Stuck nipple

New to me Rifle, but not new.

Can’t get the nipple to turn. Ruined one of those aluminum T handled nipple tools that has the pick screwed into the top.

The nipple is made of a gold metal, brass would be too soft. But a wrench has turned off of it and it looks like brass/gold. Trying to avoid going to the local ‘smith tomorrow.

Have soaked Kroil into it. Don’t know what metal this is...would using a torch to warm it up help?

Just can’t get a solid lock onto it...

With a real stubborn nipple, I've had my best luck by getting a small socket and cutting it with a dremel to fit over the nipple and using a drill press turned by hand while putting pressure on the nipple with the press held down tight. If you don't have those tools a small rachet with the socket can still work.

Is the gold colored nipple a Treso or Amco?

It does appear to be a Treso.

Keep soaking it in Kroil for a few days, or jus place the breech in a bucket of ATF/acetone. Then get a proper fitting wrench.

The socket works best for me. Still can not on really tough ones. Propane torch can help.

The material is normally called Ampco after the company that makes it. It's a copper based alloy with a lot of other minerals in it to make it hard and resistant to high temperatures.
Several different nipple manufacturers offer this alloy for the nipples they make.

The pictures that were posted don't show the "bronze" color I would expect to see if the nipple was made from Ampco. It looks to me like it is a common steel.

On the plus side if it is, Ampco, it won't rust so this sounds like a case of some idiot over-tightening the nipple when they installed it.

Spark plugs and nipples...all you want is "snug". So many fail to understand that.

Rat said:

Spark plugs and nipples...all you want is "snug". So many fail to understand that.

Click to expand...

Same with lock screws too.

It is very gold colored, the pics just don’t show it.

A few cycles of propane torch heat-cool combined with good penetrating oil will get it to break free. Find a good nipple wrench that fits and use what-ever leverage you can apply. Once free. clean the threads and re-install using anti-size compound so you never have this problem again.

Ordered a couple of hopefully well made wrenches on Amazon.

A steel nipple wrench and kroil oughta do the job. There’s nothing more aggravating than something like this

If you have an impact wrench and can find a socket that fits your nipple, suspect that would work. ‘Nuclear’ option would be to use an easyout.

For what it is worth, finger tight and possibly the smallest amount of lube on the threads when target shooting, but no lube in hunting situations, as typically no more than one or two shots are required.

Make sure it's empty and heat a few times as said.
Beryllium possibly.

Looks like Ampco to me. That's what I use, but I put a small strip of Teflon tape on mine and lightly snug it down. Probably whoever had it before, tightened it down and never removed it while cleaning it.

A nipple needs some anti seize on threads. Nipple wrenches can and do bend or break. A small open end wrench has worked for me.

I tried every trick mentioned here on a stuck musket nipple. I bought a needle nose vice grip, and with my old plumber's torch, finally got it out.
Ruined the shoulder on the nipple, but good excuse to buy a new one.

This is a common problem - particularly with some Italian reproductions. Next time, go to a hardware store and buy an easy-out of the appropriate size. Works every time.

In my case of a stuck nipple in a revolver, Harbor Freight came to my rescue with a hex drive impact tool. I used a 5mm hex drive socket to make a nipple wrench. A few taps with a small ball peen hammer after several days of soaking the stuck nipples with Kroil and I was able to loosen the nipples. Unfortunately, Harbor Freight no longer carries the tool.