Nipple removal when cleaning revolver

I do it every time I shoot the 1858, basicaly because I have too much time in my hands (while at home) and very little occasions to go to the range, therefore any play activity with my irons is welcome.

I know I am really sad.....

K.
 
Clean it dang it

Yes ... clean the whole Revolver the cones will corrode as will the treads, and can rust from the water they were cleaned in ...so clean your Rev completely as if your life depended on it after you've shot it. Why would ya clean parts of the Rev only when the Cones(Nipples) are the most valuable oriface in ignition after that trigger is squeezed. :rolleyes:
 
Yes.
If you do it'll guarantee they are cleaned inside & out & not rusted/filthy/corroded/blocked. They'll also go in & out easier as you can add a little lube or neversieze to the threads so they won't be welded in later when you try to replace them.
 
I always remove and clean them after shooting. May not be absolutely necessary but it can't hurt and it doesn't take much more time.
 
I used to remove them every time after shooting. I clean the gun with hot water and soap. I used to take them off primarily to make sure the threads were oiled so that they would not rust together but I have coated the threads with a copper based anti-seize that I bought at the auto store and now they don't rust as easily. I screw them together not as tightly as they were from the factory because they were extremely tight when I first got them. I have removed them since coating them and they come out quite easily and do not rust. I also use an air compressor to dry my gun agter wasging it. If i force air through the nipples and around the base of them they seem to stay free of rust and corrosion.
 
Put a little anti-seize on the threads and you'll be just fine. I used to take everything completely apart until I realized that I just didn't have to. It might be worth noting that sometimes you can create more wear on a gun by the continual disassembly of parts that don't really need to be removed and cleaned every time the gun is used.
 
Take them out when you completely disassemble the gun for cleaning after shooting it. A clean gun is a happy gun! ;)
 
A tight fitting patch will force water through them and pull water back through them. No need to take them out. Nothing wrong with taking them out tho. It's just a matter of preference.
 
Mine come out when a repair is necessary and not before. All threads are coated with an antiseize compound and are turned in finger tight.
 
I used to do it every time. Now that I use a light coat of antiseize compound on the threads before reassembly, I can let it go for several cleanings before I start to worry about them. I usually don't but it's nice to know that I have a little insurance there if I need to let it slide for a little while.

Believe me, it only takes one experience with trying to replace a nipple that's seized-up due to corrosion to make a convert outta you. Especially if all you've got is an inexpensive repro nipple wrench made with "soft" steel and "generous" tolerances to work with.
 
Been shooting cap and ball revolvers for nearly 40 years. Once, I neglected to remove the nipples while cleaning the chambers with hot, soapy water.
The nipples rusted into place and required Knock 'er Loose penetrating oil to remove them. I'll never make that mistake again.
Yes, you should remove the nipples each time you clean the cylinder. Aside from the possible rust issue, it also makes it easier to reach fouling in the nipple cutout of the cylinder.
I twirl a tiny brush in the threads of the cylinder, to remove any fouling. Once all parts are dry, I put a small amount of olive oil or Gorilla Grease anti-seize compound on the nipple threads before putting them back in the cylinder. This makes removal easier later.
No need to bear down hard when screwing the nipples in. Just put them in firm.
Removing a stuck nipple is an onerous job. Why risk having to do it by not removing the nipple for cleaning and a dab of lubricant?
 
I remove the nipples every time I clean, after every range session, too. I don't always disassemble the whole revolver. I usually do that every 2-3 sessions, or if I shot a long one (more than 2-3 cylinders), or if it'll be more than a week or two until my next session. But I remove the nipples after every single session.
 
Every time for me, Colt open top. I clean overall with WD-40 and a toothbrush and then I blast WD-40 everywhere. I then remove the nipples and once every few trips the rammer too, as well as the barrel wedge and screw. I boil everything except the frame for 10 minutes and meanwhile I clean the frame with a tooth brush, rags, and WD-40 and a little hoppes because of the primers

Then I use tongs to retrieve the boiled parts, they air dry for ten minutes then more WD-40. Couple passes with a brush in the barrel using WD-40 and then two patches, second one comes clean.

I figure the extra 3 minutes for nipple removal guarantees me mine will never become frozen. I just cleaned two Colt open tops this way; took forty minutes for the pair. Not bad
 
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