#11 Mag caps not firing

[Blacklab]

Great info guys 

Kind of been having the same problem. Never thought about changeing the nipple  Thanks 

[andersonjk4]

Ok, so i was just able to do some testing in the garage.  I started by just putting some caps on the nipple and seeing if they would go pop.  I tried 3 different caps with no luck.  The first I just barely pushed on, the second I pushed on fairly firmly and the last I pushed on as hard as I could.  but it didn't seen to matter.  So I removed the bolt got my nipple wrench and unscrewed the nipple 1/4 turn.  Replaced the bolt stuck a cap on the nipple fairly tight and ... click. Nothing.  Tried two more with the same result.  So I took the bolt out and unscrewed the nipple another 1/2 turn.  Put a cap on and Bang! Finally.  Put 4 more caps on and all went bang perfectly. So then just to make sure I screwed the nipple all the way back in and backed it out 1/4 turn again.  Again three more caps with no bang.  So back came out the bolt and unscrewed the nipple another 1/4 turn, so now its a 1/2 turn out from finger tight. Put on another cap and bang. Put on another and bang... etc.  So it looks like its the distance between the firing pin and the nipple that is causing my failure to fire. 

Now I need to find a way to extend my nipple or find a nipple that is a little longer than the one I have.  Anyone have any ideas?

[MountainDevil54]

Send it back for replace ASAP

[andersonjk4]

After buying 4 different aftermarket nipples and putting them in my Elkhorn breech plug and then measuring the overall length of the breech plug plus the nipple I found a nipple that gave me the needed extra length to give me consistant ignition of the #11 caps.  CVA's Perfect Nipple is the nipple I found that gave me an extra 30/1000"  to give my firing pin enough punch to get the caps to pop.  I went out to test the new nipple in my gun yesterday.  No failure for the caps to fire for 15 shots and many "fouling" cap only ignitions.  Looks like my problem is solved.  I will be ordering a few more of these Perfect nipples to keep on hand.  Thanks to all who offered up suggestions.  Hopefully this can help others having the same problem in the future. 

[jrebel]

 

Screw the musket cap nipple on that bad boy and that will fix it!

I just bought a musket cap nipple from midwayusa.com and it was here in 3 days.  Only cost 9 dollars.  It is well worth the investment.

[Hunterman]

I was having this same problem today with my Elkhorn, but with the musket caps. My #11 caps shot fine, but the musket caps failed everytime.. I'm going to try that 1/4 turm out on the breech plug for the musket caps. this was a great read, thanks guys.. Just one more question,,,How do I get this elkhorn from kicking the snot out of me?? My dang shoulder is killing me..

Hunterman(Tony)

[bobcat]

,,,How do I get this elkhorn from kicking the snot out of me??  My dang shoulder is killing me..

Tony,

Try lighter bullets and less powder. You don't need a 400 grain bullet in front of 150 grains of powder to kill a deer. Drop down to 300 grain bullets and 85 - 100 grains of powder.

[Sabotloader]

,,,How do I get this elkhorn from kicking the snot out of me??  My dang shoulder is killing me..

Tony,

Try lighter bullets and less powder. You don't need a 400 grain bullet in front of 150 grains of powder to kill a deer. Drop down to 300 grain bullets and 85 - 100 grains of powder.

Ya agree with this totally...

[Hunterman]

I was only shooting a 295gr. bullet with 100 grains of powder. I may drop down to 80 - 85 grains of powder..

Hunterman(Tony)

[bobcat]

I was only shooting a 295gr. bullet with 100 grains of powder. I may drop down to 80 - 85 grains of powder..

Hunterman(Tony)

Yeah, that will still be plenty of powder.

[piled-up]

Sounds like a lot of work just to make the gun do what it should... Go off! Glad I bought a bighorn! Couple of friends of mine made the same bad buy and had the same problem your talking about they polished the grooves off there bolts  so the action is smoother and haven't had a problem since they did that!

[Hunterman]

Thanks bobcat  It seems like it has been 100 years sence I shot a muzzle loader..Hell I just might hit something if I keep my shots a point blank, or closer    I haven't shot with iron sights in like over 20 years  ..

Hunterman(Tony)

[Bluegirl92]

musket cap the only way to go. Throw the 11's away

[Gunfire]

After you figure it out, switch to musket caps.  Bigger bang and easy to get off the nipple if you don't end up firing. 

Whatever you do, DO NOT buy the tins labeled For Reenactment Use.  Seems like every store has them on the shelf now and they have about as much powder as a cap gun.

[andersonjk4]

After you figure it out, switch to musket caps.  Bigger bang and easy to get off the nipple if you don't end up firing. 

Whatever you do, DO NOT buy the tins labeled For Reenactment Use.  Seems like every store has them on the shelf now and they have about as much powder as a cap gun.

Thats exactly the reason I chose to go with #11 caps.  As Sabotloader has said many times on the forum, the #11 cap fit way tighter on the nipple.  I will be hunting during the late season when rain/snow is almost a given.  I want a cap that will be tight and not let water in. I also don't want to have to worry about my cap coming loose and falling off while I'm out in the field.  I don't mind having to take my pocket knife out to pry a #11 cap off.  The extra protection from the elements and from the cap coming loose is worth the extra few seconds it takes to get the cap off.