock offs made by English or Belgian gunsmiths) bought by the Union (and I suspect by the Confederates) had nipples that were too hard and shattered upon impact.

 

[arcticap]

How much pressure is to much when ramming it down the barrel?

The patched ball should require a semi-sharp smack or solid lean to start it past the crown. And a starter should be used to start it down the first 4-5 inches anyway, after which the ramrod should be able to glide the PRB home on top of the powder charge relatively smoothly with only moderately firm resistence.
If so much force needs to be placed on the ramrod that it might bend or break or you find it to be a struggle to complete the stroke in a single motion or two, then most likely the patch is too thick.
Just make sure that there's enough lube on the patch and swab the bore if you notice that ramming is getting too hard to accomplish after more shots.
If everything fits right, then loading and shooting many shots should be possible without swabbing, especially with only moderate powder loads.

 

[TomADC]

I did after the first shot, put more lube on the patch for the next shoots did seem to help, maybe the problem was not having a starter.
I have to fess up I saw a minor crack in the nipple prior to my last shot which really broke a piece out.
I wish there had been some experienced muzzleloader shooters at the club today, but I was it. I get a kick out of seeing that big white cloud of smoke out front. The Hawken had zip for recoil, even the Zouve was not bad.

4v50 Gary I would have made a lousy soldier back then, I figure my rate of fire would be one round every two or three minutes