Just got a Lyman GPR

[huntnut]

Traded my encore pistol off for a new GPR .54cal with some supplies came with the peep rear sight. Me and my dad just got done shooting it and we both love the way it shoots. The only bad thing I have to say about it is the #11 nipple hang fires after the 2-3 shot, going to change it to a more reliable muskut cap like I have on my other .54 My load I was shooting is 90gr pydrodex (sp) .535 rb .015 ox-yoke patch.

[lostsniper308]

buy a hot-shot nipple, i'm going to. at least you had actual hangfires, i had just forgotten to actually LOAD my .50cal figured that out 6 primers later.

[Wynn]

The nipple is not the problem. Its the Pyrodex! Switch to real black powder and you will solve the problem. Pyrodex functions poorly in sidelocks. Have fired at least 1000 rnds in my GPR using #11 caps and never had a hangfire or failure to fire with black powder and Remington #11 caps

[harryo]

The nipple is not the problem. Its the Pyrodex! Switch to real black powder and you will solve the problem. Pyrodex functions poorly in sidelocks. Have fired at least 1000 rnds in my GPR using #11 caps and never had a hangfire or failure to fire with black powder and Remington #11 caps

It could be the nipple.  I agree that blackpowder will give more reliable ignition than Pyrodex and would be my choice also.  In fact I use only blackpowder in my rifles, including 3 GPRs.  However, the stock nipples that Investarm uses seem to be a pit oversized in diameter and some caps will not fit completely down on the nipple.  The first hammer strike will seat the cap and the second will then fire it.  This is not uncommon on percussion GPRs  

Changing to a different nipple can remedy this or you can simply remove the nipple, wrap a couple of turns of electrical tape around the threads to protect them, chuck it into a drill and hold a file to the nipple while spinning it in the drill.  Remove enough metal so the cap seats completely down on the nipple, yet still be snug enough to not fall off, and the problem is solved.

I would not change to a musket nipple and caps.  In fact, if you read the FAQ on the Lyman web site, you will see they don't recommend it either, so it could possibly void the warranty.  A properly set up #11 nipple should give completely reliable ignition.

[fffffg]

there are other causes of hang fires also.   too wet of patch used when wiping will cause hangfires..   a metal blockage,  and other problems   probably more will come upwith here...   the best nipple has a little hole near the top so the crud can blow thru..  percussion just doesnt blow clean like a flintlock tho..  i have a 10 gauge shotgun that the  nipple  goes directly into the rear of the barrel.. never, never any problems with this type of ignition set up..  i dont like the 90 degree angle that most percussions use..   ive changed to musket caps and changed back to the hole in the top side kind...  musket nipples are nice when you need to grab one and shoot..  military applications, but you can use a leather primer holder and it works very well.. i have a tc  pennsylvania match that always gave me problems on the third shot.. no mater what i did..   too much oil draining down the bore into the ignition channel can also cause problems,  some lubes just clog the works up down there also, especially if you use too much..   ... when you wipe, your pushing  crud down into the ignition area, some guns just wont take this well at all..     dave...

[harryo]

The question is whether you are actually having a hangfire.  A hangfire is when the cap goes off but the gun doesn't until a fraction of a second later.  This can certainly be damp or lube contaminated powder or can happen with a blackpowder substitute, like Pyrodex, which has a higher ignition temperature than blackpowder.

If you have a misfire, where the cap goes off but the powder never does, it could be because of the same factors as a hangfire or you could have an actual physical obstruction in the flash channel.

If the cap never even goes off unless struck two or more times by the hammer, and then when it does go off, the gun fires normally.  You have a problem with a weak mainspring, the nipple or nipple to hammer alignment.  It could be a problem of the cap not seating fully, as I explained before or the hammer may not be striking the seated cap squarely.  If the cap seats fully on the nipple and the hammer falls squarely on it and it does not fire, you probably have a broken, or weak, mainspring.

[lostsniper308]

is there anyway to restore a weak main spring? i think thats my problem

[lostid]

Have fired at least 1000 rnds in my GPR using #11 caps and never had a hangfire or failure to fire with black powder and Remington #11 caps

 That's a lie! I'm SORRY!  No Way! Bull PUCKEY!
 Now I'm willing to discuss black powder firearms and the troubles and joy's we have,,but MAN!>> it tough when ya see this kinda stuff posted???

[lostid]

is there anyway to restore a weak main spring? i think thats my problem

 Your photo is of a TC.
 Want the fix ta that thing not firing when the hammer drops?

The Hammer fall's,,but it don't even hit the cap!?? Right?

