Author Topic: Replacement For Drum or Nipple on Drum? (Read 1272 times)

Jack Crevalle · « **on:** February 09, 2003, 02:22:53 PM »

Somewhere I remember seeing something recently that was being marketed for rifles with drums to help with the ignition. I can't remember whether it was a replacement drum or nipple. A friend bought an import rifle for his son for Christmas with a drum. It shoots great but he sometimes has to snap two or three caps to set it off. I loaned him some "magnum" caps last time and that seemed to help but I think he needs more than that because he wants to hunt with it.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

P-J · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2003, 06:12:22 PM »

There's a Hot Shot nipple that some say helps. It has a hole cross-drilled near the top where the cap will cover it. I doubt if that's really the cure, though.

Does the rifle misfire on the first shot or after a few?

Does he wipe between shots? How often?

Is he using real black powder? FFg or FFFg? What's the caliber?

Is the fire channel hole in the drum a small one, like .110 inch for a no. 6 cleanout screw?

Come back with some details and we'll see if we can figure it out. There shouldn't be a need for extra stuff, sometimes it's just a matter of learning the system.

Jack Crevalle · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2003, 02:53:18 AM »

I use Hot Shot nipples in my T/C Hawken exclusively. Although I agree a Hot Shot might help, what I saw ( and can't remember ) was something specifically for drum ignition.

Yes, this happens pretty consistantly from the first shot.

He generally wipes about every 5 shots or so.

He is using Pyrodex RS.

Just eyeballing it one time I would say that the channel is about .1"

Loozinit · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2003, 05:55:21 AM »

My advice is: lose the Pyrodex and go with genuine BP. My Tennessee Mountain Rifle is twenty years old and I started with BP. It has a drum, which I really like for maintenance. Then, due to advice from my local store, I bought a can of the other stuff. Bad move.

Just my opinion, but Pyrodex seems to have trouble igniting around a corner. And, I had many, many hangfires with it. I went back to BP and have never had a problem since - period. The Pyro worked well enough in my revolvers so I was able to use it up. But I've never bought any since.

P-J · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2003, 06:59:51 AM »

Since it will misfire right from the first shot, the problem isn't fouling or wiping technique.

I'll bet it's the Pyrodex. Black powder really does work better. I like FFFg for everything up to and including .54 caliber. It leaves less fouling than FFg, and the smaller grains can get into the small fire channel easier.

After dumping powder, it helps to tilt the rifle toward the drum and hit it a couple of times with the hand to settle the powder and encourage some to go into the drum.

I've been shooting a drum system for almost 30 years without a problem. My drum is as tiny as they come, too.

Perhaps what you've been thinking of is a tiny hole drilled in the forward part of the drum? This is sometimes recommended to reduce fouling buildup, but that doesn't sound like the problem here and besides I don't know if it works.

u.p.longhunter · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2003, 07:29:27 AM »

yup get rid of that damn pyrodex stuff!! I had the same problem with my cva "trapper" shotgun i had some pyrodex here from when i didn't know better

and figured id burn it up. Well the gun is brand new,i cleaned all oil out and dryed the bbl loaded her up with pyrodex rs and touched it off-click,click,click back inside i go and pulled the shot/powder and cards thought maybe i didn't get it completly dry so i ran some patches down it and reloaded her went outside and click,click fwoooom then i got pissed went back inside and loaded her up with fffg back outside and she went off just like a centerfire shotgun would!! Haven't had a problem since....simply put PYRODEX is crap...........

fredj · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2003, 01:20:11 PM »

u.p.longhunter is right on the money Pyrodex is a very lame excuse for real BP in every respect, the only advantage it has is wide local availability
it has a much higher flash point than BP. You might also run a pipe cleaner
through the cleanout port, sometimes those aren't drilled out properly have a burr etc.
Regards fredj

Grump · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2003, 01:44:06 PM »

If ya cant get a hold of any BP try 777. Its a little spendy but usually available. Has very good ignition with very little fouling. Use about 10% less. :bye: