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Powder under the nipple .....

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I always oil well when I am done cleaning. Before using again I wipe out the bore and remove the little clean out screw on the drum or bolster and clean with a pipe cleaner. I also snap a cap or two before loading to be sure the flash channel is clear and have never had a failure to fire with either BP or Pyro. Some people say it isn't necessary to remove the clean out screw when cleaning but unless you can run a pipe cleaner through it there is no way you can be sure there is no gunk in there to interfere with the flash from the cap reaching the charge.
I'm not completely in the never-remove-the-screw camp either. I do think it's better not to, for those who don't understand that it's something that you don't tighten down, and ensure the clean out screw does not hit the nipple threads. a guy that likes to get his spark plugs tight on an engine, should probably never change his spark plugs. I like to run a pipe cleaner through the flash hole also. Once that is done, and I've done the final cleaning with alcohol, I do think it's a step backwards to pop a cap.

Of course I am talking about a rifle being prepped for hunting, for shooting at the range there's probably no reason to remove the screw, and a guy can pop a whole tin of caps before loading, if he wants to.
 
I put a touch of powder under the nipple for years until 3 years ago. Shot at a buck and blew the nipple past my head and completely destroyed the lock. Have come to the conclusion that if the rifle is clean and dry there is no need to put a pinch under the nipple.
 
Sounds like you have a good band aid on the problem that works for you. But what caused the problem? IMO a failure to fire if a cap pops (or a flash in the pan on a flintlock) indicates a blockage between the source of heat and the main charge.

MLs having a “patent” breech or recessed powder chamber in the breech plug seem to suffer these failures to fire more frequently.

Oil residue anywhere in the flash Chanel is a no go. That’s why you see shooters pop a couple of caps before loading. I run a little 91% alcohol down the bore then blow it thru the nipple.

Another likely problem is that the smaller chamber or the connecting flash channel is too small. Powder can bridge over on the opening leaving a LONG way for the heat to travel.

My recommendation on these breeches is to make a witness mark on the bottom flat, remove the plug, smooth or even slightly ream the chamber, polish it and chamfer the opening. You want the main charge as close to the ignition source as possible. Others bounce the stock a couple of times or slap the side of the breech a couple of times thus allowing the powder to reach the bottom of the anti chamber - another band aid.

While the breech is removed you can remove the side screw (often called a clean out screw but actually a plug screw part of the flash channel manufacturing process). Measure the depth of the channel, Drill the flash channel to a larger size being careful not to go deeper, polish the channel then re tap and install a larger plug screw.

Apply anti seize and reinstall the plug.
 
I've fired many hundreds of rounds through my caplock Lyman GPR in many weather conditions, I wipe between shots and sometimes shoot 50 or better rounds per day.

My failure to fire has been about 3. Ratio would have to be less than a 0.5% failure to fire rate. I degrease with rubsman's alcohol (90% or more) the fire channel and patents breech prior to loading, and snap a couple caps. When dropping a charge, I give a few pats to the rifle to settle the powder into the flash hole
When I wipe, I literally LICK the patch to deposit a thin layer of mouth liquid to it. I do NOT suck on it or get it too wet in any form or fashion.

No priming under the nipple, cannibalizing smokeless primers, or other such poppy cock required. Learn to treat and prep your rifle before resorting to reinventing the wheel, an you will be rewarded.
 
It is also important to have a properly sized nipple. It doesn't take much enlargement of the top of the nipple to cause a failure to fire on the first hammer fall. Making sure the cap fires every time the hammer falls on the cap is the first step to getting a reliable firing of the powder charge.

Making sure the flash channel to the powder charge is also important. Make sure that the powder chamber or breech face is clean so powder can reach as close as possible to the firing source. This applies to both percussion and flint locks.

None the less, if what you are doing works for you and you are confident of the results, then what you are doing is the right way to accomplish the task at hand even if I do something different with equal results.
 
Might add that that the buck was killed with the shot. For some reason, I always thought that the touch of BP was too hot. At home when loading I always pop a couple caps before hand and then blow barrel out through nipple with air compressor. This dries and clears any slight obstruction. Just something I've always done because it was available. Hunting out of a tent camp makes cleaning and loading more critical.
 
