Some caps don't fire the first time...

R

red96ta

New member
I've noticed on my Pietta 1860 that between 2-3 caps don't fire the first time around and only go off after the second strike...what's going on? I'm currently using CCI#10 caps as Remington caps aren't available.

I'm thinking that one of two things are going on. Either I need to move over to #11 caps or I need to fill the hammer notch to give it more surface area to strike the caps.
 
Number 10s can be too small for some, you might try 11s or use a dowel rod to make sure they are all the way down on the nipple. Number 10s are too small and 11s need a slight pinch for most of mine.
 
Brushippie + 1

I mark my targets with a "Sharpie" Sharpie's have a small indentation at the very end of the marker tube.

It fits nearly perfectly into the cap recess in the cylinder. It makes a real good tool to press the caps onto the nipples. It is plastic and therefore soft enough to be safe. The indentation helps to keep it is place as the cap is pressed home.
 
CCI #10's are basically the smallest caps on the market.
I also found that the CCI #11's have thicker walls which makes them somewhat harder to squeeze to fit factory nipples verses Remington #11's.
Nipples can be dressed with emery cloth to help them fit the CCI #10's better but then the nipples may become too small to fit other brands of caps.

red96ta said:
I'm thinking that one of two things are going on. Either I need to move over to #11 caps or I need to fill the hammer notch to give it more surface area to strike the caps.
Click to expand...

It could also have a weak mainspring but that's doubtful. If it were weak then that could be addressed by inserting a wedge between it and the frame.
But the hammer notch does not usually need to be filled in unless the caps are getting blasted back into its recess, then getting stuck and/or repeatedly falling into the action.
Any #11 caps would probably work better by squeezing them to fit if necessary.
 
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You are not getting the caps seated. The ignition material must be in contact with the nipple for them to fire reliably. Give them a push.
 
I used to find several caps in a tin, that would have the combustible material knocked out from the inside, from being shipped and rattled around, and mis-handled at the store. Never found more than 2 or 3 in a tin, and it is easy enough to find them by looking at each one, but that may be your problem.

Never was a big deal at the range, but it will make you say all kinds of things on a hunt if you have sat and waited for hours in the cold weather, for that one good shot, just to hear the hammer go snap.
 
robhof

Wild Bill, I feel your pain; a few years ago I decided to take a deer with my flinter; spent days at the range perfecting the load and primer and adjusting flint for best spark. Finally see a deer , waited for best angle, cocked and fired; Pffsssst...., deer still there, reprimed, cocked and suddenly the deer hears and is of at a dead run. I don't hunt with a flinter for deer anymore.:mad::(:confused:
 
I used to find several caps in a tin, that would have the combustible material knocked out from the inside, from being shipped and rattled around, and mis-handled at the store.
Click to expand...

I find several in every tin of Remingtons but not CCI
 
Articap said: "CCI #10's are basically the smallest caps on the market." Unless you can find RWS#55. They are even smaller. I would recommend what has already been said: push them on harder to fully seat or get the CCI#11s. If you can find Remington #10 they are actually more forgiving of nipple shapes. As was said, the CCIs are harder caps and don't flare as readily as the Remingtons which have more "give" and expand the walls more easily to fit the shape of the nipple cone.

Of my 15 or so C&Bs, the CCI#11s fit about half and the RWS #1075 (#11) fit the other half but the Remington #10s fit all of them or I swap out the nipples so they do fit.
 
I just press them on with the capper. #11's work good with Uberti's. I thought #10's and even bought them, but then tried the 11's first, and they worked great.
 
#10's never worked for me. Try Remington #11's higher ignition caps and--- if serious replace w/ amco nipples.

#10s are good for pocket revolvers. I never found them to work on larger models but some say they do.

WBH
 
Most of my guns have liked #10's with a couple requiring #11. #10's won't work on those. #11's on the other ones have to be pinch fit to stay on.
 
hawg--I never fired our pockets. I just thought #10's would fit them only. Everytime I put 10's on on my guns they did not seat well and would not fire unless they were seated hard. I thought a 49 pocket would suit them great. I did not know. I do know that the tresso/amco nipples are better. Maybe they seat #10's better. But they are expensive!

WBH
 
I've never used CCI #10 or Remington #11. Remington #10 have fit all but one of my Pietta Remingtons and the one that takes #11 has what looks to be stainless nipples in it. Now my Pietta 60 took #11 CCI right out of the box. That's the only gun I bought new that I can say for sure takes #11 but I have heard other people say their 60's took #11. I've also heard that Italian nipples are hit or miss as to size. I dunno.:confused: You can get Ampco nipples for either size caps.
 
I don't know much, but I know that #10 Rems are what works when other caps won't. Make sure you check them to make sure they haven't lost their ignition source. Seems they do come up 'empty' more than CCI caps. Usually a few in a tin. CCI, almost never. Ampco nips are great also. Just what I've seen.
 
Just an update, I went into town and found a tin of RWS 1075+ and will see if this doesn't remedy my problems with unfired caps...
 
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