dry firing black powder guns??

[greenwood county cowboy]

when you dry fire a black powder gun does it spleen the nipples... i think i read that on the internet.. is it true??

[Fox Creek Kid]

Yes, it can peen softer (factory) nipples. If they are quality hardened replacement nipples it will damage the hammer face.

[hellgate]

Fox Cr said it. Some folks take the nipples out for dry firing. Others cut short pieces of air hose for fish tank pumps to put over the nipples so the hammer strikes the protruding ends of the hose to soften the blow. I just plain don't dry fire my guns. If I do any dry fire practice it is with a suppository shooter that can handle it. The C&Bs are generally made of softer steels and the contours of the hammer where it contacts the frame can be dented or where it is stopped by the frame can get peened and change how it hits afterward. My remingtons have gotten peened from just shooting where the hammer slot  is in the frame. I've had to tap on the sides of the hammer to reshape it so it doesn't bind.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

This is true about the peening.  That's most common.

Also, according to several BP "how to" sites, the hammer shouldn't actually touch the nipples; the hammer should stop a couple thousandths from touching.  Then you get to frame battering.  Always something.

I did try cutting some surgical tubing a bit (1/16" or a bit more) longer than the nipple shaft.  It works good for limited dry-diring.  Also, you can cut a piece of tubing a bit SHORTER than the combined length of the nipple (cone - the Olde term) shaft with a cap seated.  This way, it does 2 things: it will pretty much waterproof the thing as well as reliably keeping the cap seated; for instance, if you would want to go hunting.  The other benefit is that the caps won't split and drop into the works.  As easily.  This would be fine for limited shooting like practice, but it might be a bit time consuming at a match.

Give it a try.  I used some spare fish tank air hose which I bought.  It was more like surgical tubing than the older stff type of hose.

[greenwood county cowboy]

much obliged

[Will Dearborn]

I'm going to try the hose thing myself.  My remmy splits caps and I have the devil's own time, sometimes.  I say thankya, too.

Will

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Anytime, pards.

[Noz]

I had trouble with Remingtons splitting caps. My take was that there was too much back pressure coming thru the flash hole in the nipple. I went to a TRESCO nipple(small flash holes) and that helped but didn't cure the problem. I reduced the charge by 2 grains and with the new nipples, problem was solved.

[Montana Slim]

Why bother dry firing....when flames are much more satisfying 

Oohh!....do tell....some folks spend hours practicing, eh? 


Slim