Need help Pietta 1851 .44 cal Black powder Pistol

[Jayrad]

Don't see much on here regarding black powder shooting...but will try my luck anway. My son bought this pistol about 6 years ago. Have always had trouble getting the percussion cap to ignite first trigger pull. We bought the gun from Cabela's and are using CCI No. 10 caps. If they don't fire the first time the hammer hits them..they do fire the second time... Do I have the wrong size caps? It takes a lot to put them on the nipple, as I've seen videos where people place them with their fingers. I have to use a brass capper.

Any help would be appreciated. Gun is a blast to shoot and am looking at buying another one(different model though), but would like to figure this issue first. Thanks.

[Captain Cogle]

Buy #11 caps that should help a great deal. Might want to try using a cone pick on the nipples as well to clean out any fouling that may have built up inside. But it definitely sounds like you are using a size too small percussion cap.

[wingnut948]

Hi Jayrad,

I've had this happen myself, and it is typically caused when a previous cleaning/oiling fouls the very small hole that goes through each nipple.

The recommendation (and I don't always follow this, but I should) is to place a cap on each of the nipples and fire these off before attempting to load the chambers with powder and ball. This clears out the oil and should take care of the mis-fires. After firing off a cap in each chamber, then load as usual.

-bill

[PEZHEAD265]

Make sure the cap is seated all the way down on the nipple.Seat them with a wooden dowel.

[Jayrad]

Thanks for the ideas. I havent been able to find anything that tells me what size percussion cap to use...so will try the #11's and see if that helps. I have been using a brass capping tool to put caps on...and been seating them very firmly. Push them on as hard as I can and still only get them to function about 50% of the time on the first trigger pull. Always fire the second time.

Will try other suggestions for preventive maintenance also. Thanks again!

[rp55]

Firing on the second time indicates the problem is seating. As posted above, seating them with a dowel did the trick for me. And I mean push them down really hard.

[Captain Cogle]

If you have to force the cap down with a wooden dowel on a clean, unmashed cone, then you are using the wrong size cap. Period. You should NOT have to force the cap on.

[Falstaff]

My experience with an Ubert rem new army 1858 is that #10's are a bit too small and #11's a bit too big. I squeeze the #11's between thumb and forefinger to oval them out or they want stay on.

[bigthaiboy]

I also have a Pietta 1851 Navy from Cabelas. The correct percussion cap for it is the #11. I find the CCI #11 are too small, but the Remington #11 fits just fine. I bought the Remington #11s from the Bass Pro Shop.

[Tallship]

Ask your son if he did a lot of dry firing with the pistol. If you bang the hammer down on an uncapped nipple, it will peen it, so that when you do put a cap on it it will not strike hard enough.

[Jayrad]

I bought some CCI #11 percussion caps last week. Problem wasnt quite as bad but still took two strikes before firing for two of the six. Went to Bass Pro Shop this past saturday...saw Remington #11 percussion caps and thought I would give them a try. So I will be trying your idea out bigthaiboy! Will post my results. Thanks again for everyones input..

[Captain Cogle]

If you still have troubles then you do indeed have mashed cones, usually caused by dry firing. You can get replacements from Dixie Gun Works.

[Jayrad]

Tried the Remington #11 percussion caps and they work great. Able to put them on with my fingers...with a solid push, they seat very nicely. Interesting the difference between #11 caps by maker. Thanks for everyones help!

[scrat]

looks like you found the problem next recomendation would be to dump the original nipples and get some TRESO nipples. Then you can use CCI or most other types of #11 caps

[bigthaiboy]

Tried the Remington #11 percussion caps and they work great. Able to put them on with my fingers...with a solid push, they seat very nicely. Interesting the difference between #11 caps by maker. Thanks for everyones help!

Glad it worked out. I'm sure the differences between the CCI and Remington are miniscule, but enough to make a difference on the Pieta 1851. Makes you wonder if other percussion guns have issues with the CCI as well.