cap & ball help.

Canardman · March 22, 2014, 08:51 AM

I'm still very green to the whole black powder shooting. I got my first pistol for Christmas this year. I have fired it about 20 times and decided to take it hunting yesterday. So I loaded it up at the house and started through the woods. While walking along a creek I came up on a beautiful (had to be at least three foot) stump. At about 20 yards I levels off and squeezed the trigger..."fizzle" and what looked like a roman candle shot out of the barrel. I removed the cylinder to make sure the barrel was clear, reassembled and tried again. Boom!.. Boom...fizzle. again cleared the gun and tried again.
Out of the six rounds, three failed to fire properly. I'm wondering if while loading, the oil from the wad between the bullet and the powder could have fouled the charge. If so, what is the proper way to seat the bullet? Should there be an air gap or should the whole cylinder be packed tight. I think in seating the bullet I may be squeezing some oil from the wad and fouling the power.
Thanks, -B-

g.willikers · March 22, 2014, 09:10 AM

There should be no air between powder and bullet.
An air gap can be explosive with black powder.
Check the condition of the powder to see if it's moist.
Black powder attracts water all too well.
Remember the timeless warning, "Keep yer powder dry."

BillM · March 22, 2014, 09:11 AM

I'm assuming you cleaned and oiled it after you shot it before?

You probably had oil blocking the flash holes in the nipples, or
possibly excess oil in the cylinder chambers. I usually fire
a cap on each nipple before loading to clean the nipples if the
gun has been cleaned and lubed.

You using ox-yoke wonder wads over the powder? Never heard
of a problem with oil killing powder from them.

What are you using for powder?

rodwhaincamo · March 22, 2014, 09:17 AM

I take a Q-tip and using alcohol to swab out each chamber, as well as soak my nipples in alcohol to remove any oil before reassembly.

Hawg · March 22, 2014, 09:28 AM

Quote:

soak my nipples in alcohol to remove any oil before reassembly.

Doesn't that burn?

jimbob86 · March 22, 2014, 09:36 AM

Quote:

soak my nipples in alcohol to remove any oil before reassembly.

Quote:

Doesn't that burn?

....

Not at all..... but pulling them off that first time, though? THAT HURTS!

OutlawJoseyWales · March 22, 2014, 10:20 AM

Although I've read comments like these 100's of times, they still make me laugh. Now, I'm 57 years old, it should NOT make me laugh...but it does.

Thanks for the fun.

rodwhaincamo · March 22, 2014, 11:17 AM

Like anything else you learn to deal with it!

Hawg · March 22, 2014, 11:51 AM

Well where else but a bp forum can you talk about soaking your nipples in alcohol and not have folks look at you funny.

wogpotter · March 22, 2014, 01:41 PM

Some "sparking" is normal for B/P, way more so than modern powders, but there is a limit to how much is "normal".
I'd suggest trying a different lot of powder, no oil in the chambers or on the wads & see how that works.

Canardman · March 22, 2014, 05:55 PM

Thank you all for the replies. I did clean my gun and lubed it when I shot it last. I may have had some Remoil left in the cylinders. I'll fire some caps through next time before I load it.

Hawg · March 22, 2014, 07:08 PM

If you use Remoil or any other petroleum based lube in the bore and chambers you need to swab it all out with alcohol before loading.

BirchOrr · March 22, 2014, 07:15 PM

Hawg is correct. BP and petroleum oils don't play well together. Try Ballistol or any number of other products for final lube/storage. Even then, snap off a cap(s) to be sure the flash hole(s) are clear.

Birch

rodwhaincamo · March 23, 2014, 08:32 AM

Caps are too precious to fire like that.

Hellgate · March 23, 2014, 11:45 AM

To get a fizzle report it sounds like oil tainted powder. Try shooting the gun with no wad at all or a wad with no lube in it. You probably squeezed out a bunch of oil from the wad when ramming the ball. Generally black powder ignition is all or none. You'll get a pop and no boom but a fizzle/sizzle sounds like powder that can't explode due to oil or moisture.

swathdiver · March 23, 2014, 01:17 PM

What Hellgate said, this sounds like yer wads have too much lube in them. Squeeze them out on a rolling pin or something and try again.

Hawg · March 23, 2014, 01:52 PM

I doubt you'd squeeze that much lube out of a wad. Sounds like oily chambers

mrappe · March 25, 2014, 06:01 PM

If you clean out the cylinders and still have the problems and suspect that the wads have too much lube in them try using some corn meal on top of the powder instead of the wads under the balls. just pour enough to cover the powder completely about the depth of a few wads. It will compact under the ball and will be lube free. This would let you know if the wads are the problem.

buckhorn · March 26, 2014, 01:08 PM

Use the 'nipple pick' that should've come with your gun. Sounds worse than soaking your nipples in alcohol, but it clears out your nipple orifice so you get a good flame from ignition. If you don't have a 'nipple pick', use a tooth pick to clean out opening when you get ready to shoot.

