RE: nipple blow out
I have also heard of that happening, and it is a scary thought. Never seen it happen or had it happen to me thank goodness in 25+ years of shooting the things, but I saw a fellow come to a range once with a rusted old smokepole, and there was rust all around the nipple port. Needless to say, I moved away from him. Funny thing is he shot that old rifle and it fired flawless.