Flash cones around nipple

I have one on one of my cap guns, but I generally don't see them much on the range. I go both ways on the necessity of them. I'm not sure they add any appreciable safety margin, but certainly DO make capping a bit more awkward. How do you guys feel about them?

And yes, they would look really silly of a SxS Purdey double, so I shan't be putting them there.

I have one on a rifle. I don’t mind the capping at all. I do like the added bit of safety and less residue on the barrel and stock.

Those cones make cleaning process a looot easier. Almost 90% of the residues are kept into the cup....and all the sparks and particles that usually tend to impact your face, are kept there, too.

I haven't shot percussion rifles for years now, but when I was, I used a flash cone. With one it is a bit more difficult to put caps on but they offer a degree of protection for both the shooter and the gun. Looking at any number of original or heavily used reproduction rifles, it is not unusual to see the stock charred down & more barrel exposed than as built due to the repeated flame from the nipple. If protecting the stock & easier cleaning are desired but a flash cone makes it too hard to cap, a scrap of leather with a hole punched for the nipple to go thru can be tied around the barrel & stock while shooting & removed for cleaning & display.

Good idea.

I think I got it (the leather shooting protector idea) from a Dixie Gun Works catalog 30+ years ago.

I tried them but messing with another piece when I was cleaning the guns didn't seem to offset the benefits of having them under my nipple.

I will say for those of you who have long nipple threads and the flame channel is drilled fairly close to the top of the nipple threads, having the shield installed under the nipple will raise the bottom of the nipple and greatly reduce the bottom of the nipple from blocking the flame channel hole.

I have one on exactly one of my guns. It does make it easier to clean and since I always pull my nipples (no pun intended)it doesn't add much to the cleaning process.

Any idea who carries them?

Don't see them at Track or Dixie.
Would like to give them a try.

I use a fairly shallow flash cup on my late fathers' little percussion leman rifle. No problems capping as it is quite wide and as mentioned shallow. It offers good protection for the stock which is why I purchased it. Not sure now where it came from, might have been TOW.

Find at Track
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Search.aspx?search=flash cup

Oops...Track has them......was using the wrong name.....

I've used them but never saw an advantage. I'm sure they still lurk somewhere in one of my junk boxes of unused ml stuff.

:metoo:

IIRC, I bought one decades ago and may have attached it to the gun. Fairly certain it didn't stay there long and I ave no idea where it might be. I see little advantage to having one...

I have three of them but only one rifle with a drum; one of the cups is on that rifle. It controls much of the "spitting" which is the only reason I have one on it.

If I can put one on my rifles, I do. I hold up close to the action when I shoot and it keeps my fingers from being burnt and or cap shrapnel in them. No overwhelming benefit to the rifle just my hand.

Trent

I've just fitted a brass flash protector to my newly acquired original P1856 Enfield to protect the woodwork near the nipple. I had one fitted to my Euroarms 1858 Naval rifle and it did the job admirably. They do not interfere with capping.

It's simply a 1 1/2" diameter circle cut from a sheet of .004" brass shim material with household scissors and with a 5/16" hole drilled in the centre for the nipple. Once in place, you simply squash it into shape with your fingers. With use they become tarnished and no longer stand out like a sore thumb.

There's a dealer in the UK who charges £10 ($13.50) plus postage for these (gulp!).

I have one on my halfstock Ohio ONLY because the picture of the original had one.

I use them to prevent the wood around the nipple from being burned by the flash. I remove the nipple for cleaning anyway, so it's no extra work to clean. In fact cleaning is easier because there's less fouling all around the area.

I put the low side of the cup facing the outside and it's no problem to get my capper in there, or just push a cap onto the nipple with my thumb if I don't have my capper.