I went to the range today and had some trouble with my 1859 replica revolver. I loaded up, took aim, and click, click, click. The hammer fell but the primer didn’t ignite. I tried 2 or 3 times before each one would fire. This is an older gun, new to me, and its my first time firing it. The gun was shiny clean when I loaded it up and I was using new CCI #10 caps. Any idea’s? Needa new hammer/spring? New nipples? I don’t know much about black powder, this is my first time, first gun.
BP revolver help.
- Thread starter BolerPuller
- Start date
couple of points- percussion caps are nortious for non-ignition, but the fact that you're hitting the same cap 3-4 times before it'll ignite makes me suspect the hammer isn't hitting hard enough or the brand you've got may be thicker in the cup than usual- your nipples are merely vents to pass the spark to your powder charge- if you get ignition at all, it's not your nipples
Had the same problem with a 1851 colt replica the nipples were to short on mine without caps check and see if the hammer is resting on the nipple or if there is a space. if you got a space you got a problem either with the nipples or the hammer isn;t coming down far enough.Have you stripped the action apart sometimes old caps or parts there of have been known to fall down the hammer into the action or partially block the Hammer.
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Are your caps seating all the way down on the nipples? If the nipple is slightly large, or the cap slightly small, the cap does not seat properly and the hammer has to drive the cap down onto the nipple before it will fire.
IIRC, if an original Colt was properly adjusted, the hammer did not actually strike the nipple. It stopped just short of making contact. The gap was less than the thickness of the cap.
IIRC, if an original Colt was properly adjusted, the hammer did not actually strike the nipple. It stopped just short of making contact. The gap was less than the thickness of the cap.
rustysdream
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Load #11 caps and fire the gun without loading the chambers. Primers only. That will clean the nipples inside.
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Maybe you just have a bunch of faulty caps. Try a different brand.
i got a whole box of caps ( 1k) for 3 bucks retail b/c the shop figured they had sat too long on the shelf- they don't move well and you have no idea how long those have "sat" somewhere- i treat mine the same as 22 rf rounds- if they don't go bang, change out - it's all part of the fun- that's why you don't use a b/p for self defence
Thanks guys for all the replies,
I checked to see if the hammer was resting on the nipple and do to the way the nipples are lower than the cylinder I honestly can’t tell. I was careful to push the nipples down hard, more so the second time round. As I said this is a new to me gun, so I’m not sure about the nipples. I think I’ll look around, and pick up some new ones, doesn’t hurt to have spares anyway. The guy I bought it off of said he used #10’s so that’s why I bought them, but it’s a cheap fix if #11’s work so I’ll pick some up this week. I know they were new as I had to wait for them to come in. I’ve also had a look around for a new hammer spring, and I’m not having much luck. Who sells Uberti in Canada? I found Pietta, will their parts fit in a Uberti pistol?
Hey…. I can’t use BP for self defence????
I checked to see if the hammer was resting on the nipple and do to the way the nipples are lower than the cylinder I honestly can’t tell. I was careful to push the nipples down hard, more so the second time round. As I said this is a new to me gun, so I’m not sure about the nipples. I think I’ll look around, and pick up some new ones, doesn’t hurt to have spares anyway. The guy I bought it off of said he used #10’s so that’s why I bought them, but it’s a cheap fix if #11’s work so I’ll pick some up this week. I know they were new as I had to wait for them to come in. I’ve also had a look around for a new hammer spring, and I’m not having much luck. Who sells Uberti in Canada? I found Pietta, will their parts fit in a Uberti pistol?
Hey…. I can’t use BP for self defence????
looks like the hammer doesn't reach the nipples...
are this the original nipples which came with the gun?...
some previous owner might have installed the wrong size...
it is always best to get it checked out by a specialist, Gunsmith, before you get any hang fires and hurt yourself...my humble advice.
are this the original nipples which came with the gun?...
some previous owner might have installed the wrong size...
it is always best to get it checked out by a specialist, Gunsmith, before you get any hang fires and hurt yourself...my humble advice.
UPDATE
So I figured this out finally! I tried #11 caps – No Help. I stripped the thing down to the last screw, polished all the moving parts (By hand, no machines) Lubed everything up with slide glide (fancy pants sig grease) – No Help. When I was putting it back together I Had some difficulty getting a part in so I went on line for an expanded view and noticed a screw called….. Hammer spring tension screw…… After the first miss fires I tightened it up all the way and guess what? Yup she shoots like a dream!
So I figured this out finally! I tried #11 caps – No Help. I stripped the thing down to the last screw, polished all the moving parts (By hand, no machines) Lubed everything up with slide glide (fancy pants sig grease) – No Help. When I was putting it back together I Had some difficulty getting a part in so I went on line for an expanded view and noticed a screw called….. Hammer spring tension screw…… After the first miss fires I tightened it up all the way and guess what? Yup she shoots like a dream!
Glad to hear you got it all worked out.
lol, try to tell the sheriffs of the old west you can't use a BP revolver for defence. If you have all the bugs worked out they work very well. I would choose a well tuned BP revolver over any impact or cutting weapon to defend myself, in a heartbeat.
BTW I have some percussion caps I purchased in the '80s and they work perfectly.
lol, try to tell the sheriffs of the old west you can't use a BP revolver for defence. If you have all the bugs worked out they work very well. I would choose a well tuned BP revolver over any impact or cutting weapon to defend myself, in a heartbeat.
BTW I have some percussion caps I purchased in the '80s and they work perfectly.
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Id use my Rogers and Spencer for Defence no Worries there.
Even a Cartridge Revolver can have Issues but once worked out and your Used to the gun they Perform Great!
after the first round with the old army, there's so much smoke and thunder, you'd have to air the room out for a week,let alone putting a second round out there- even at the range, where they have a forced air system, it makes the fans balk
Yes but dont they move to the right or left in a line fireing + your not supose to miss.
I was talking about Defence as in Animals tho not People.
Tho i think the Smoke thing could be used to Advantage in a Gun fight.
Many a Big Animal has been Taken with the old BP Pistols.
Elmer Keith writes about guys Killing Griz with there big Remy 44s percussion revolvers.
Mind you they were up in a tree waiting over a bait below.
They Would shoot the big Bears thru the top of the Skull at close range.
apparently it worked.
Not really Defensive unless the Bear chased you up the Tree tho.
Elmer also Wrote that our Great Grandfathers were not as Disadvantaged as we might think. Being shot with a Soft lead Round ball made worse wounds than Normal Lead Bullets.
I do find the Percussion Round balls extreamly Accurate!
I use them in my Remy 1871 caliber 50 70 Pistol.