 You need to clean and tune the lock. It ain't the coil spring. It's about the bridle and "fly detent",,
 The fly detent is that little pointey floppie thing that floats around by the trigger sear.(under that plate thing, that's held in with two srew's?) It's job is to let your double-set trigger too work. Nobody lubes that!! Nobody cleans there! Well guess what?
 That get's ickey stuff in there. and more important them two screws come loose. that little "fly-detent" thing will "tip" in it's slot,,and stop the hammer fall, instead of allowing it to pass the half-cock.
 Now, if it's worn..clean it and put grease not oil in that slot. If them screws are just the tinniest bit loose it will fail!!
 Clean the bridle,tighten the screws, oil the lock mechenism, just like you clean the bore.
 PS, get a "hot shot" nipple,, and use RWS caps

[lostsniper308]

i own a CVA plainshunter (kit i imagine) it takes 2 - 3 times before the primer actually goes off.

[lostid]

i own a CVA plainshunter (kit i imagine) it takes 2 - 3 times before the primer actually goes off.

try cleaning

[ButlerFord45]

Have fired at least 1000 rnds in my GPR using #11 caps and never had a hangfire or failure to fire with black powder and Remington #11 caps

 That's a lie! I'm SORRY!  No Way! Bull PUCKEY!
 Now I'm willing to discuss black powder firearms and the troubles and joy's we have,,but MAN!>> it tough when ya see this kinda stuff posted???

Ya know, I've grown accustom to your eccentricities and accepted them as just being you but this is over the line of civility and in my opinion is outright unacceptable social behavior.  I'd hope you'd learn a bit of self control, I'd hate to see you removed from the forum over something as needless as this because you frequently have something valuable to say.

[huntnut]

Well I fix my problem, put a new hot shot nipple on it a got new caps the ones that I had are around 10 years old that could have been the trouble.
Just got back from the range after shooting for 3 hours (thats the fun of muzzleloaders) the more I shot the better my groups got, the barrel most be getting broke in. I can shoot several shots before running a patch or to through it, my goups are best with a dirty barrel with the .015 patch and .535 ball. My best group off the bench was around 4" at 100yards I don't think that is to bad, I had some Buffalo bullet sabots 240gr copper plated HP and I was supprised that I got 1 1/2" group with five shoots, I didn't think they would group with a 1 in 60 twist barrel but they do. Then when I got home my dad wanted to see if I could hit a clump of grass out in the bean field so he found one out at 400 yards I didn't think I would come close, the first shot landed 100yards short the next 50 yards long and on the thrid I shoot maybe 3 feet behind it the windage was right on, this was off-hand too. The only thing I can say is it probably was 75% luck and 25%skill if that LOL
I love this gun, I need to find a range or a group that shots muzzleloaders at long range, its a blast. Well I talk to long just wanted to tell every one how it was shooting.

[lostid]

Have fired at least 1000 rnds in my GPR using #11 caps and never had a hangfire or failure to fire with black powder and Remington #11 caps

That's a lie! I'm SORRY!

Ya know, I've grown accustom to your eccentricities and accepted them as just being you but this is over the line of civility

you want me ta tell lies too? I won't. not even fer GB's. ain't noway any fellers shot 1000 rounds with the same nip,,through the same gun. and not got a hang-fire!(Gas-cutting)(fowling)(that's a reallity now as it was 200 years ago!)
 Butler? God bless ya, but if'n you think that's truth,,then I have no place here. you tell'm the truth,,
 how do ya call a lyer a lyer with civility?( gosh? I disagree?)

[ButlerFord45]

How about "I don't believe that anyone can........."

Actually, if you leave out the same nipple part, it CAN be done, I just don't know anyone that is willing to make that much effort just to avoid a hang or mis fire.

I CAN get a couple of hundred shots out of my flint locks without a mis or hang fire but the extra effort required just takes the fun out of shooting.  For me, I'd rather shoot till it won't, fix it and go on about my business but that doesen't mean that it can't be done.

[Slamfire]

you want me ta tell lies too? I won't. not even fer GB's. ain't noway any fellers shot 1000 rounds with the same nip,,through the same gun. and not got a hang-fire!(Gas-cutting)(fowling)(that's a reallity now as it was 200 years ago!)
 Butler? God bless ya, but if'n you think that's truth,,then I have no place here. you tell'm the truth,,
 how do ya call a lyer a lyer with civility?( gosh? I disagree?)

I've read the post in question three times very carefully, and I don't see the part where he even implied he used the same nipple for 1000 shots.  :roll: