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.

Big Bullets
That is very frustrating I am sure. So your primer is going off but it is not igniting the powder. Which model T/C is it? I have never heard of anything quite like that. Good Luck figuring out what is wrong there.

Dave, I'm glad you got out and shot that rifle again. But from the prior adjustment you made, it looks as though the scope is fine. I have a funny feeling it had something to do with your load combo. Either the pellets, sabot or whatever. But at least its hitting good.
I know I hate it when I get a rifle or put a new scope on and don't get to shoot it for some time. It bugs me when a rifle is not sighted in.

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.

Bronko.. it takes a gun nut to understand just how much that rifle bothered me. I bet I checked that rifle over a dozen times after it acted up. But the way it shot today was like old times. So I was kind of happy today.

That is strange. I'd try using the pellets but put a few grains of BP in first then the pellets. See if that corrects the problem. Sounds to me you're not getting enough iginition for some reason. I know you shouldn't have to do that but that might be a solution until you figure out what the deal is.


The Triumph I mentioned in the OP was a replacement from T/C. The first one the night I bought it the open action lever snapped off. Back to T/C. I get it back the hammer wouldn't come back. Back for the second time. The tech apologized and sent me a T/C cap. I take it to the range and this time it wouldn't even snap a primer. Some bushing wasn't installed correctly they said. 3 trips back to T/C before the first shot was fired. I got it back two days before our season started.Opening morning we are at the range sighting it in. I did get T/C to pay the shipping for all the trips back and forth. Finally got the first shot off ,the front fiber optic broke off. I contacted the service manager again. Very nice lady. She asked if we could use it the way it was to finish the season out and then she would exchange it. The wife shot a nice doe with it. I hate to say this I don't put allot of trust in T/C's service dept.

It is the Black Mountain Magnum. The primer would fire but not the main charge.

That's designed to use the musket caps. Is that what you're using?

I shot real black powder at first. Actually, I cannot remember whether the problem started after I switched to Triple Seven (and then to Shockey). I switched because it was too much of a hassle to clean with soap & water. It also went again the grain to use water on a rifle. I also have an Austin & Halleck in-line. It stays far cleaner with the Shockey. It is therefore easier to load.

Maybe I will try the real stuff again just to see what happens.

Yes. the 11s do not fit. I was hoping to find a nipple which would let me use bigger primers.