First shot problems

Ulrice · March 2, 2008, 03:57 PM

I'm new to black powder. I've only had my gun out twice. Both times I had to fire five caps off before my first loads went off. All other loads went off first try. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong?

Hawg · March 2, 2008, 04:29 PM

Oil in the chambers is my guess. Did you pop caps on empty chambers before loading? If not that's most likely the problem

sundance44s · March 2, 2008, 06:42 PM

Yep pop a cap sometimes 2 on a well oiled rifle before you load it .If you know it`s heavy oiled run a dry patch then pop a cap or 2 .

Ulrice · March 2, 2008, 06:54 PM

I did not pop any caps before loading. I'll do that next time, thanks for the help.

scrat · March 2, 2008, 08:34 PM

thats your problem. After firing a dry cap to clean out the nipples i load her up. Then before putting on the percussion caps i take a nipple pic and run it through the nipples. if i feel powder im usually pretty good 99.99999% it will fire immediately on first try

sundance44s · March 3, 2008, 06:26 AM

Ulrice ..another tip ..if your loading a side lock ..always put the hammer on half cock when loading this will allow the powder to be pushed into the nipple drum area by expelling the dead air out of the nipple flash hole , otherwise the trapped air will keep the powder from entering that air space .

Pahoo · March 3, 2008, 11:41 AM

By your post, I am assuming that you are shooting a side cocker with a #11 cap. You know what assuming gets you!!

Anyway, on such a M/L , Prior to the initial load, I insert a damp patch all the way down the bore with my Range Rod. I then pop one cap, Pull the rod and check the crud on the patch. That tells me the vent is clear and whether or not, I need to pop another cap. If the patch shows a bunch of mud, I change the patch and pop a second cap. This also allows for a little back pressure to clear the vent back toward the snail head. You also catch all the crud at the patch and keeps it out of the bore. Again, I only do this on #11 or musket caps and have never tried it on a 209 as most if not all of these are inlines.

Be safe!!!

Wild Bill Bucks · March 3, 2008, 12:51 PM

Little off subject, but I thought it was interesting, and informative enough that is deserves posting. I was amazed at the difference in these products.

http://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/ctml_...orrosion2.html

Pahoo · March 3, 2008, 03:30 PM

A bit perhaps but definitely associated and informative. Went to the home page and found some other interesting information. I thank you !!

Be Safe !!

Ulrice · March 3, 2008, 11:53 PM

Pahoo I am using a side cocker with a #11 cap. Thanks to everyone for the help as well as the slightly off topic info. It's all new to me.

Pahoo · March 4, 2008, 01:34 PM

Thought you might and sure sounds like you have this problem on the run. Take care, have fun and .... Be Safe !!!

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March 2, 2008, 03:57 PM	#1
Ulrice Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Langley, BC, Canada Posts: 95	First shot problems I'm new to black powder. I've only had my gun out twice. Both times I had to fire five caps off before my first loads went off. All other loads went off first try. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong?

March 2, 2008, 04:29 PM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Oil in the chambers is my guess. Did you pop caps on empty chambers before loading? If not that's most likely the problem

March 2, 2008, 06:42 PM	#3
sundance44s Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2006 Location: Hernando , Ms. Posts: 579	Yep pop a cap sometimes 2 on a well oiled rifle before you load it .If you know it`s heavy oiled run a dry patch then pop a cap or 2 .

March 2, 2008, 06:54 PM	#4
Ulrice Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Langley, BC, Canada Posts: 95	I did not pop any caps before loading. I'll do that next time, thanks for the help.

March 2, 2008, 08:34 PM	#5
scrat Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2008 Posts: 214	thats your problem. After firing a dry cap to clean out the nipples i load her up. Then before putting on the percussion caps i take a nipple pic and run it through the nipples. if i feel powder im usually pretty good 99.99999% it will fire immediately on first try

March 3, 2008, 06:26 AM	#6
sundance44s Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2006 Location: Hernando , Ms. Posts: 579	Ulrice ..another tip ..if your loading a side lock ..always put the hammer on half cock when loading this will allow the powder to be pushed into the nipple drum area by expelling the dead air out of the nipple flash hole , otherwise the trapped air will keep the powder from entering that air space .

March 3, 2008, 11:41 AM	#7
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	By your post, I am assuming that you are shooting a side cocker with a #11 cap. You know what assuming gets you!! Anyway, on such a M/L , Prior to the initial load, I insert a damp patch all the way down the bore with my Range Rod. I then pop one cap, Pull the rod and check the crud on the patch. That tells me the vent is clear and whether or not, I need to pop another cap. If the patch shows a bunch of mud, I change the patch and pop a second cap. This also allows for a little back pressure to clear the vent back toward the snail head. You also catch all the crud at the patch and keeps it out of the bore. Again, I only do this on #11 or musket caps and have never tried it on a 209 as most if not all of these are inlines. Be safe!!!

March 3, 2008, 12:51 PM	#8
Wild Bill Bucks Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2005 Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch Posts: 1,266	Little off subject, but I thought it was interesting, and informative enough that is deserves posting. I was amazed at the difference in these products. http://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/ctml_...orrosion2.html

March 3, 2008, 03:30 PM	#9
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	A bit perhaps but definitely associated and informative. Went to the home page and found some other interesting information. I thank you !! Be Safe !!

March 3, 2008, 11:53 PM	#10
Ulrice Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Langley, BC, Canada Posts: 95	Pahoo I am using a side cocker with a #11 cap. Thanks to everyone for the help as well as the slightly off topic info. It's all new to me.

March 4, 2008, 01:34 PM	#11
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Thought you might and sure sounds like you have this problem on the run. Take care, have fun and .... Be Safe !!!