How to handle a miss fire?
11-22-2005, 06:59 PM
#2
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: How to handle a miss fire?
Keep the rifle muzzle pointed in a safe direction and count backward for 25 before you move. Some times there can be a real long delay in a hang fire. Especially if the powder got damp and is in the barrel smoldering. Once you have counted backward from 25, put another primer on the back end and let it go again. If it still fails to go off, you have a couple options...
You can pick the 209 breech plug with a nipple pick and then try another 209 primer. Sometimes that is enough to make them fire. If it still does not fire, then you need to pull the breech plug and push all the powder and projectile out the back of the rifle. Then swab the barrel with a damp patch paying special attention to breech plug threads. Get them clean. Swab the barrel clean and then run some dry patches through the barrel to make sure the barrel is bone dry. Clean the breech plug. If the rifle failed to fire you will find it packed with wet or damp powder. After you have the fire channel clean, re-grease the plug and put it back in. Thenpop two of the 209 primers through the breech plug. Now reload the rifle like normal.
If the rifle fails to fire again, check your powder.. something drastic is wrong !!
You can pick the 209 breech plug with a nipple pick and then try another 209 primer. Sometimes that is enough to make them fire. If it still does not fire, then you need to pull the breech plug and push all the powder and projectile out the back of the rifle. Then swab the barrel with a damp patch paying special attention to breech plug threads. Get them clean. Swab the barrel clean and then run some dry patches through the barrel to make sure the barrel is bone dry. Clean the breech plug. If the rifle failed to fire you will find it packed with wet or damp powder. After you have the fire channel clean, re-grease the plug and put it back in. Thenpop two of the 209 primers through the breech plug. Now reload the rifle like normal.
If the rifle fails to fire again, check your powder.. something drastic is wrong !!
11-22-2005, 07:18 PM
#3
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 71
RE: How to handle a miss fire?
cayugad is right but I would like to add some more.. Tryit first with a couple of primer. Sometime, due to cleaning, the holein breech plus is stuck and a couple of hot primer would solve the problem. If still, and if you use the powder pellets, it might not be easy to pull it out from the breech. You might need to use a small pick or stick wrapped with damped patch and twist in to pellets from breech end little by little to soften it and loosen it out. Other option is put your barrel in to a bucket of hot water for at least 1/2 hour or more, the powder will disolve to the water then you could use ramrod to push out the bullet to the muzzle end.
11-22-2005, 08:11 PM
#5
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: How to handle a miss fire?
ORIGINAL: pse-archer
What if you are shooting a percussion cap traditional?
What if you are shooting a percussion cap traditional?
You can take the nipple off and pack powder down the nipple hole. A little bit will really help. Then replace the nipple and put a cap on it. Usually it will then fire.
If it does not work, ask yourself.. did I put powder in the rifle? Put the ramrod in it and check to see if you did remember to put powder in it. If you did not then you can pack the breech through the nipple and the clean out bolster screw, and cap it.. POINT THAT IN A SAFE DIRECTION AS THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE POWER THEN YOU THINK.. and fire it. It will usually blow the ball out.
If there is powder in it.. then repack the bolster clean out screw or nipple hole.. MAKE SURE YOU USE THE RAMROD AND RE SEAT THE BALL AFTER EVERY ATTEMPT OF BLOWING IT OUT SO YOU DO NOT CREATE A BARREL OBSTRUCTION.. and cap and fire it.
If you still can not get it to fire, you can take the barrel off if possible and pour water down the barrel to kill the powder charge (not everyone does this and it is your safety choice). Then you take the bullet puller and pull the ball or conical and clean the rifle barrel spotless..
