Black-powder gun repair?

[G0ALY]

Any one know about repairing a black powder gun?
   
Today I picked up a .36 cal black powder squirrel rifle. Full maple stock, double set triggers, 40.5 inch barrel. The only markings are, “Pennsylvania Rifle Works” on the lock.  The problem is the threads that hold the nipple are nearly stripped. The nipple snugs down, but doesn’t fully tighten.  

I have no problem with letting a gunsmith do the work, In fact, doing it myself is out of the question. The nipple is about 5 inches from your eye on these things. Has anyone here had this type of repair done?

Oddly this is the second .36 cal I have picked up recently. The other has no identification, a 33-inch barrel, and a half stock.  A nice enough gun, but the brass fittings on it are all polished, and it just doesn’t cry to be taken into the woods looking for bushy-tails like the original squirrel rifle does.

I loaned my digital camera to a friend or I would enclose a photo.

[Lizking]

Dunno about the repair part, but with a .36, I hope you can do head shots or you are just killing, not hunting.

[TheflyingElk]

Hiya, the socket needs to be tapped and theaded to metric or standard  threads, a tap and die set should do the trick, nipples are made in metric or standard depending on made in us Thompson center for example or Metric Investarms Italian is a example, any good gunsmith should be able to fix you up.  I have 2 .50's and 1 .54
I have taken deer with the 50 and 1 elk with the .54, have fun with it, but .36 is good for plinking or small game thats about it tho, have fun:aok

[Widewing]

You should replace the powder drum. It's not expensive and you CAN do it yourself with minimal effort. Once the drum is installed, you then drill and tap it for the nipple. You can buy pre-tapped drums, but getting it indexed properly so that the nipple to lines up with the hammer is a real problem.

Try these guys for parts and advice.

Track of the Wolf, Inc.
Tel: 763-633-2500

Visit their website here.

You can see how many different powder drums they stock here.

If these guys don't have what you need, the odds are that no one does.

My regards,

Widewing

[Leslie]

I would call the number of the website Widewing linked, and describe the rifle to them and what is going on with the nipple.  They have "refresher" taps for worn out threads, and they have oversized nipples that match the taps.

Might be easier than replacing the bolster (drum) and drilling another nipple socket, though replacing the bolster assembly would ensure a brand new and corrosion free spark chamber. If there's any doubt the previous owner cleaned the rifle thoroughly and in a timely manner, I recommend the gunsmith replace the drum and do the drilling and tapping.

Bear in mind due to their nature, some blackpowder firearms could be loaded.  Always check before working on or even handling it.    



Les


Off topic, but if you find the sights need adjusting on your rifle, Zenith Super Freeze is a handy product for adjusting front dovetail sights.  Just freeze the sight and tap lightly with a drift pin to move the front sight.  When the sight returns to normal temps, it expands and is held tightly in place.  May even help with bolster (drum) removal for replacement if that's what you decide to do.



Zenith Super Freeze

Take care and good luck!  

[Leslie]

Forgot to add, if the rifle is an original old timer, goes without saying.  Leave it as it is.  Any work or modification of any kind will destroy its antique value.




Les

[StarOfAfrica2]

Track of the Wolf, as mentioned by Widewing, is indeed a great place for all things black powder.  You can also get parts like new nipples and such from Thunder Ridge Muzzleloading at http://thunder-ridge-muzzleloading.com/  

Good general info on muzzleloaders here http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2h.muzzleloader.htm

You can always look or ask at the Muzzleloading Rifle Assn. http://www.nmlra.org/

And then there's this page that has tons of links for black powder shooters (I've only been through about half of them myself so far) http://www.three-peaks.net/muzzle.htm

And barring any help elsewhere, try posting in the forum on single shot rifles here http://www.brimstonepistoleros.com/bpforum/index.php

Lots of the guys in the last group are full time black powder shooters, or "Soot Lords" as we are called.  Also known as "Dark Lords of the Soot", or sometimes known affectionately as "nutjobs" by our wives.    Welcome to the Holy Black.  Once you've smoked, you never go back!  lol

[Finrod]

If your worried about doing it yourself a gunsmith can definetly handle this problem . Actually I've seen 2 guys strip out the threading after installing a new nipple on their rifles. Must agree with Star, once you go black you never go back. I love coming home from the range smelling of sulfar.

"Proud Soot Lord"

[Hawklore]

Originally posted by TheflyingElk
Hiya, the socket needs to be tapped and theaded to metric or standard  threads, a tap and die set should do the trick, nipples are made in metric or standard depending on made in us Thompson center for example or Metric Investarms Italian is a example, any good gunsmith should be able to fix you up.  I have 2 .50's and 1 .54
I have taken deer with the 50 and 1 elk with the .54, have fun with it, but .36 is good for plinking or small game thats about it tho, have fun:aok

Bah..

I got a .58

[G0ALY]

Okay, I have pictures….
By the way, thanks for the links on the parts! A very big help!

The guns, from top to bottom:

1st,  the .36 cal Pennsylvania Gun Works squirrel rifle this thread was about.

2nd, a double barrel black powder 12 gauge muzzleloader that my wife’s grandfather gave to me several years before I married into the family. (We have been married over 20 years now.) He was convinced that one of his “Kin” would trade the gun for a case of beer. He knew I was in love with his girl & he could trust me. (This will make sense in just a second.)

3rd, a .36 cal black powder rifle that my sister-in-law sold to me when she needed twenty bucks… oddly, just enough to buy a case of beer. (Grandpa was right.)

4th, a double barrel black powder 12 gauge muzzleloader that I picked up at an estate sale for trading stock.

And, that big piece of lumber up top… A 67-inch piece of Curly Maple, rough cut for a full-length muzzleloader stock. Also an estate find, picked up for trading stock.



I’m hoping to get the .36 cal long barrel back into shooting condition. I used to hunt deer with a reproduction .58 cal Zouave musket, but I’ve always wanted to do smaller game with a squirrel rifle.

Once again, thanks guys!