Percussion Misfires

[Turtle]

I started having misfires with my Cabelas version of the Hawken (54 cal) so I swung into a local sporting goods store.  The guy was helpful and suggested I replace the stock nipple. He suggested a "red hot" I think was the name.  Can't remember who makes it.  
Anyway, initially I thought it took care of it only to find out that I ended up having more misfires with the red hot and I ended up going back to the factory nipple the gun came with.
What nipples do you guys recommend for the above mentioned gun and what are the details as to why these aftermarket nipples are better?  The sporting goods guy didn't know the details, only that the are "better".

[ribbonstone]

Personally, would clean that nipple and the vent leading from nipple to breech well. the easiest (and proably the best) way is to get a can of carb. cleaner....run a DRY patch in from the mussle to the breech...remvoe the nipple...spray the carb cleaner theought the nipple seat, through the vent, to the breech (Whre the clean dry patch will absorb it).  Try to wrok a pipe cleaner through to the barrel...a lot of "bvunk" gets plated on the passageway, narrowing it, so making sure it is clean and gunk-free is  the first step in getting sure-fire ignition. Also use the carb cleaner to blow out the nipple (making sure the nipple is 100% clear) and then give the gun a try.

If using pyrodex...stop and try black.  Black is easier to ignite, and many of the older designs really need BP to light off as they should.


I did give up on one and install the musket cap nipple (and had to modifiy the hammer to get a good solid strike)...but ti wqas a cheap reproduction with two hard truens in the flash channel from nipple to powder....most only have one 90degree angle.

One one older pistol, installed a "flame and go" (unfortunately no longer made) "fusil" that converted to a sealed unit that took small pistol primers in order to shoot pyrodex...the pistol would work fine with BP, but pyrodex (and esp. old Pyrodex before the middle 1980's) is harder to ingnite and tended to missfire.

[Gregory]

I had misfires with my Renegade when I used "Hot Shot" nipples, problem went away with standard nipples.

[Snowshoe]

We had the same trouble with my wife's Traditions Deerhunter, and found that the hammer was not hitting strait on the nipple. I adjusted the angle of the lock and have no problems since. The best nipple I have used was called a Magnum Spitfire, but am not sure of who makes it. I use Pyrodex and have had no trouble igniting it. In very cold weather, I use 5g of FFFg in the bottom of the barrel, and the main charge of Pyrodex on top of that. Good luck, and happy shooting.

[rimfirehunter]

I have a TC New Englander that I bought in like new condition from a pawn shop about a year ago.  First few range sessions with the rifle required 2-3 caps to ignite the first charge even after poping 3 caps prior to loading, but subsequent shots would always go off.

I checked the hammer to cap angle and could not see any problems.  During cleaning I paid really close attention to the snail area but on my next range session the problem came back upon the first shot.

Since I use petrolium based oil after cleaning I decided that it was oil in the chamber/snail area causing my problems.  So I bought a can of Alcohol and tubing at the hardware store.  Now before a range shoot or hunt I pump alcohol thru the nipple and into the chamber and let it dry before loading.  Now I have 100% ignition every time I take the rifle out.

rimfirehunter