TC Northwest Explorer not firing?

[Wash.hunter]

Went shooting today and my friends muzzleloader only fired once out of half a dozen or so try's. Wondering if anyone might have some insight on this problem, he is shooting a TC Northwest Explorer 50 cal. He did not clean the gun after shooting it last November, the gun was pretty corroded up but he said he managed to get it clean. Today first shot only the cap went off, did not ignite the powder, he checked that the nipple was clean and it had a clean opening to the powder, re cleaned the nipple and breach again and tryed it again this time it fired, next try only the cap fired again, he was using 150 gr. of pyrodex pellets, switched to Jim Shockey pellets and same thing, no fire only the cap fired, tryed some of my Jim Shockey Gold super sticks wich was working just fine in my gun today and still no fire, only the cap went off, he was using winchester caps, the caps for my gun wouldnt fit on his or we would have tryed that. I think his gun uses the percussion style cap, after every try he would clean the breach and nipple passages to make sure they were clean, we are both new to muzzleloaders so any help on this issue is greatly appreciated, any one run into a similar problem? The powder and caps he was using today did work in his gun last season, but are a year old. Is it possible they went bad? or should he be looking for an issue with the gun?

[CAMPMEAT]

Remove the nipple assembly and clean it, make sure it's DRY. Put a tiny bit of powder in the hole and replace the nipple assembly. Put your cap on and it should fire. Just be very careful about the entire operation.

[Bigtine96]

Is he using #11 caps or musket caps?

[Wash.hunter]

I believe he is using the #11 caps, my gun uses the musket caps with the four tangs or "wings", and his caps are much smaller than mine and have no "wings". I am new to muzzleloading so my education on identifying a cap is limited, sorry. I think he said his caps were winchester brand, his caps were quite a bit smaller than the ones I use, mabey his pellet powder and those small caps are not compatible? But he shot it last year with the same combo and it worked for him, my suspicion is after he let it sit uncleaned since November, something is still dirty or corroded and causing a problem not letting the cap ignite the powder even though he said he got it clean. Seems like most peoples problems with muzzleloaders stem from the guns lack of maintenance and cleaning.

[Sabotloader]

I believe he is using the #11 caps, my gun uses the musket caps with the four tangs or "wings", and his caps are much smaller than mine and have no "wings". I am new to muzzleloading so my education on identifying a cap is limited, sorry. I think he said his caps were winchester brand, his caps were quite a bit smaller than the ones I use, mabey his pellet powder and those small caps are not compatible? But he shot it last year with the same combo and it worked for him, my suspicion is after he let it sit uncleaned since November, something is still dirty or corroded and causing a problem not letting the cap ignite the powder even though he said he got it clean. Seems like most peoples problems with muzzleloaders stem from the guns lack of maintenance and cleaning.

That could be a real problem.... the other question I would ask did he pop some primers to clear the nipple and the BP before beginning to shoot.  If he did clean it and left excess oil in the bore over thime it would run down into the BP and nipple and cause a plug...

My suggestion as above remove and clean the BP and the nipple...

Using #11 caps is just fine in that gun - but make sure they are #11 Mag Caps esoecially shooting pellets...  #11 Mags and Musket caps burn at the same temperature...

[Wash.hunter]

I will have him verify what caps he has, another question is on this gun can you look through the nipple and bp to see if they are clear? I can on my gun but I did not personally look at his. Thanks for the helpful reply's.

[Bigtine96]

Also always keep a pin around and ram it down the nipple and even put a little powder down the nipple to help clear out a years worth of sitting gunk

[Sabotloader]

I will have him verify what caps he has, another question is on this gun can you look through the nipple and bp to see if they are clear? I can on my gun but I did not personally look at his. Thanks for the helpful reply's.

With the action open you should be able to look done the bore from the muzzle and with the nipple pointed at a light source see a little bit if light...

[Kowsrule30]

Make sure it's also the correct nipple for the correct cap..... And never not clean you ML after firing and letting it sit for 7 months... Problem #1 right there.... If the nipple got to corroaded the cap might never seat right and might not ever clean the flash hole out.... Buy a new correct nipple along with caps and a correct back up nipple then start over with a clean gun... 

[Wash.hunter]

A little update.... my friend bought a new nipple for his gun that uses the musket style cap, he plans on installing it tonite and see how that works. Will update with the results after he try's it out.

[MountainDevil54]

Went shooting today and my friends muzzleloader only fired once out of half a dozen or so try's. Wondering if anyone might have some insight on this problem, he is shooting a TC Northwest Explorer 50 cal. He did not clean the gun after shooting it last November, the gun was pretty corroded up but he said he managed to get it clean. Today first shot only the cap went off, did not ignite the powder, he checked that the nipple was clean and it had a clean opening to the powder, re cleaned the nipple and breach again and tryed it again this time it fired, next try only the cap fired again, he was using 150 gr. of pyrodex pellets, switched to Jim Shockey pellets and same thing, no fire only the cap fired, tryed some of my Jim Shockey Gold super sticks wich was working just fine in my gun today and still no fire, only the cap went off, he was using winchester caps, the caps for my gun wouldnt fit on his or we would have tryed that. I think his gun uses the percussion style cap, after every try he would clean the breach and nipple passages to make sure they were clean, we are both new to muzzleloaders so any help on this issue is greatly appreciated, any one run into a similar problem? The powder and caps he was using today did work in his gun last season, but are a year old. Is it possible they went bad? or should he be looking for an issue with the gun?

I'd replace the nipple. Sounds like his is egged and not allowing the cap to fully seat on the nipple shaft. I had a sidelock like that, and if it wasnt down, it would not fire, even with real black powder.

By the way if those are winchester #11 caps, stop paying that extra price, they are CCI primers with fancy printing on the package.

[Chinook73]

Just trying to save your friend a trip to the hospital; that gun's max. load is 120grains not 150.    Could be especially dangerous since it has had seven months for the fouled powder to corrode the threads on the BP.

[Wash.hunter]

Just trying to save your friend a trip to the hospital; that gun's max. load is 120grains not 150.    Could be especially dangerous since it has had seven months for the fouled powder to corrode the threads on the BP.

talked with him today and he was saying he discovered the same thing you say, he was shooting with a 150 grain load and the gun is only supposed to have a lesser max load, he is now trying to get some new nipples since the one he got for musket caps does not fit.

[Wash.hunter]

does anyone have experience with this particular gun and shooting pellet style powder versus loose powder? He is possibly leaning towards trying loose style powder with the idea that the ignition this gun uses might work better with loose rather than pellets. Anyone suggest a particular brand of loose or pellet style?

[scotta]

triple 7 loose powder , i shoot 110 grains of fffg powder . the only problem i've ever had was bits of the exploded caps falling into the action and slowing down the hammer, causing the cap to not go off when the trigger is pulled. the hammer isn't real strong of a strike . keep the gun clean and it will work just fine.