Indeed, combine a patent breech with a small flash channel, that's not good. The GPR breech seems to work well, and again I believe that's due to the not-so-great a reduction in diameter of the breech, compared to the bore. The flash channel from breech to bore also seems to be of a good diameter. I've never had a failure to fire with my Plains Pistol, which shares the same barrel and breech. (but shorter...obviously!)

I'll say again, if you get the barrel and breech perfectly clean, And use denatured alcohol, popping caps is taking one step back.

For sure, hunting out of a tent does make cleaning more difficult, and time consuming, but can be done. If one cleans and loads the rifle at home properly, one should not have to clean and load the rifle again, in camp, unless you miss your shot, or someone else is going to use that rifle to fill their tag...or something like that.
 
I'll say again, if you get the barrel and breech perfectly clean, And use denatured alcohol, popping caps is taking one step back.

.

That's right, alcohol will not interfere with black powder. I go right from cleaning to loading. That's the reason i clean the way I do, so i don't have to waste caps.

For sure, hunting out of a tent does make cleaning more difficult, and time consuming, but can be done. .

It can easily and quickly be done, I do my cleaning right out of my shooting bag. ten minutes tops. It's only difficult if you don't know what you're doing or aren't equipped for it. People make things difficult.
 
I generally like to let the rifle sit for an hour after the final, alcohol cleaning, if I'm home I'll let it sit overnight. That is probably over-kill, but I'm a believer in too much is just right...most of the time. !!! ;)
 
I also agree with the Hot Shot nipple, "Especially" when using powders like Pyrodex. Have used them for years. THE ONLY TIMES I have ever had a problem was if (I swab between shots) my swabbing patch was to wet and I didn't get all the moisture out with the following dry swabbing patch. So when I poured the powder down, needless to say it sucked up the remaining moisture. After three caps trying to get it to ignite pulled the nipple put some powder in the flash channel, put the nipple back. When it finally fired it went Kaa-Woof. One time I didn't fire any caps before loading (then I used BoreButter in the barrel when I was done cleaning) at the range for the first shot, loaded the gun, after two attempts to fire it and realized what I hadn't done. I pulled the nipple added powder, put nipple back on, and it fired. These episodes happen at the practice range. So when loading for your first shot of the day, as long as you swab your bore with a dry patches till clean, then fire a couple of caps clearing anything "that might" be in the flash channel, you should be good to go. One other thing that "I" do (when hunting only) is pull the nipple after firing the caps and blow through the flash end of the nipple, then make sure I see light through it. As mentioned when seating the ball air will blow the nipple clear and it does. It is just when hunting I just want to be absolutely certain it is clear. I do not put powder in the flash channel and have never had a problem with the gun going off, even in damp weather. The deer I have killed wished I did though :D. One other thing is check your caps ESPECIALLY when hunting. I look inside of them to make sure they look the way they are supposed to, I have found a couple that didn't have any primer in them. At the target range not a big deal, when hunting I sure don't want a dud cap sitting on the nipple. I use RWS, Remington, or CCI Magnum caps when hunting with the Hot Shot nipple. Doing so I have never had a problem when hunting with my routine, SO FAR. Shooting these types of firearms nothing is 100%. DANNY
 
Modern nipples don't help too.
They have long tiny holes for the cap to push it's blast through.
Old ones were opened out more so the restricted path was much shorter.
 
Modern nipples don't help too.
They have long tiny holes for the cap to push it's blast through.
Old ones were opened out more so the restricted path was much shorter.

True story, I almost fainted when i saw the holes in the nipples of my William Moore. In fact, i posted about it. But you must have a much stronger hammer spring to compensate for the large hole...this i learned years ago.

Here's something may be of interest....
I've never thought much about the difference between #11 caps and "magnum #11" caps, but i was recently proven wrong.

I took a newly acquired 20 bore to a range to pattern it. Having never fired it before i had cleaned it and it seemed fine. I ran a dry patch down the bbls, popped a few caps on the nipples (brand new nipples i added) and loaded her up. The caps failed to ignite the main charge. After a proper time i was going to pull the nipples and prime under them. A fellow shooting next to me suggested using some CCI magnum caps he had. I first told him no thanks, thinking it wouldnt make a difference, but he insisted. I put on 2 Magnum caps and she went boom, boom. Imagine my surprise. After that i shot it a few more times using my standard caps with no problems. He told me he keeps the Magnum caps on hand for the first shot from a barrel if needed.
 
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