Frequent misfires

[ronbow]

I am geting frequent misfires out of my T/C Black Mountain Magnum sidelock. I am using 777 (100gr), musket cap and powerbelts. It seems that if I leave the gun loaded overnight or even several hours, it misfires. This happens with both a clean and a fired barrel. I don't have this problem at the range where I fire several shots in succession. I hunt in North Fla. where the humidity is high. I have an acquaintance who hunts with a T/C Hawken but experiences no problem. I am using loose powder.

Would switching to a No. 11 cap solve anything ?
Should I load any differently ?
Any help is appreciated.

[smokepolehall]

Yer using hot musket caps so it has strong fire. are you cleaning the nipple with pipe cleaner and rubbing alcohol? Sometimes its the nipple itself. Do the caps fire on first hit of hammer?

[rks1949]

 I had the same trouble,and tried everything I gave up and called T/C,they told me to get a new nipple? So I got one,and it goes boom every time now,I can't see any real diffrence between the old one and the new one,but it works.

[ronbow]

The cap always goes off. I just installed a supposedly hotter nipple and am gonna try that. I have always picked the nipple after every shot. I'll try the pipe cleaner and alchohol too. Thanks.l

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

I'd say to use a Spitfire Stainless steel nipple with the hollow base. Those have always given me excellent ignition.

[ronbow]

I'd say to use a Spitfire Stainless steel nipple with the hollow base. Those have always given me excellent ignition.

Bingo. That's what I bought. It looks like it also has a wider hole than the standard T/C.

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

Yep, that should fix your problems.

Had to do that on a deer creek rifle i have. Stock nipple didnt work worth a crap. Funny thing is, I put that same nipple on my other rifle and it worked perfectly!   

[Rainman/GA]

I am geting frequent misfires out of my T/C Black Mountain Magnum sidelock. I am using 777 (100gr), musket cap and powerbelts. It seems that if I leave the gun loaded overnight or even several hours, it misfires. This happens with both a clean and a fired barrel. I don't have this problem at the range where I fire several shots in succession. I hunt in North Fla. where the humidity is high. I have an acquaintance who hunts with a T/C Hawken but experiences no problem. I am using loose powder.

Would switching to a No. 11 cap solve anything ?
Should I load any differently ?
Any help is appreciated.

Are you using any oil in the barrel after you finish cleaning?  How do you clean after your range sessions?

[quickdtoo]

I dunno about all the rest here, but I always pop a cap or two before loading, always at the range after wiping the bore and always before loading when getting ready to hunt or shoot, it's good reasurrance that you'll have good, quick ignition when you need it, it clears the ignition path of any fouling, moisture or oil that may be present that will hinder the process and leave you scratching your head!! 

Tim

[nw_hunter]

I am geting frequent misfires out of my T/C Black Mountain Magnum sidelock. I am using 777 (100gr), musket cap and powerbelts. It seems that if I leave the gun loaded overnight or even several hours, it misfires. This happens with both a clean and a fired barrel. I don't have this problem at the range where I fire several shots in succession. I hunt in North Fla. where the humidity is high. I have an acquaintance who hunts with a T/C Hawken but experiences no problem. I am using loose powder.

Would switching to a No. 11 cap solve anything ?
Should I load any differently ?
Any help is appreciated.

I use No 11 caps and they work fine for me.
When you load your powder, do you have the hammer down on the nipple, or half cocked?
I like to trickle the powder down the barrel and tap on the off side of the lock to get powder in the flash channel. If the hammer is down you could get an air block, and prevent the powder from getting into the channel.

If you have a high humidity problem, and are keeping the gun loaded over night, you might pull the nipple and put some fresh powder under it, before going on the hunt the next morning. This is what I like about hunting with traditional Ml's. Each one is different, and you have to get to know the gun.

[ronbow]

I am geting frequent misfires out of my T/C Black Mountain Magnum sidelock. I am using 777 (100gr), musket cap and powerbelts. It seems that if I leave the gun loaded overnight or even several hours, it misfires. This happens with both a clean and a fired barrel. I don't have this problem at the range where I fire several shots in succession. I hunt in North Fla. where the humidity is high. I have an acquaintance who hunts with a T/C Hawken but experiences no problem. I am using loose powder.

Would switching to a No. 11 cap solve anything ?
Should I load any differently ?
Any help is appreciated.

I use No 11 caps and they work fine for me.

Thanks. I 'll bet powder under the nipple would sure work.
When you load your powder, do you have the hammer down on the nipple, or half cocked?
I like to trickle the powder down the barrel and tap on the off side of the lock to get powder in the flash channel. If the hammer is down you could get an air block, and prevent the powder from getting into the channel.

If you have a high humidity problem, and are keeping the gun loaded over night, you might pull the nipple and put some fresh powder under it, before going on the hunt the next morning. This is what I like about hunting with traditional Ml's. Each one is different, and you have to get to know the gun.