Curing a cap-sucking C&B with new nipples

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

I have a pair of 1851 Navy revolvers that were notorious for cap jams. One is an old Armi San Marcos made gun and the other is made by Pietta. I recently equipped them with aftermarket nipples made by Slix Shot. These nipples have a re-designed combustion chamber and two lateral vent holes in the cone. That relieves the back-pressure from the exploding charge of powder in the revolver's chamber. It cured the cap jams in these two guns.

[hellgate]

All I did was fill in that little safety notch in the hammer face with JB Weld and no more cap jams. I kept the stock nipples on both of my 44 ASM Navies and an 1860 Army ASM & one Pietta. All my other Colt's Revolvers have the notch filled in as per my article in the SASS Cowboy Chronicle issue of Nov 2009 p43 and cap jams are almost non existent. The Piettas have the widest notches, even on those with no safety pins on the back of the cylinder! Glad to hear the Slix-shot nipples perform as advertized. I often shoot with the developers of those nipples who are great guys and always razz me about getting their nipples every time I have a misfire. I bought a bunch of old green lable Remington #10 gold foil caps with about 2-3% duds or weak pops. I couldn't pass up a "deal". Wish I had.

[Mad_Dog]

Which brand/size cap did you find fit those Slix-Shots well?

-Mad Dog

[Lefty Dude]

The recommend cap for the Slix-Shot cones is Remington #10. I have also used #11. However the 10's, because the skirt is longer tend to hold better.

Once the fired cones get some fouling on them the caps hold and most must be picked off the cone with the fingernail or small extraction device, like a screwdriver or such.

[Noz]

Hellgate, I use the "gold foil" Remington #10s exclusively. I've never had a failure. When I find them I buy all I can afford at the time.

I'm shooting the Slix nipples as well. Good product.

[hellgate]

Noz,
I'd gladly trade you the green lables for RWS#1075s or the Brown lable Remington#10s. I think I got an old lot. They were about $3.50/100 so of course I got 5000. 

[Buffalo Bruce]

I just installed Slix Nipples on my Uberti 1860 and I filled the hammer notch with JB Weld. Fired 36 shots with 30gr AP3f and used Rem #11's cause I have about 1000. Caped very easy with no seating other than thumb pressure. All shoots fired. About half of the caps stayed on and the rest opened up with 4 pedals. The caps didn't break apart so nothing went into the action.

I just installed a hammer spring that came out one of my USFA's making it a very smooth 1860. I'll find out this weekend if it still shoots.   Buffalo Bruce

[Pony Racer]

The Slix Nipples have definitely operated as promised on my Rogers and Spencers pistolas.

Course when I had some extra money I bought conversion cylinders for both guns, but since I am getting more used to capping them and they are operating well - I have yet to even try the conversion cylinders.

The conversion cylinders won't go bad of course - just thinking though that the price of the conversion cylinders I could have bought almost a full case of Diamnond Back FFG, 1k caps and probably 2k of 44 round ball.

Cest la vie!

[Lefty Dude]

Viva La Slix-Shots !!!!!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Buffalo Bruce]

After much testing I have reinstalled my original hammer spring. The lighter spring worked fine if nothing goes wrong like a piece of cap under the hammer. If this happens with the original spring the gun still fires, not so with the lighter spring.

I have shot two 5 stage matches with the slix nipples, original spring and 30gr of 3f goex and it went bang every time so I am very happy. I used #11 Rem caps.

[Lefty Dude]

You could back off the powder charge to 25 gr.. I shoot 25 grs. in my 1860 Pietta's. I use slix-snot nipples, reduced wolf hammer springs and #10 Remingtons.  I have shoot six to ten six stage matches and never a cap jam. My Hammer notches are tig-weld filled and filled and Hammer faces polished.

We have found that the Hammer face must be polished, and with no file or marks of any kind. Also hitting square and true to the nipples.

My shooting Pards Second Gen. Colt 1851, was intermittently cap jaming, The Hammer notches were tig-wld but had a few rough spots on the Hammer face. We filled the rough spots with JB-Weld, dressed & polished the Hammer face.
The cap jam issue was reduced to zero.

My Pietta 1851's have the notch filled with JB-Weld and file dressed. My 1860 Pietta's have the notches tig-weld filled, filed and hammer faces polished. There is a huge difference in the way the spent caps hold and deflect the cylinder on firing.

[Coffinmaker]

Well, I hate to "pile on" when a guy is down  but I just can't help myself .   After 15+ years of repairing and tuning CAS guns, I just set up my own first set of Cap Guns.  Pietta .44 Cal '51s.  I know, never existed, but an 1860 with a 3 inch octagonal barrel is just too KOOL. 
I set these guns up with Slixshot cones and over the counter (VTI) reduced main springs.  I have not filled in the safety notch yet (this week) but to date, no cap jams, no failure to fire, no cap frags in the action.
I'd have to say the Slixshot cones performed exactly as designed and advertised.  They can certainly save the neophyte C & B beginner from a lot of frustration.
Andale, aribba arriba Slixshot  (cinco de mayo)

Coffinmaker

[brazosdave]

My wife and I each have a Pietta 51 Navy .44, and I also have the sheriffs model. Great guns! I might just have to try out some of those slix shot nipples, I been getting regular replacement ones from Dixie and Track, and they work well, but might just set up one gun for comparisons sake.

[Lefty Dude]

Well, I hate to "pile on" when a guy is down  but I just can't help myself .   After 15+ years of repairing and tuning CAS guns, I just set up my own first set of Cap Guns.  Pietta .44 Cal '51s.  I know, never existed, but an 1860 with a 3 inch octagonal barrel is just too KOOL. 
I set these guns up with Slixshot cones and over the counter (VTI) reduced main springs.  I have not filled in the safety notch yet (this week) but to date, no cap jams, no failure to fire, no cap frags in the action.
I'd have to say the Slixshot cones performed exactly as designed and advertised.  They can certainly save the neophyte C & B beginner from a lot of frustration.
Andale, aribba arriba Slixshot  (cinco de mayo)

Coffinmaker

Sooner or later you will have a cap stick on the Hammer notch and fall in the inerds and lock the piece. I guarantee it will happen !

[The Trinity Kid]

Never had it happen with my Remington   That probably has something to do with a lack of safety notches, but....

--TK

[Willie Dixon]

sorry to necro an old thread, but what size Slix Shots are used on a circa 93 Armi San Marco? My lady just picked one up and I'd love to get it going with these new nipples.

*update*
I feel like an idiot,  Mr. Beliveau says which ones right in the video.  Must have missed that the first time I watched it considering at the time we didn't have the Armi San Marco.

sorry for the necro-posting.  Going to get my nipples ASAP! 

[hellgate]

12X28 Same as Uberti & ROA.