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ORIGINAL: whitetaildreamer
I've had a traditions deerhunter muzzel loader for the past 20 years (old school is hard to give up). This past season the nipple blew out of the ballister (the threds just worn out). I've since bought an inline but the memories of all the deer I've taken with that old firearm are hard to give up. Even though the inline is fine, I would still like to get my old gun working again. I've seen a couple of gunsmiths but their cost was more than the new inline. Is it possible to buy a ballister somewhere? I've checked with Traditions and they no longer produce ballisters for this gun. Any ideas?????
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Yes, I have some ideas! First of all, are the threads in the drum's nipple hole damaged, or just the threads on the old nipple? If the threads in the drumare not damaged, you can merely clean the threads, then replace the nipple with a new one.
If the threads in the drum/bolster holeare damaged, you will have to recut threads to a larger size. IF your rifle uses a 6mm nipple, the diameter is .236". If it is a 6.3mm nipple, it is .248"
You should be able to clean up either of these sizes with a 1/4X28 (.250"X28) tap, which is the standard American rifle-nipple size.Dixie Gun Works sells "oversize" nipples in increasing diameters for use in oversize holes or holes where the original threads are damaged, and one of these would work, if 1/4X28 is too small to recut the old threads. The way these oversize nipples work is you screw them in with the nipple wrench. The old threads act as a guide, and the act of screwing in the oversize nipple recuts the threads to that new size.
You can also buy a bottoming tap for thesize of nipple threads you will need and recut the threads in the drum, then install a new nipple that has the larger size thread.
This job is real simple to do, but if you don't want to do it yourself, consult with a local gunsmith who will re-thread the drum for you. Even if you have to buy the tap for him to use, you canget a tap for $10.00 or less, and it would not take even an hour's labor by the gunsmith to re-tap the hole. So I'd say you could get the job done for no more than $20.00, if you furnish the tap and the new nipple. (Always use your nipple wrench and make sure your nipples are screwed in tight before you shoot! I've got two caplock rifles thatI got in 1968, and I have never had a nipplew blow out of its hole! I replacemy nipples every 100 shots or so, but that might not even be necessary. I like to hunt with a new nipple that I'm sure will work.....)
You can buy the tap, plus oversize nipples, from Dixie Gun Works, Track of the Wolf, Pecatonica Longrifles, or a number of other suppliers. You can look at all of these online & see what you need.
Another option, which amy or may not be viable, is to send JUST THE BARREL back to Traditions for repair. Have you talked to anyone at Traditions??
http://www.traditionsfirearms.com/ Traditions Firearms 1375 Boston Post Road P.O. Box 776 Old Saybrook, CT 06475
Tel. 860-388-4656 | Fax. 860-388-4657 | Email:
info@traditionsfirearms.com
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/advanced_search_result.php?s=1&keywords=Nipple
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(05xycxm21nxb3inhxkdqjifd))/categories/catList.aspx?catID=15
http://www.longrifles-pr.com/
Keep us informed of your progress......
ballister for traditions .50 cal
.. $300 my eye! You could helicoil it. Thats where you take a drill bit and drill it out slightly bigger and then tap it and screw in the new attatchment. It will hold for a long long long time. Guys running the 3.8 turbo buick v6's and push over 500 horse power. A guy i know has had his helicoiled mains done for 12 years now with zero problems. I'll be doing it on my 350 buick block soon. stock 1/2" mainstud holes VS 9/16"helicoil = stronger.
