So what causes chain fires?

Wait--I think the X was on the side of the hammer. CRS:confused: But me and my roomate took it apart because it chain fired and thought it needed some real expert fixin:D If I remember correctly, that same X on the hammer was also stamped on the hammer hand. The gun was solid. After learning to grease the chambers, we shot all the balls, powder and caps (maybe 25 or so) with no problems. It had an extra ordinary hair trigger which I accidently shot a trench across my palm tryin to aim it at a bird. Hell,I was 18 or 19 then. Just as dumb as I am now!!! I though I shot my fingers off. I was lucky. Anyway, after renewing interest in these, I grease each chamber w/ crisco. Watch out for a ball getting seated in your barrel. I've seen 2 this year where folks brought in a banna peal! I have never read or heard of anyone hurting themselves badly by these mistakes--but I'm sure it happens.
 
I wish I still had it. I bought it at a road side gas store/fireworks etc.. store in 74 near Augusta Ga.

I sold it in 1975 to an antique gun collector near Statesboro for $100.00
Click to expand...

Why don't I ever come across these deals?!
 
Hawg I think you know that Rems have to have some or a real bad nipples to cet of a chain fire. And I think we that can all agree chainfire event happen at random or if there is a noticable defect or sumfin very wrong with a revolver. It's like shootin' craps you can win or lose on any roll of the dice.
 
I was popping caps on an Italian repro .36 Navy some years ago to clear the nipples of any oil before I started shooting.

I popped three, and on the third both the third AND the fourth cap popped in rapid but distinct succession, so it appears that caps can be a cause.
 
I had 4 chain fires.(probably a better term would be multiple discharges as only the intend chamber and the next chamber in order fired).
All of these occurrances were early in my cap & ball career and all occurred with less than perfect balls cast out of a poor(too hard) alloy.
Since, I have used only dead soft alloy and throw out the less than perfect balls.
In each case the second chamber to fire had an unfired cap securely on the nipple.
 
I've had two double-fires. Each time, the second ball exited from the left side of the gun at a 45 degree angle to the ground. I wasn't even sure what had happened - just a little extra boom (.36 caliber).
 
Nothin' happened to my hand any of the 4 times I had a chainfire. The velosity directly out of the camber the ball only travels about 200fps way less than a paintball gun ball. The barrel length and twist multiplies the ball's velosity. Jus' leaves a lead mark on the frame that wipes off.
 
I should be so lucky

The only experience I had involved that Sheriffs Model as I said.

Brass frame...

It loosened the arbor.

That was a sweet shooting pistol too. Now it is a sweet looking wall hanger.

Such is life.
 
Ive only had one chain fire and it caused the chamber to the left of the one being fired to go off.It shot off into the woods at a 45 degree angle and left a little bit of lead on the end of the barrel pin of my 1858 Remmy but it cleaned up easily and left no permanent damage.
 
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