Nipples and Primers - Question About Charge Not Going Off...

Nabs

Nabs

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Hello,

Well, firstly, I am happy to report that I was able to get my 1849 Austrian Kammerbusche "Garibaldi" Rifle to fire! However, I encountered a problem, it fired after 10 caps were tried. Not acceptable. This final firing was only after pouring a small "priming charge" of 3FG (FFFG) powder down the nipple hole and packing it in slightly (I was worried about leaving the range with a loaded charge). Regardless how much it was shot afterwards, it would not fire without this priming charge. I was using a mix of Vorschutzen German Musket Caps and CCI "Liberty" Musket Caps. Neither fired the charge without first a priming charge. I opened the nipple and inspected the firing channel. Everything is clear between the nipple and the barrel, however due to the percussion conversion, there is a 60-70 degree angle where the downwards hole under the nipple goes forward to meet the bore.

So, are there such things as "Magnum" Musket Caps, similar to smokeless primers?

Secondly, should I drill out the hole on my nipple? It is very small. It goes from roughly a 5/64" to 1/16" hole. It is not fouled (I ran my 1/16 drill bit down it gently to check size and polished the inside of the hole to determine blockage by fouling, which was negative).

Could I replace the nipple? If so, being a Belgian conversion meant for the American Civil War, what would be the threading I would need? Where can I buy nipples in Canada?

Thank you, I am still new to muzzleloaders!
 
When loading the rifle, did you give it a couple of sharp raps with the flat of the hand, to get powder into the firing channel ? This was/is a standard loading technique.
 
Ordering from Track of the Wolf. Be patient my $120 order from April 20 still not ready. Bess Sears and Sear Springs. Other parts did arrive.
Ordering from Blackley and Son. Paid June 2018 Arrived April 2019. High quality with long wait time.
Ordering from Butch's Parts. Part of my paid order not ready November 2018. April 2019 I sent a reminder and my hammer arrived.
 
issue is probably as saskbooknut says ... though you could replace the nipple, it may be worn down. Track has quite a selection https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/64/1?PageSize=100 - I have never had any wait time issues with them so long as everything is in stock ....

I do not think that opening up the nipple hole is going to solve your problem - another thing to check (assuming basking it with your hand does not work) would be to check:

- the strength of the hammer/main spring. if it is weak it may be allowing the cap to push the hammer back on ignition (blowback) or it could be bouncing off the nipple - resulting in the same issue

- check the engagement of the hammer on the nipple - that it does come into contact, as with above it may again be springing forward enough to ignite the cap and then bouncing back.

in either case - grab a couple of nipples, they are cheap enough and it won't kill you top have a spare on hand... if you have issues with the mainspring, it just needs some retempering and gentle bending :)


Without seeing it I can't tell, but another trick you might try is to insert a small brass rod (traditionally a bird feather) or copper wire, or such in through the nipple into the barrel channel before you load your powder - guaranteeing a clear channel to the charge...... that is assuming there are no twists and turns from the nipple hole into the barrel. More of a flint trick, but you might be able to work with that.
 
opening up the nipple can cause serious problems, I hear the new cci musket caps are garbage for anything but blanks
 
A friend having similar problem tried duplex loading with about 5 grns ffffg first then the main charge in ffg and it worked . Not enough of the fine to cause a problem but enough to get into the flash channel.
 
I've run into a few guns like that over the years and never found a really clear answer. The Gf's Pedersoli is like that and was really bad this weekend. High humidity was making it a real pain.

First order of business is to clean it out really well. Pull the barrel if possible or attach a hose to the nipple and flush hot water through it for a long time. Pull the nipple and clean-out plugs if practical.
A new nipple might help. There's a few different designs like hot-shot etc.
Best luck in the spur of the moment has been as wr. suggested about. Use a little finer grade powder at the bottom or switch the whole charge to finer powder. It gets in farther, is easier to ignite, and it may burn hotter and more completely.
I'm assuming you are using real BP and not a substitute. Try real stuff first if you are having trouble with substitutes.
 
a couple of thoughts come to my mind; first is that the hole connecting the nipple to the "chamber" is small and fouls up easily. I am not sure how you could correct that without removing the breach plug. Also if you are cleaning the gun with a jag and patch, you may be pushing crud down into the breach area and plugging or partially plugging the hole. When you clean, pour hot water (not boiling) down the barrel (with the nipple removed) and clean with a bronze brush. You didn't say, but I would load with 3F and tap the barrel 2 or 3 times with my hand, to settle the powder closer to the nipple

cheers mooncoon
 
Don’t mess with the nipple. There is very little metal connecting the threaded part to the part that accommodates the nipple wrench. Drilling out the hole may remove some of that metal. The cap-holding end could blow off and leave the threaded part in the breach. Tapping it out is a ##### of a job. (Sigh.)
 
Something I had not thought of before ; if the gun is an original, is the nipple an original also? Quite a few original nipples had a small hole under the cap and a larger hole on the end closest to the powder. Just the reverse of modern nipples. I had a shotgun with those sort of nipples and they were almost completely useless for firing the gun. Switched to a modern nipple and no more problems

cheers mooncoon
 
Clean bore, point muzzle to ground and cap off to see puff of air to confirm breach is clear load and shoot. load powder and wad clean then bullet cap and shoot.
 
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