Cap won't fire on first try
 

Hello all,
I have been lurking for a while and have learned much from all of you. I have a CVA sidelock. Last week I went to the range and the (#11 CCI)caps would only fire on the second attempt. This week I bought new nipples and same problem. The caps are very tight and and don't seem to seat until the hammer falls on it the first time. everything works as advertised on the second attempt. Is there a difference in#11 caps that would make some fit tighter than others?

RE: Cap won't fire on first try
 

Hmmmm - I've only had one sidelock and never had this problem, but I'm wondering . . . A percussion cap should fit right down over the nipple with only finger pressure. I know there are percussion caps and also Musket Caps, which I think are larger. Perhaps you have a musket cap nipple on there, and the first strike is pushing it down to where the 2nd actually smacks it against some metal to fire it. Someone else will be along soon to either confirm this or give you a better idea.

IM jaybe :)

RE: Cap won't fire on first try
 

I just looked at the package again cva #11 nipples

RE: Cap won't fire on first try
 

I think what is happening is the first blow is setting the cap and the second blow is then firing the cap. The trouble is you can not depend on this to be the case all the time.

First off, on any CVA or Tradition's rifle I replace the nipple with a hot shot nipple. They are stainless steel and tend to throw more fire into the channel.

Something you could try is get some emery cloth and start to buff that upper part of the nipple in the rifle making it smoother and smaller. This will allow the cap to go down further when you first set the cap.

Another thing to do is before you cap the rifle, make sure the nipple is wiped clean with a small patch and some isopropyl alcohol. This will make the nipple as clean as when you first use it. Does it fire the first time you put it on, and then gets worse the more you shoot it?

I would start with the new Hot Shot Nipple. RMC Sports is where I get mine. They work great.

http://www.rmcsports.com/catalog.htm

The last thing it could be is a weak hammer spring but I doubt that as it is firing the cap on the second hit. Try taking some kind of pad and with your thumb push good and hard when you set the cap to try and force it down as far as possible.

Keep us posted. What kind of rifle did you get? And WELCOME TO THE FORUM.. GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

RE: Cap won't fire on first try
 

I did wipe the nipple before capping. The caps are so tight that you can see they were not seated, I even bent my capper trying to push down more. After the first attempt the cap is noticibly better seated. I will order a hot shot nipple and in the mean time run some emery cloth on the nipple.

RE: Cap won't fire on first try
 

It's a CVA Mountain Stalker .50 cal I was trying to work up a hunting load with T7 3f and a 300 grain buckslayer but it wa a little hard every time you pull the trigger wondering if the gun would go off.

RE: Cap won't fire on first try
 

I have a Mountain Stalker in .54 caliber. It is a fantastic roundball shooter. I shoot 80 grains of Triple Se7en 2f a wonder wad, and a patched roundball. The first year I got it the rifle tuned so fast that I took it out for a hunting try and ended up taking three deer with it and roundball. It drops them where they stood.

I did pick up a set of Star Dot fiber optic sights from Wal Mart and put them on the rifle in place of the factory ones since they are adjustable.

If the new nipple does not help, e-mail CVA and see what they have to say about it. Mine did that at first but I went to the new hot shot nipple and it stopped....

RE: Cap won't fire on first try
 

Some combinations of nipple and cap do not match up. If thats the case here and it sure sounds like it; then what I do is adjust the fit by carefully [don't damage the threads] put the thread end of the nipple in drill press or drill chuck and lay a file flat against the part of the nipple that the inside of the caps side goes against and carefully turn it down just enough that the caps will fit right, do not take off more than you have to. Lee

RE: Cap won't fire on first try
 

I would wager this is the problem, too, and as cayugad said, the first hammer strike sets the cap and the second detonates it. If you wrap the threaded partof the nipple with electical tape untilit's the same diameteras the shoulder of the nipple, and then make sure the drill chuck is right up to the shoulder, the threads won't be damaged.

RE: Cap won't fire on first try
 

If you have dry fired at all you can sometimes flare the edge of the nipple. Put your fingernail at the bottom of the nipple and draw it upwards.If it catches on the edge,a fine cut file and a buff with emery loth will take care of the problem.

Charlie