How tight should nipples/cones be?

[SimmerinLightning]

I just use the bit from one of those ratchet wrenches and tighten them finger tight, loosening them the same way. Various comments on various threads, on various forums, seem to suggest people torque them down a bit more than that. I have never had any trouble, but I don't shoot as high a volume as many do.

[Fingers McGee]

Spin them on till the nipple bottoms out on the cylinder.  No torque, no 1/8 turn, nothing else.

[Coffinmaker]

PILE ON ..... PILE ON ..... PILE ON .....

Oh yea.  Piling on to Fingers McGee.  Fingers said to "Spin them on till the nipple bottoms out."  THAT'S IT!!

I have lost count of the guns I had to work on, that took a special fixture on my drill press and a cheater bar on a nipple wrench to get them little suckers out.  NOT NECESSARY.  Just Snug.  My next point.  NEVER EVER torque dry threads.  EVER.  Your nipples need to be installed with a light smear of Anti-Seize Lubricant.  I happen to like Permatex cause I can get it anywhere.

Coffinmaker

[SimmerinLightning]

That's pretty much all I do is spin them home. I really shouldn't have said finger tight. I seem to recall that, when I first unboxed them, the nipples were in pretty damn tight. As far as the threads, I just use beeswax. SO FAR I have not had any problems. Do you think I should switch to anti-seize?

[Coffinmaker]

Ah well, actually dunno. . Bee's Wax melts.  It is susceptible to heat.  Butt and However, the Bee's Wax is trapped in the threads and does not have the opportunity to migrate .... I don't think.  Must admit, never considered Bee's Wax.  Seals up Toilette's just fine. 

I have always just used Permatex Anti-Seize.  It worked very well on Spark plugs and therefore I had a tube in my tool box.  A single tube will last a lifetime (maybe two lifetimes).  Like a tube of Mobil 1 grease.  Buy it once.  Got enough for forever.  Use care with both however, as they will stain clothes.

Coffinmaker   

[Fingers McGee]

I spray the nipple threads with Balistol before re installing on the cylinder.  Never had one seize on me yet & they come loose easily after a CAS match or three

[Crow Choker]

Once upon a time I used to put a drop of gun oil on the threads when installing, but have for the last dozen or so years have used anti-seize, doesn't take much. Have yet to have a nipple fail to turn off. When installing, I too screw down until contact is made, but also give the nipple wrench just a little tweak to tighten firmly, not a 'gorilla torque'. I have seen a few back out slightly when just turning to contact without the 'little tweak', have yet to have one back out slightly when doing the 'tweak'. I do take my nipples off every time I clean, allows better cleaning of the nipple area on the cylinder and of the nipples themselves.

[Mogorilla]

Gorilla Torque???  Hey, I resemble that remark!

I have always used bore butter on the inside and out of the guns, After a thorough washing of all parts I put them in the oven set at 240.   All the screws, and nipples go into an old water chestnut can, and the rest of the parts on an old cookie sheet.   When they come out of the oven, I put a squeeze of bore butter in the can and swirl.   As they cool I pour them out on a piece of cotton.  Wipe the rest of the parts while still warm with bore butter.   Assemble when cool and wipe off any excess.   Have never had any trouble removing the nipples, or screws.   

[Crow Choker]

Aw Mogorilla, no semblance was intended or inferred!! Your shootin irons would be clean enough to eat off of, probably taste pretty good to usin' that bore butter.   Crow Choker