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Nipples for my SXS

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I haven't a clue as how to tell what size this old shotgun might take. The consensus here is British, 1845-1855 or thereabouts. I'd like to have a set that fits size 11 caps if possible. The ones that are on it are not original to the gun I'd say and the No. 11 Remington's and CCI's are a super tight fit, so much so that it is actually a good bit of trouble to get them on. I actually think they may not be bottoming out on the nipple. How would I go about determining what size new ones to buy?
 
Often (usually?) on those old shotguns the thread size is the issue for fitting. I'll suggest you mail one of the original nipples to TOW and tell them what you want. If it is made, they can take care of your needs. Personally, I would buy two pairs.
 
These original nipples were very likely made for Joyce no 26 caps, later made by ICI I believe.
They're a shade bigger than No 11's.
Hopefully the threads will line up with some produced now. I have had good luck most of the time with standard No 11 nipples, but had to make some recently for a double with larger threads, but smaller then musket cap size.
Original English nipples are often threaded about 7/32" x 32 tpi.

All the best,
Richard.

Just a thought;
If the present nipples are in good order, you could play them very lightly on a sanding belt to slim them a shade, so the caps fit easier.
 
Thread and height will be what you are looking for.

Make who cares as long as they fir properly. Ones that cone down to the flash hole are better than those that are fat at the button and get smallest on the hammer end.
 
riverrat43 said:
I haven't a clue as how to tell what size this old shotgun might take. The consensus here is British, 1845-1855 or thereabouts. I'd like to have a set that fits size 11 caps if possible. The ones that are on it are not original to the gun I'd say and the No. 11 Remington's and CCI's are a super tight fit, so much so that it is actually a good bit of trouble to get them on. I actually think they may not be bottoming out on the nipple. How would I go about determining what size new ones to buy?
If English they will be 1/4 BSF or 9/32 BSF thread to fit Joyce no 26 or 10 caps . The best way to thin them down to fit the no 11 cap is wrap the thread in a piece of Scotch Tape and place in the drill chuck fasten the drill in a vice . Drill at a slow speed place a file on the nipple and file down to the required size , it works every time for me better than a lathe.
Feltwad
 
For what it's worth I have a British SxS from that era that takes .225 x 32 threads (TOW has those for cap and ball and they are a workable adaption). But I have another that uses 1/4 x 28 (everybody has those, and TOW has oversize versions to adjust for worn threads).

My approach has been to take a nipple to a decent hardware store and try it out on nuts in the bulk fastener section to see what fits.
 
Chuck them in a drill with a bit of emery cloth,check fit and continue.Easier to keep everything all round with a drill than a grinder.
 
I had an old SxS German made cape gun that needed a new set of nipples.

I went to a lot of trouble and with the help of a local machine shop, found the proper thread size and pitch to match the gun.

Had a set of nipples made by my machinist brother and found that the threads on the left barrel (which I had sized) were different than the right barrel! :cursing:
 
All kinds of good advise here Riverrat.

Not very standard, a lot of old English nipples. previous to having to make this latest set, I had though that the smaller threaded (7/32" x 32 TPI)were solely for pistols/revolvers, but I now see that is not the case.
Have to use a thread gauge , and even that can be difficult on so few threads on a nipple.
 

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