C&B Single actions

[gunslik]

Does anyone discuss cap and ball sixguns here, or am I bein' a heritic? Ive hunted small game with a Navy .36, but everyone knows the major problem with those......caps fallin' off. Any sugestions for keeping them on so they don't fall back into the action.....I mean short of shootin' it upside down?

[olgeorge]

On www. theopenrange.net there is a reprint of an article on making a c&b revolver work. It is in the "Firearms, Leather and Gunsmithing" forum, third item down. There is alink to the article. I modified mine as per the article, but haven't had a chance to try it out since. As soon as I do, I'll let you know how it works.

[papa]

I've heard some people squeeze the cap to make it oblong and then push it on the nipple. They say it works good for them, but I've never had that problem with my Old Army....

olgeorge, I think I'll check out that forum just for the heck of it. Thanks

Papa

[bogusbill]

I also read just to pinch them. I have this original new model remington. Someone many years ago reblued it, put on a red post king front sight and squared the hog wallow rear notch. It shoots fine, although I havent messed with it in years.

[the priest]

you need to find the proper size caps to fit. the replicates usually use #10 caps. I have a Remington 1858 replica like Bill's and it takes the #10s, so do my repli-colts. make sure you find the right ones and they shouldn't fall off.

it's suspected (and I THINK I saw it proved but can't remember)that chain fires come from ill fitting caps as well,....not from the front of the chamber as most suspect. that would make pinching a no no. if your chambers are concentric and your balls are the right size, ahem, .....they should seal the chamber from the front. (a little dab of grease doesn't hurt either)

If you're talking about the caps falling off AFTER firing,.....good luck. some people will take their bp revolver and point it toward the sky while cocking the next round, some will shake it. I've never found a perfect method.

hunting small game is a lot of fun with the Navy.

[CraigC]

Oh yes! I particularly love the old Colt open top designs and plan on at least one of each model. So far I've only made it to a pair of 1860's. I'm really more interested in the cartridge conversions. Not the drop-in stuff but authentic replicas of 19th century originals. So many guns, so little time.

[gunslik]

0lgeorge: thanx for the link, I'll give it a try.............papa: thanx, but pinching is an invite to chain fires, as Priest says below.........Bogus: Nice New Model Army( Remington never listed an "1858", just New Model Army) My new model army replica dose'nt have the problem of cap loss so much as the replicolts, but I like the feel and balance of the Colt type much better. As far as cap size, I've found that #10's fit the .36 cal., #11's for the .44's........Priest: Right on about right size cap, and as for grease over the chamber mouth, I use a 50-50 mix of beeswax and parifin melted together, let cool, and use appropriate size cutter for each cal. It probably helps to keep chain fires away, but mostly it's a good bullet lube and helps keep the fouling soft. Tight fitting caps are the best bet against chain fire.........Craig: I agree about conversions as to drop-in, but with drop-in you can switch back and forth between cartridge and loose powder and ball if you're a mind to. Check with Cimmeron Fireams for replica conversions.They've got about anything you want along those lines....Many thanks to you guys for your input and reply. I have an idea for spent cap retention, and when I figure out hoe to post pictures on here, I'll show ya.

[inFALable]

I have a Ruger Old Army that I shoot a decent amount. I've never had an issue with caps falling off before being fired though. I use Remington #10's. With caps it really is just a matter of trying the different brands to see which is best for your nipples. Also if you're not using a capper getting one can help. You can more firmly seat the caps then.


Its a fun gun to shoot but Indiana won't let me hunt deer with it so its really just a toy. I only 777 in it now. Clean up is a cinch with 777.

I've tried loading 230 LRN .452 bullets that I cast for my 1911 but I can't seat them straight enough for accuracy. With a chamber full of 777 I can get them to 1200 fps. I really want a custom mold for it!!

[Hobie]

I must be an odd duck or have odd duck guns. I've been using #11 caps for years. IF a particular cap is loose (or the nipple is small, point of view I guess) I pinch the cap slightly. Slight pinching is all I've ever needed. The caps falling into the action is part of why the cartridge guns caught on so quickly despite the crudity of the cartridges. Kinda like why people left the horses for the car despite having to pay for gas.

[bigmuddy]

The first thing one should do with ANY of the replica C&B guns is replace the nipples with Treso brand. They will hold the caps better, and you get better and more consistent "fire" through them.

The different size caps (10's 11's) are not all the same depending on brand. I know in CAS the most popular is the Remington #10. I use them and they really minimize the problems.

The caps falling into the action was one of the reasons the Remington revolvers were considered to be better by some back when these guns were all that was available. The method for shooting the Colt style is to tip the gun up and a slight roll to the right when cocking after firing. You will notice a small cut out in the frame in the lower right. That is there for the spent cap to fall out.

Most of the time with my Treso nipples and Remington #10 caps, they stay on even after firing and have to be plucked off.

I know that pinching caps is done, but if it is necessary to keep the cap on, you don't have the right combination. Always use a capper and I use a small wooden dowel to make sure the cap is seated all the way. If not you can get mis-fires. (Make sure gun is pointed safe when doing this...and of course always) NEVER use your finger to seat caps. I remember seeing the result of this one time, when the cap went off. The shooters thumb was torn terribly.

The last thing to make sure of is that your hammer spring is heavy enough. Some think that if it is heavy enough to set off the cap all is well. Light hammer springs allow the pressure blowing back against the nipple to push the hammer back OFF the nipple, and results in the cap blowing off and often down into the action.

[rigby]

I've have and still do occasionally shoot BP revolvers. I have two a SS Remington repo and Colt Sheriffs repo in 36. I took a punch and flaired the nipples so that the 10 would hold.

[the priest]

Rigby,

Is that your inlay work on the 'Sherrif's model'? (it's a nice little accent)

[parson45]

I love my New Model Army Colts and my New Model Army Remingtons. I use Remington #10 caps exclusively, and when cocking the Colts give a slight twist of the wrist to the right so the cap will fall clear, if it falls. Also, heating up the load pushes the hammer back a bit on firing and can let caps back off.

[rigby]

Aug 22, 2009 15:30:37 GMT -5 the priest said:

Rigby,

Is that your inlay work on the 'Sherrif's model'? (it's a nice little accent)

Yea but it looks better in the pic then in person.It was my first attempt.

[jhrosier]

Aug 21, 2009 22:57:23 GMT -5 the priest said:

....
If you're talking about the caps falling off AFTER firing,.....good luck. some people will take their bp revolver and point it toward the sky while cocking the next round, some will shake it. I've never found a perfect method....

Some ranges frown on pointing the revolver skywards.
You can get the same effect by rolling the revolver to the right while keeping it pointed downrange. Just not as easy to do while cocking the hammer. This worked well with my 1860 Army.

And yes, #10 caps are the right size for revolver nipples. If the caps are still loose, the nipples are too small. Replacement nipples are available for just about all of the repro C&Bs.

Jack