Got a Hoppes Ethan Allen Double Barrel .36 It misfires some?

5282jt · December 26, 2010, 11:54 AM

I shot this 4 times and it shot fine. I cleaned it and it misfired on both barrels. I cleared the nipples with a guitar string, that just fir through all the way. I then shot 3 more caps through and still all misfires. The only way I could get it to fire, was to remove both nipples and add some pyrodex under the nipples-then both fired.
I read that this gun needs to be redrilled to 1/8" with an aircraft 12" drill bit. The info said it was not in center, but at around 6:15 O-Clock.
Anyone dealt with this?
I am new to all black powder and this is my 3rd gun. My 1st is a Cabelas 1858 New Army .44 and second was a .45 Jukar. I have not had a misfire with those, after many shots fired!
Thanks!
Chuck

junkman_01 · December 26, 2010, 03:03 PM

I just read the forum about drilling the flash channel to 1/8" too.

What powder granulation are you using? You could try a smaller granulation or even a duplex load like a few grains of 4f followed by the remainder of the charge with 3f.

5282jt · December 26, 2010, 09:28 PM

Hello, That's a good idea! I'm using Pyrodex P [FFFG equivalent]
In fact, I'm new to Black Powder, but I think there are some like Blackhorn 209 and Triple 7 that may be more easily ignited?
I wonder if real black powder ignites more readily than the substitutes?
I would certainly prefer not to have to try drilling?
Anyone have experience with propellants other than Pyrodex?
Thanks
Chuck

junkman_01 · December 26, 2010, 09:53 PM

Real black powder is easier to ignite than the substitutes.

5282jt · December 26, 2010, 10:22 PM

Then I think i'll try to find some.
I live in Port Charlotte, Florida 33981
I wonder who sells it near me?
Thanks,
Chuck

junkman_01 · December 26, 2010, 10:32 PM

I can't help you there. I live in Jacksonville, Florida 32259

bynx · December 28, 2010, 08:57 PM

Try Bass Pro off Alico Rd. They have Goex and Swiss in stock. These Ethan Allen repros have real small flash channels and Pyro-crap doens't get enough heal/spark to light. Real Black doens't have a problem.

Hawg Haggen · December 28, 2010, 09:02 PM

I'll take your word about Ethan Allen having small flash channels but I've been using Pyro for years and have had no ignition problems whatsoever with standard caps in a variety of weapons.

5282jt · December 28, 2010, 09:31 PM

I didn't know Bass Pro carried real bp? I can drive there in an hours time!
I JUST CALLED THEM AND YOU ARE RIGHT! REAL BP!!!
Thanks!
Chuck

Roaddog · December 29, 2010, 08:03 AM

I would not use 4Fand 3F mix. 4F is for priming and that's all. If you drill out the nipple you may get to much blowback and the hammer will slap back. Not a good thing. The 3F black powder should do the trick.

Hawg Haggen · December 29, 2010, 08:11 AM

A few grains of 4F loaded first to help ignite the main charge isn't going to hurt anything.

junkman_01 · December 29, 2010, 11:46 AM

Roaddog,

I guess you haven't been around long enough to have heard about a duplex load? Actually it is quite common. As a modern example, the US Navy uses duplex loads in their big guns. The first bags of powder are smokeless and the last bag, nearest the breach, is black powder.
No one said anything about drilling out the nipple. What was discussed was enlarging the flash channel

Roaddog · December 30, 2010, 08:36 AM

I have used 3F and 2F as a duplex loads but not 4f. Live and lern I gess. My misstake on the nipple.

madcratebuilder · December 30, 2010, 11:50 AM

Quote:

I read that this gun needs to be redrilled to 1/8" with an aircraft 12" drill bit.

It is necessary to drill the Hoppe's EA derringer for reliable ignition no matter what powder you use. There is considerable dead space between the end of the nipple and the flash hole, plus the flash hole is very small.

They are fun derringers and very well made other than this design flaw.