March 22, 2014, 08:51 AM	#1
Canardman Member Join Date: February 17, 2013 Posts: 58	cap & ball help. I'm still very green to the whole black powder shooting. I got my first pistol for Christmas this year. I have fired it about 20 times and decided to take it hunting yesterday. So I loaded it up at the house and started through the woods. While walking along a creek I came up on a beautiful (had to be at least three foot) stump. At about 20 yards I levels off and squeezed the trigger..."fizzle" and what looked like a roman candle shot out of the barrel. I removed the cylinder to make sure the barrel was clear, reassembled and tried again. Boom!.. Boom...fizzle. again cleared the gun and tried again. Out of the six rounds, three failed to fire properly. I'm wondering if while loading, the oil from the wad between the bullet and the powder could have fouled the charge. If so, what is the proper way to seat the bullet? Should there be an air gap or should the whole cylinder be packed tight. I think in seating the bullet I may be squeezing some oil from the wad and fouling the power. Thanks, -B-

March 22, 2014, 09:10 AM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	There should be no air between powder and bullet. An air gap can be explosive with black powder. Check the condition of the powder to see if it's moist. Black powder attracts water all too well. Remember the timeless warning, "Keep yer powder dry." __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

March 22, 2014, 01:41 PM	#10
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Some "sparking" is normal for B/P, way more so than modern powders, but there is a limit to how much is "normal". I'd suggest trying a different lot of powder, no oil in the chambers or on the wads & see how that works. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

March 22, 2014, 07:15 PM	#13
BirchOrr Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Location: Eaton Rapids, MI Posts: 445	Hawg is correct. BP and petroleum oils don't play well together. Try Ballistol or any number of other products for final lube/storage. Even then, snap off a cap(s) to be sure the flash hole(s) are clear. Birch __________________ Black Powder: Not because it is easy, but because it is hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win...

March 23, 2014, 11:45 AM	#15
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	To get a fizzle report it sounds like oil tainted powder. Try shooting the gun with no wad at all or a wad with no lube in it. You probably squeezed out a bunch of oil from the wad when ramming the ball. Generally black powder ignition is all or none. You'll get a pop and no boom but a fizzle/sizzle sounds like powder that can't explode due to oil or moisture. __________________ 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)

March 22, 2014, 09:11 AM	#3
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 791	I'm assuming you cleaned and oiled it after you shot it before? You probably had oil blocking the flash holes in the nipples, or possibly excess oil in the cylinder chambers. I usually fire a cap on each nipple before loading to clean the nipples if the gun has been cleaned and lubed. You using ox-yoke wonder wads over the powder? Never heard of a problem with oil killing powder from them. What are you using for powder?

March 22, 2014, 09:17 AM	#4
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	I take a Q-tip and using alcohol to swab out each chamber, as well as soak my nipples in alcohol to remove any oil before reassembly.

March 22, 2014, 10:20 AM	#7
OutlawJoseyWales Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 237	Although I've read comments like these 100's of times, they still make me laugh. Now, I'm 57 years old, it should NOT make me laugh...but it does. Thanks for the fun.

March 22, 2014, 11:17 AM	#8
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	Like anything else you learn to deal with it!

March 22, 2014, 11:51 AM	#9
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	Well where else but a bp forum can you talk about soaking your nipples in alcohol and not have folks look at you funny.

March 22, 2014, 05:55 PM	#11
Canardman Member Join Date: February 17, 2013 Posts: 58	Thank you all for the replies. I did clean my gun and lubed it when I shot it last. I may have had some Remoil left in the cylinders. I'll fire some caps through next time before I load it.

March 22, 2014, 07:08 PM	#12
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	If you use Remoil or any other petroleum based lube in the bore and chambers you need to swab it all out with alcohol before loading.

March 23, 2014, 08:32 AM	#14
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	Caps are too precious to fire like that.

March 23, 2014, 01:17 PM	#16
swathdiver Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2012 Location: Treasure Coast, Florida Posts: 335	What Hellgate said, this sounds like yer wads have too much lube in them. Squeeze them out on a rolling pin or something and try again.

March 23, 2014, 01:52 PM	#17
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	I doubt you'd squeeze that much lube out of a wad. Sounds like oily chambers

March 25, 2014, 06:01 PM	#18
mrappe Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 256	If you clean out the cylinders and still have the problems and suspect that the wads have too much lube in them try using some corn meal on top of the powder instead of the wads under the balls. just pour enough to cover the powder completely about the depth of a few wads. It will compact under the ball and will be lube free. This would let you know if the wads are the problem. __________________ God is fluxing me which is good but it is not fun.

March 26, 2014, 01:08 PM	#19
buckhorn Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2012 Location: mid michigan Posts: 196	Use the 'nipple pick' that should've come with your gun. Sounds worse than soaking your nipples in alcohol, but it clears out your nipple orifice so you get a good flame from ignition. If you don't have a 'nipple pick', use a tooth pick to clean out opening when you get ready to shoot.