Gentlemen,
I have seen this topic come up on this forum so many times it's unbelievable. Let's face it, I find it hard to believe that with all of the companies that manufacture reproduction black powder firearms, I simply find it unlikely that they make their own nipples. I do not know this for a fact. Why else would we hear over and over my Uberti likes a number 10 or from someone else my Uberti likes a number 11? Same thing with Pietta and numerous others. We also hear occasionally, nothing works on mine. These companies are all in business to make money and will buy nipples from whoever can provide the most cost effective and fall within the lines of functioning properly meaning, the proper thread and length nipple. Diameter, does not seem to be much of a factor.
In my years, I have put a micrometer to many and many nipples. I have not seen much of a standard. Just because YOUR Ubertii likes on number 10, someone else's might not. It all depends on when it was made and who supplied the nipples being put into the cylinder.
I have also heard here, some who do not like aftermarket nipples as they had problems, cap jams, bad strikes and cylinders not firing properly. First of all, you are going to get cap jams no matter what you do. Secondly, if you are getting misfires or weak strikes the nipple is most likely not long enough and does not fit the hammer and cylinder correctly, or the wrong size cap.
I have many many cap and ball black powder firearms. I use the same nipples in all of them. The first thing that I do, is take the factory nipples out and replace them withTreso/Ampco nipples. This way, they all use the exact same cap and I don't have to have several different size caps for this, that and the other thing and I don't have to remember which one uses what.
I have also heard here, that some only replaced a couple of nipples that were bad and part of the revolver took one size cap and the rest of the cylinders took another size! Seriously? Also, that some left the nipples in for so long the gas eroded the inside of the nipple out so badly that it blew the hammer backwards and in some cases even recocked the hammer!
I believe that it is our job here on this forum to help those who are newcomers, wish to get into black powder, and enjoy the fun and the smoke with the least amount of problems. I also believe it is our job to give them excellent advice. This is what they seek here. It is also unfortunate, that some here don't know any better and simply do not give these new guys good advice. Considering all of the above, how can anyone realistically advise someone else on what size cap they might need?
All the best and burn powder!
Birch
I have seen this topic come up on this forum so many times it's unbelievable. Let's face it, I find it hard to believe that with all of the companies that manufacture reproduction black powder firearms, I simply find it unlikely that they make their own nipples. I do not know this for a fact. Why else would we hear over and over my Uberti likes a number 10 or from someone else my Uberti likes a number 11? Same thing with Pietta and numerous others. We also hear occasionally, nothing works on mine. These companies are all in business to make money and will buy nipples from whoever can provide the most cost effective and fall within the lines of functioning properly meaning, the proper thread and length nipple. Diameter, does not seem to be much of a factor.
In my years, I have put a micrometer to many and many nipples. I have not seen much of a standard. Just because YOUR Ubertii likes on number 10, someone else's might not. It all depends on when it was made and who supplied the nipples being put into the cylinder.
I have also heard here, some who do not like aftermarket nipples as they had problems, cap jams, bad strikes and cylinders not firing properly. First of all, you are going to get cap jams no matter what you do. Secondly, if you are getting misfires or weak strikes the nipple is most likely not long enough and does not fit the hammer and cylinder correctly, or the wrong size cap.
I have many many cap and ball black powder firearms. I use the same nipples in all of them. The first thing that I do, is take the factory nipples out and replace them withTreso/Ampco nipples. This way, they all use the exact same cap and I don't have to have several different size caps for this, that and the other thing and I don't have to remember which one uses what.
I have also heard here, that some only replaced a couple of nipples that were bad and part of the revolver took one size cap and the rest of the cylinders took another size! Seriously? Also, that some left the nipples in for so long the gas eroded the inside of the nipple out so badly that it blew the hammer backwards and in some cases even recocked the hammer!
I believe that it is our job here on this forum to help those who are newcomers, wish to get into black powder, and enjoy the fun and the smoke with the least amount of problems. I also believe it is our job to give them excellent advice. This is what they seek here. It is also unfortunate, that some here don't know any better and simply do not give these new guys good advice. Considering all of the above, how can anyone realistically advise someone else on what size cap they might need?
All the best and burn powder!
Birch