PeashooterJoe, about two years ago, I bought a Palmetto Hartford .31 from Dixie. When it came, and I was cleaning the perservative from it, I noticed the rammer mortice was too big and the rammer rattled around in it. The hammer mortice was too wide, and the hammer sat at an angle in it. I also noticed that some of the screws were battered, and guessed it was a return item. While trying to load it, it became apparent that all the extra space in the rammer mortice was in the wrong direction, and the rammer wouldn't line up squarely with the chambers, and ramming a ball was real difficult. Ruined about six balls while getting five in the chamber, and those were badly deformed. While attempting to shoot it, the hammer would strike the side of the mortice which dampened the blow enough to cause more misfires than discharges. I sent it back to Dixie with more money, and had them ship me an Uberti made Pocket Police, which is a great little revolver. I did not take the nipples out of the Hartford, but I did shoot two cylinders full without having to dig a nipple out of my forehead. I think you should be able to shoot yours untill you get your new ones. I looked at the nipples on my Pietta made .31 Remington Pocket, and there are 5 threads on them. I hope you have better luck with your Palmetto Hartford than I had with mine. Let us know how you like yours, because I really liked the clean lines of that Hartford better than the Uberti 1849 Pocket, and plan on ordering another one when I hear Palmetto gets better quality controll.