Is it necessary to fire a cap prior to loading!
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eldon, MO
Posts: 252
Is it necessary to fire a cap prior to loading!
A lot of folks have told me to fire a cap prior to laoding power when gun has not been fires recently. I have done this at the range, no problem. But when arriving at hunting location, I don't want to fire a cap, nor do I want to cary a loaded gun in the truck.
What do you folks do?
Thanks for suggestions
What do you folks do?
Thanks for suggestions
#4
RE: Is it necessary to fire a cap prior to loading!
Simple! Pop a couple of caps on the nipple BEFORE you leave home. Then carry your rifle in a hard case where no moisture or oil can get into the breech area. Do this AFTER you have dry-patched it as Mike suggested.
The reason why this is required is because merely dry-patching the bore will NOT ensure there's no oil or moisture in the breechplug-drum area, nor will it ensure the flash channel is clear. Whenever you pop a cap or two on the nipple before loading, always hold the muzzle down and near a light object, like a leaf or cleaning patch, and observe that the blast from the cap is moving this object, proving that your flash channel is clear. If you have a rifle with a removeable breech plug like these newfangled inline contraptions have, remove the breechplug and dry out the flash channel and nipple thoroughly with a clean, dry patch and you can skip the cap-popping drill completely.
The reason why this is required is because merely dry-patching the bore will NOT ensure there's no oil or moisture in the breechplug-drum area, nor will it ensure the flash channel is clear. Whenever you pop a cap or two on the nipple before loading, always hold the muzzle down and near a light object, like a leaf or cleaning patch, and observe that the blast from the cap is moving this object, proving that your flash channel is clear. If you have a rifle with a removeable breech plug like these newfangled inline contraptions have, remove the breechplug and dry out the flash channel and nipple thoroughly with a clean, dry patch and you can skip the cap-popping drill completely.
#5
RE: Is it necessary to fire a cap prior to loading!
I always dry patch the barrel, remove the nipple and run a pipe cleaner in it, also remove the clean-out screw and take a pipe cleaner to the flash channel. Have never had a misfire that way and it saves caps.
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,922
RE: Is it necessary to fire a cap prior to loading!
Actually, firing 3 caps is the best safeguard. Do it on your front porch before you leave your property... makes a cap-gun type noise... not loud enough to wake rural neighbors.
#9
RE: Is it necessary to fire a cap prior to loading!
I am a firm believer in the two or three caps before loading. It makes sure the nipple is clean and the fire channel open. I check it by putting a clean patch on a ramrod jag and pushing it to the bottom of the breech. Pop the three caps and you can check the amount of fire you are getting down there.
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: A flat lander lost in the mountains of Northern,AZ
Posts: 3,171
RE: Is it necessary to fire a cap prior to loading!
firing a cap prior to loading is for only one reason, sometime after a cleaning your gun some patch fibers or lubricant can get into the nipple and you want it clear before you load the gun, I know you wouldnt want your shot on a buck of a life time to be compromised because of a little lube in the nipple that caused your gun to go "click, pop sfiss" when you pulled the trigger.