drilling out a nipple

Quick question. Would there be any problem resulting from enlarging the spark channel in a nipple by drilling it out? I read repeatedly about shooters enlarging the vent/touchhole on flintlocks. What about making a nipple channel about the same size, about 1/16"?
I wonder if the "blowback" would damage the hammer?
Pete

Enlarging the flash channel in a nipple is not the thing to do. Yes, you will get increased blowback - I doubt the hammer will be damaged but performance will be affected.

The thing to strive for in a nipple flash channel is actually a smaller hole. That concentrates the hot gases into a plume that goes further and stays hotter longer. Enlarging the flash channel via gas cutting is (next to mushrooming by dry firing) the way a nipple eventually wears out. It slowly becomes less and less able to concentrate the gas and you start to get intermittent FTF's.

The pan of a flintlock is an entirely different environment than the tip of a nipple under a percussion cap. The performance of a flintlock can sometimes be improved by enlarging the touch hole as it gives a larger area for the hot gases to enter. However, that can be overdone.

mykeal is dead-on target!

I'm not saying that this is your case, but I've found that most folks looking for "the big flame" in a nipple (as well as those who switch to musket nipples & caps) have chronic ignition troubles due to not cleaning the rifle thoroughly, using a sub for powder, or a combination of the two. I put this out there for the benefit of all, and hope that this isn't indicative in your case (I'm assuming it's not). A clean & dry flash channel will produce enough flame from a standard #11 cap to ignite most all powders. A Magnum #11 WILL ignite all powders!

Now for a little science behind why a new nipple works better than a worn-out one: Simply put, the extra gases blowing out the nipple raise the hammer to a varying degree, thereby introducing an unknown variable into the burning sequence of the powder charge, which results in a unsteady loss of pressure which then opens-up your groups due to loss of velocity to a varying degree.

Since my rifle likes the standard factory nipples (which cost only $7.95 for a pkg of 3), and I can cut a playing card in half at 25 using them, I use the standard nipples even though they will wear-out sooner (by erosion as mykeal noted), I simply keep an eye on them and replace at the first sign of wear, prior to a big match :wink: . Other Forum members will swear by the replacements cause they work for them......your mileage may vary.

Nice weather this week--so get out there and make some smoke!!

Dave

I have shot percusions for over fifty years and have found that.028 to .032 flash channel gives the best performance for my rifles. I use a number 60 drill (.040) as a gauge to tell me when th nipple has been (burned out) and should be replaced. It has been my personal experience that flash channels below . 028 are subject to pluging. But I realise that others may have different experiences.

Thank you, all. What happened was that I found a nipple in my "stuff" that had a very long threaded shank. It occurred to me that it would fit a gun that I have if it were cut down. But then the channel might open up. Hence the post.
Pete

What about chrome lined nipples? Are there any?

I know of no chromed-lined nipples. There are Platinum-lined nipples used by the Slug Gun shooters, because of the HUGE powder loads they shoot, and the very high chamber pressures produced. They are VERY EXPENSIVE, and I have never heard of anyone using one of them on an ordinary Side-lock MLer. There simply is no need.

Paul

Norinco said:

What about chrome lined nipples? Are there any?

Click to expand...

Current 'technology' in nipple materials is either stainless steel or a proprietary bronze alloy called Ampco. And, of course, the platinum ones mentioned above.

I've had very good results with Ampco and good results with stainless steel; both are big improvements over the regular OEM nipples. I've never used the platinum ones so I can't say one way or the other if they're worth the money. Based just on material properties it seems they would perform very well.

Nobody makes a chrome plated nipple that I'm aware of. I would think controlling the flash channel dimension through the plating process would be quite difficult, thus expensive, and with the Ampco competition, ultimately not worth it.