December 26, 2010, 11:54 AM	#1
5282jt Member Join Date: November 8, 2010 Posts: 41	Got a Hoppes Ethan Allen Double Barrel .36 It misfires some? I shot this 4 times and it shot fine. I cleaned it and it misfired on both barrels. I cleared the nipples with a guitar string, that just fir through all the way. I then shot 3 more caps through and still all misfires. The only way I could get it to fire, was to remove both nipples and add some pyrodex under the nipples-then both fired. I read that this gun needs to be redrilled to 1/8" with an aircraft 12" drill bit. The info said it was not in center, but at around 6:15 O-Clock. Anyone dealt with this? I am new to all black powder and this is my 3rd gun. My 1st is a Cabelas 1858 New Army .44 and second was a .45 Jukar. I have not had a misfire with those, after many shots fired! Thanks! Chuck

December 26, 2010, 09:28 PM	#3
5282jt Member Join Date: November 8, 2010 Posts: 41	Powder i'm using in the Hoppes9 Ethan Allen Hello, That's a good idea! I'm using Pyrodex P [FFFG equivalent] In fact, I'm new to Black Powder, but I think there are some like Blackhorn 209 and Triple 7 that may be more easily ignited? I wonder if real black powder ignites more readily than the substitutes? I would certainly prefer not to have to try drilling? Anyone have experience with propellants other than Pyrodex? Thanks Chuck

December 26, 2010, 10:22 PM	#5
5282jt Member Join Date: November 8, 2010 Posts: 41	Real Black Powder Then I think i'll try to find some. I live in Port Charlotte, Florida 33981 I wonder who sells it near me? Thanks, Chuck

December 28, 2010, 09:02 PM	#8
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,240	I'll take your word about Ethan Allen having small flash channels but I've been using Pyro for years and have had no ignition problems whatsoever with standard caps in a variety of weapons. __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php

December 28, 2010, 09:31 PM	#9
5282jt Member Join Date: November 8, 2010 Posts: 41	Thanks BYNX I didn't know Bass Pro carried real bp? I can drive there in an hours time! I JUST CALLED THEM AND YOU ARE RIGHT! REAL BP!!! Thanks! Chuck Last edited by 5282jt; December 28, 2010 at 09:51 PM. Reason: info

December 26, 2010, 03:03 PM	#2
junkman_01 Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 260	I just read the forum about drilling the flash channel to 1/8" too. What powder granulation are you using? You could try a smaller granulation or even a duplex load like a few grains of 4f followed by the remainder of the charge with 3f.

December 26, 2010, 09:53 PM	#4
junkman_01 Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 260	Real black powder is easier to ignite than the substitutes.

December 26, 2010, 10:32 PM	#6
junkman_01 Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 260	I can't help you there. I live in Jacksonville, Florida 32259

December 28, 2010, 08:57 PM	#7
bynx Junior Member Join Date: September 8, 2010 Location: S.W. Florida Posts: 2	Try Bass Pro off Alico Rd. They have Goex and Swiss in stock. These Ethan Allen repros have real small flash channels and Pyro-crap doens't get enough heal/spark to light. Real Black doens't have a problem.

December 29, 2010, 08:03 AM	#10
Roaddog Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2010 Location: East central Minnesota Posts: 103	I would not use 4Fand 3F mix. 4F is for priming and that's all. If you drill out the nipple you may get to much blowback and the hammer will slap back. Not a good thing. The 3F black powder should do the trick.

December 29, 2010, 08:11 AM	#11
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,240	A few grains of 4F loaded first to help ignite the main charge isn't going to hurt anything. __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php

December 29, 2010, 11:46 AM	#12
junkman_01 Junior member Join Date: November 9, 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 260	Roaddog, I guess you haven't been around long enough to have heard about a duplex load? Actually it is quite common. As a modern example, the US Navy uses duplex loads in their big guns. The first bags of powder are smokeless and the last bag, nearest the breach, is black powder. No one said anything about drilling out the nipple. What was discussed was enlarging the flash channel

December 30, 2010, 08:36 AM	#13
Roaddog Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2010 Location: East central Minnesota Posts: 103	I have used 3F and 2F as a duplex loads but not 4f. Live and lern I gess. My misstake on the nipple.