Cap jam solutions from the Civil War

[Krylandalian]

From D. L. Rhea s  book,-

'Sometimes heavy charges drove the cap back into the hammer safety notch that engaged the pins between chambers. There it remained, held by a torn rectangle of the cap. Hence soldiers had the nervous habit of running a finger over the pistol hammer face between shots. The Walker and Dragoon were especially prone to this fault. It sometimes happened to the Army. Only excessive charges of 4F powder and the presence of an enlarged hole in the cap tube usually caused this. I noticed many C.W. veterans had the nervous habit of running a finger over the face of the hammer between shots.

From another book I have on duelling, someone is describing how someone gave him a Navy pistol in 1850.  He described how the caps would fall off and jam the cylinder and prevent it from turning.  He said he took the pistol to a gunsmith who 'filed the cylinder' and the jamming was stopped.  He lent this pistol to someone for a duel. The opponant who also had a Navy, but not with the 'filed cylinder' experienced a jam while trying to shoot his opponant.  The other mans pistol didn t  jam.  He was able to fire , ,.

[LonesomePigeon]

I found that a clean gun helps to prevent cap jams. The other day I was shooting a Uberti 1851 Navy the old fashioned way. A full chamber of 3F powder with a lead ball, no lube no filler. The first 6 shots went off perfect, the next 6 went perfect and finally on the third cylinder full I got a misfire due to a cap sticking to the hammer. At that point I field stripped and cleaned the gun good and after that it ran smooth again.

[Captainkirk]

Since I had the Goon install cap rakes on two of my Colts, neither has experienced a cap jam. This mod is not outside the realm of any brave soul who is handy with hand tools, BTW.


Goon's Gun Works cap rake close-up:




Drill and tap a hole in the area shown, install screw, then grind exposed area to match cap rake shown. It works. If you change your mind, simply file down the screw flush and carry on.

Note: a corresponding slot on the bottom of the hammer must be extended to allow it to reach the nipples

[Hawg]

I don't think cap jams were the problem back then that they are today. You certainly don't read much about them. I had some caps from way back but don't know the manufacture date. They were thicker than modern caps and made from copper.

[Necessaryevil]

I have NEVER had a "sucked cap" with my Pietta Navy Yank Snub .44, never. It was made in 2015 the year I bought it.

I do clean the gun meticulously after use. Up to now I haven't had one with my Original 1851 Navy, but it's early days on that.

I have read elsewhere that the ORIGINAL Colts didn't suffer much from "cap sucking" probably because they were better made than some  modern replicas ?

[Captainkirk]

I have read elsewhere that the ORIGINAL Colts didn't suffer much from "cap sucking" probably because they were better made than some  modern replicas ?

I doubt it. The open hammer channel design BEGS to be abused. I tend to agree with Hawg; I think the caps were more robust back then.
Cock the hammer on both Remington and Colt and look down there (hammer channel) with a flashlight. You can see an event waiting to happen on the Colt.
I'm guessing you were either:
a) lucky, or
b) using a different brand of caps than most of us.

[ssb73q]

Hi Necessary, I have had some replica BP revolvers that didn't suck caps. The smaller the revolver, the more likely they suck caps. Close examination shows that the revolvers that don't suck caps have a smooth somewhat rounded edges at the hammer safety notch, looks like the edges were melted. On my small revolvers like the 1849s I fill the hammer notch space with silver solder.

BTW, I don't like the idea of installing a cap rake if the revolver will be used with conversion cylinders. A widened hammer notch would mess with the firing pins.

Regards,
Richard

[Captainkirk]

BTW, I don't like the idea of installing a cap rake if the revolver will be used with conversion cylinders. A widened hammer notch would mess with the firing pins.

I agree, Richard. I was speaking only in the context of dedicated BP shooters.
Point is, a cap rake is a simple mod that can be done by anyone.

[Hawg]

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I rarely have a cap stick to the hammer. I guess I'm just old and persnickety but a cap rake would irritate the crap out of me just knowing it was there.

[Necessaryevil]

I have read elsewhere that the ORIGINAL Colts didn't suffer much from "cap sucking" probably because they were better made than some  modern replicas ?

I doubt it. The open hammer channel design BEGS to be abused. I tend to agree with Hawg; I think the caps were more robust back then.
Cock the hammer on both Remington and Colt and look down there (hammer channel) with a flashlight. You can see an event waiting to happen on the Colt.
I'm guessing you were either:
a) lucky, or
b) using a different brand of caps than most of us.

Capt maybe you misunderstood me ?

My Navy Yank has never had a the remains of a cap stuck to the hammer, I have shot the gun for for the last four years. My original Colt Navy to date no caps stuck to the hammer either. However this week I dismantled her totally. I found three separate cap fragments down inside the action. God only knows this revolver functioned ?

I use CCI, Remington and RWS 1075 caps with equal success.

[Necessaryevil]

Hi Necessary, I have had some replica BP revolvers that didn't suck caps. The smaller the revolver, the more likely they suck caps. Close examination shows that the revolvers that don't suck caps have a smooth somewhat rounded edges at the hammer safety notch, looks like the edges were melted. On my small revolvers like the 1849s I fill the hammer notch space with silver solder.

BTW, I don't like the idea of installing a cap rake if the revolver will be used with conversion cylinders. A widened hammer notch would mess with the firing pins.

Regards,
Richard

Hello Richard........................I would love to have a conversion cylinder, but alas they are not available in Spain. The nearest place I can buy them no problem at all is in Switzerland. Apart from the fact they are ridiculously expensive 500 Euros, it's a helluva drive there and back from Southern Spain.