Curing a cap-sucking C&B with new nipples

duelist1954 · January 14, 2013, 07:58 AM

I have a pair of 1851 Navy revolvers that were notorious for cap jams. One is an old Armi San Marcos made gun and the other is made by Pietta. I recently equipped them with aftermarket nipples made by Slix Shot. These nipples have a re-designed combustion chamber and two lateral vent holes in the cone. That relieves the back-pressure from the exploding charge of powder in the revolver's chamber. It cured the cap jams in these two guns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hns_tEWBFD0

Rifleman1776 · January 14, 2013, 09:11 AM

Congratulations, you have discovered the 'hot shot' style nipples.
Yes, they are the preferred nipple for most ml uses.

10851Man · January 14, 2013, 09:51 AM

Great information. Got a link to these????

duelist1954 · January 14, 2013, 05:42 PM

These folks sell them

http://www.cowboybullets.com/Products.html

go to the bottom of the page.

I think Long Hunter shooting supplies sells them too...maybe some others as well.

10851Man · January 14, 2013, 06:06 PM

Thanks!!!!!

Hawg · January 14, 2013, 07:36 PM

I just raise the muzzle and tilt it to the right a bit while cocking and the spent caps fall clear of the action.

10851Man · January 15, 2013, 09:59 AM

So, the 'Slix Shot' nipples have a vent hole drilled crossways????? That's it?????

Hellgate · January 15, 2013, 05:48 PM

10851man,
They've also got the top of the nipple with a smaller surface area so lighter hammer blows will still fire the cap, a redisigned flash channel to focus the flame and moderately smaller flash holes (not quite as small as the Treso nipples). The few original Colts I have examined had nipples with fairly thin edges at the top of the nipple. I suspect in order to capture as much flash to channel it down into the powder. I also notoced that the originals had pretty large flash holes either by design or they could have been shot out.

An alternative to the new nipples is to just fill in the safety notch in the hammer face. It grabs caps and pulls them off the nipple afeter firing and then they get tipped off by the frame and fall off the hammer into the "works". Filling in the notch with JB weld eliminates the notch for the cap to lodge in. Thoroughly clean (wire brush, degreaser) the notch, make a masking tape dam, tip the gun up in a stand or padded vise and fill with JB. Set overnight, carefully file away the excess (Dremel with a brass wire brush works well) leaving a very slight dimple in the surface of the filling so the fill doesn't take a direct hit on the nipple. It occasionally falls out but is a cinch to replace. Brazing or welding would work the best to permanently fill it in.

Willie Sutton · January 15, 2013, 07:07 PM

The best fix is to install a "cape rake" on the pistol. Basically you add a pin into the frame right behind the cap, and file it to a thin kinfe-blade that prevents the cap from coming off the nipple. Then the hammer is slotted with a cutoff wheel to clear the rake. I can show pics if that's not clear.

Willie

.

10851Man · January 15, 2013, 07:13 PM

Thanks, Hellgate...

I would like to try the Slix Shots, since I prefer the SS nipples from a corrosion standpoint...

Hawg · January 15, 2013, 07:33 PM

I'd say the best fix would be a Kittredge spring plate like used on some of the Manhattan revolvers. http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=...RS=PN/0041,848

10851Man · January 16, 2013, 11:23 AM

Interesting!

Hellgate · January 16, 2013, 11:38 AM

Hawg,
Your link to the Manhattan revolvers didn't work!! AAARrrgghh!

January 14, 2013, 07:58 AM	#1
duelist1954 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2011 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 567	Curing a cap-sucking C&B with new nipples I have a pair of 1851 Navy revolvers that were notorious for cap jams. One is an old Armi San Marcos made gun and the other is made by Pietta. I recently equipped them with aftermarket nipples made by Slix Shot. These nipples have a re-designed combustion chamber and two lateral vent holes in the cone. That relieves the back-pressure from the exploding charge of powder in the revolver's chamber. It cured the cap jams in these two guns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hns_tEWBFD0

January 15, 2013, 05:48 PM	#8
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	10851man, They've also got the top of the nipple with a smaller surface area so lighter hammer blows will still fire the cap, a redisigned flash channel to focus the flame and moderately smaller flash holes (not quite as small as the Treso nipples). The few original Colts I have examined had nipples with fairly thin edges at the top of the nipple. I suspect in order to capture as much flash to channel it down into the powder. I also notoced that the originals had pretty large flash holes either by design or they could have been shot out. An alternative to the new nipples is to just fill in the safety notch in the hammer face. It grabs caps and pulls them off the nipple afeter firing and then they get tipped off by the frame and fall off the hammer into the "works". Filling in the notch with JB weld eliminates the notch for the cap to lodge in. Thoroughly clean (wire brush, degreaser) the notch, make a masking tape dam, tip the gun up in a stand or padded vise and fill with JB. Set overnight, carefully file away the excess (Dremel with a brass wire brush works well) leaving a very slight dimple in the surface of the filling so the fill doesn't take a direct hit on the nipple. It occasionally falls out but is a cinch to replace. Brazing or welding would work the best to permanently fill it in. __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

January 16, 2013, 11:38 AM	#13
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	Hawg, Your link to the Manhattan revolvers didn't work!! AAARrrgghh! __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

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January 14, 2013, 09:11 AM	#2
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Congratulations, you have discovered the 'hot shot' style nipples. Yes, they are the preferred nipple for most ml uses.

January 14, 2013, 09:51 AM	#3
10851Man Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: High Desert Mountains CA. Posts: 410	Great information. Got a link to these????

January 14, 2013, 05:42 PM	#4
duelist1954 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2011 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 567	These folks sell them http://www.cowboybullets.com/Products.html go to the bottom of the page. I think Long Hunter shooting supplies sells them too...maybe some others as well.

January 14, 2013, 06:06 PM	#5
10851Man Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: High Desert Mountains CA. Posts: 410	Thanks!!!!!

January 14, 2013, 07:36 PM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	I just raise the muzzle and tilt it to the right a bit while cocking and the spent caps fall clear of the action.

January 15, 2013, 09:59 AM	#7
10851Man Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: High Desert Mountains CA. Posts: 410	So, the 'Slix Shot' nipples have a vent hole drilled crossways????? That's it?????

January 15, 2013, 07:07 PM	#9
Willie Sutton Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2012 Posts: 1,066	The best fix is to install a "cape rake" on the pistol. Basically you add a pin into the frame right behind the cap, and file it to a thin kinfe-blade that prevents the cap from coming off the nipple. Then the hammer is slotted with a cutoff wheel to clear the rake. I can show pics if that's not clear. Willie .

January 15, 2013, 07:13 PM	#10
10851Man Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: High Desert Mountains CA. Posts: 410	Thanks, Hellgate... I would like to try the Slix Shots, since I prefer the SS nipples from a corrosion standpoint...

January 15, 2013, 07:33 PM	#11
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	I'd say the best fix would be a Kittredge spring plate like used on some of the Manhattan revolvers. http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=...RS=PN/0041,848

January 16, 2013, 11:23 AM	#12
10851Man Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: High Desert Mountains CA. Posts: 410	Interesting!