Originally Posted by
Big Bullets
I had a TC that drove me crazy. Basically, I could not get reliable ignition. New primers, new powder no help. Sent it back to TC with a description of what I was using (Triple 7). They ignored it and sent it back saying that they had shot it (with black powder) and it was fine. I changed to Shockey powder, changed primers again and changed sabots to a thinner and easier to load type. Same problem!
I had had a very knowledgeable friend load and fire it. Same problem. Changed nipples. We could still not determine why it would fire sometimes and not others.
Sent it back again. No help, I am at a lose. I will not hunt with it as, I cannot be sure it will work. I think that I will take it to a gunsmith. What else is left?
You are right. It keeps you up at night wondering what you could have missed.
A good friend's son purchased a CVA St. Louis Hawkins and had the same ignition problems you described. They left it with me to work over. As long as I shot black powder it shot fine. Once I went to anything else, it started to act up. I suspect the drum is too narrow or something.. but he's got a pound of my black powder now and is happy.