Again good info! I will try applying more pressure to seat the cap on the nipple. I was using a capper tool(I think that is what it is called) and it is hard to feel how much pressure is being applied.
How many caps can I fire before I need to clean the nipple?
I was basically getting a feel for the riffle( I have not shot since I was a teen) I was grouping about 8" high off center at 2 o'clock at 50 yards. I have the truglo sight with the ghost ring on order. Then I will get sighted in.
Yes you have to push the cap on the nipple. I put the cap on with the capper and then I PUSH the cap onto the nipple to seat it. If the cap is not SEATED on the face of the nipple it will mushroom and NOT FIRE. Most of the time when you can RE-Cock and the cap fires it is due to the cap NOT being fully seated. If pressure alone;one does not correct the issue sand the nipples circumference with fine sandpaper a little at a time until you can fire multiple caps without a miss fire.
I can tell you from experience this usually is the case as I have well over a dozen Muzzle loaders in my safe. I have sanded many nipples over the years.