Author Topic: had my first chain fire today.  (Read 1157 times)

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Offline Slatherd

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had my first chain fire today.
« on: August 06, 2005, 05:25:12 PM »
I had the cylinder about half full of powder, and a ball on top. I didnt use any grease nor did I use a wad.

I have never had this problem. Well, When I fired the round. The charge in the barrel went, and so did the one in front of the ramrod. the ball got lodged into the ramrod and stuck. I had to take the gun appart to get it out. when it hit, It kicked the cylinder to the right. Making it out of round with the barrel. Also making it difficult for it to cycle.

I took a hammer and pushed it back into place. Everything looks good now.

After taking it appart, I found that a nipple wasn't tight. Found my problem.

Offline Will52100

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had my first chain fire today.
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2005, 07:26:56 PM »
Had the same thing happen a while back.  Had a hole in the bottom of the frame from where I'd converted it to cartrige before I found out what was left of the cylinder teeth were too soft to last long so I converted it back.  Didn't fill the hole and flame ran around the hammer and set off the chamber in line with the rammer.  It was a 51' navy and was a full 22 grain charge.  It jammed the ball into the loading leaver and had to pop the ball out with a screw driver.  Filled the hole and haven't had a problem since.  BO-Boom?  That didn't sound rite?! :)
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Offline alpini

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had my first chain fire today.
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2005, 08:25:48 AM »
Had the same thing happen to me some time back. No grease, no extra recoil, I just noticed a chunk of lead wrapped around the barrel wedge. I pried it off and made a note of useing grease in the cylinders from now on. Besides, the grease allways seemed to make the fouling easier to clean.

I guess I'm lucky all six didn't go at once, that would have woke me up.

Offline Singing Bear

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had my first chain fire today.
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2005, 08:46:02 PM »
No grease or wad and a loose nipple.  Hmmm.  I'd check'em all.  No grease or wad can lead to chainfire from the front due to out of round chambers.  Remove the nipple, ram a ball home and run a mag lite at the chamber mouth while looking into the nipple hole.  If you see light, you got out of round chambers and it's very possible that your chainfire was from the front.  Larger balls will not work as the chamber mouth will size them down to only one size.  You need to use wads or grease.  

If you can't see any light, then it be a good bet it's from the loose nipple.
Singing Bear