CVA Elkhorn - musket cap ignites but powder does not

[scout/sniper]

Bad primers or bad powder. I have the same gun and its not the gun. The musket caps have tons of fire. As long as the hole threw the nipple is clean it should go bang.

Carp and I are comparing notes on this stuff all the time.  4 things that I have learned:

1) When cleaning, I use the following procedure every time-
remove and clean the nipple
bore brush a few times
TC bore cleaner on a patch around the brush
Dry patch
TC bore butter, sparingly on a patch around the brush
Dry patch
replace the nipple

Particularly when shooting pellets, if you have the slightest amount of gun oil ahead of the breech plug, you're done.

2) Though this does not seem to be your problem here, I take the bolt completely apart at least once a year and clean everything real well

3) German musket caps without the flange are the way to go and use the CVA nipple

4) loose powder is much more reliable in the Elkhorn and you can tailor your loads for accuracy


Gadwall

I also always fire a cap down the barrel just before using after cleaning. This ensures that everything is dry.

[Sabotloader]

Bad primers or bad powder. I have the same gun and its not the gun. The musket caps have tons of fire. As long as the hole threw the nipple is clean it should go bang.

Carp and I are comparing notes on this stuff all the time.  4 things that I have learned:

1) When cleaning, I use the following procedure every time-
remove and clean the nipple
bore brush a few times
TC bore cleaner on a patch around the brush
Dry patch
TC bore butter, sparingly on a patch around the brush
Dry patch
replace the nipple

Particularly when shooting pellets, if you have the slightest amount of gun oil ahead of the breech plug, you're done.

2) Though this does not seem to be your problem here, I take the bolt completely apart at least once a year and clean everything real well

3) German musket caps without the flange are the way to go and use the CVA nipple

4) loose powder is much more reliable in the Elkhorn and you can tailor your loads for accuracy


Gadwall

I also always fire a cap down the barrel just before using after cleaning. This ensures that everything is dry.

Amen! I pop at least 3 before loading after cleaning....

[MountainDevil54]

ditch the bore butter, thats amateur stuff

Most likely the flash hole in the nipple is to restrictive. I've had sidelocks that wouldn't fire at all, even with real black powder. Once I opened up the flash hole to .030" no issues at all.

[splitshot]

i use stuff called "dust destroyer" which is compressed-gas duster.  it really dries things out.  mike w

[BOOM!!]

Most likely the flash hole in the nipple is to restrictive. I've had sidelocks that wouldn't fire at all, even with real black powder. Once I opened up the flash hole to .030" no issues at all.

This makes a lot of sense to me, I have wondered why the flash hole is so small, I have assumed it is for pressure. Does anyone know what size the flash hole is on a #11 nipple?

[MountainDevil54]

it varies from maker to maker. I think theres one called the knight red hot, thats a good one, i have one on my other sidelock.

[Heredoggydoggy]

If you are using pellets in a sidelock--DON"T!  Pellets are made for inlines.  The fire from a cap in a sidelock has to make a 90 degree turn to get to the powder charge.  Loose powder will work its way at least partially into the hole in the breechplug getting the powder closer to the ignition fire.  Pellets, on the other hand will stop at the bottom of the barrel and remain a longer ways from the ignition channel.  Enlarging the hole in the cap might help, but if you go too big, the pressure might blow the hammer back, possibly even to the half-cock position.