Which size nipple?

[William]

Okay, I bought a new rifle with a barrel that is stamped "Made in Italy" and nothing else.  Thinking that it was made by Investarms I tried the 6 x .75 nipple which proved to be too loose.  Then I tried a 1/4 X 28 and that was too big, so I'm left thinking that since it's Italian that it must be metric and will this require a 6 X 1 nipple once the factory one wears out.  Anyone have an opinion on this or know how to measure the one that came with the rifle?

I bought it on Gunbroker and the seller was clearly a gun flipper as he had little knowledge as to what he had and labeled it as an "Italian Hawken"; which it was nowhere near even the Lyman or CVA "Hawken" reproductions.  Modern shotgun stock with rubber recoil pad but octagonal barrel and 1:48 twist.

[hotfxr]

You have an Investarms Hawken which is a T/C renegade clone (as far as I can tell). It should use a 6X.75 threaded nipple. You may have to try a few as the last ones I ordered were all marked the same but were not the same. From what I have read on these, some used a 6X1.0 thread. Check the threads on the nipple for damage and I don't know if it is proper or not, but I put a bit of anti-seize on the threads before I install them. It makes them thread in easier and keeps them from rusting in place when they need to be removed. This is based solely on my experience with a friend who has one of these rifles that I have had to help him with.
If anyone out there in muzzleloader land feels that I am not quite correct, let me know, I love to learn.

[flintboomer]

You have an Investarms Hawken which is a T/C renegade clone (as far as I can tell). It should use a 6X.75 threaded nipple. You may have to try a few as the last ones I ordered were all marked the same but were not the same. From what I have read on these, some used a 6X1.0 thread. Check the threads on the nipple for damage and I don't know if it is proper or not, but I put a bit of anti-seize on the threads before I install them. It makes them thread in easier and keeps them from rusting in place when they need to be removed. This is based solely on my experience with a friend who has one of these rifles that I have had to help him with.
If anyone out there in muzzleloader land feels that I am not quite correct, let me know, I love to learn.

The anti seize works very well at keeping the nipple from seizing up or rusting in place and keeps fouling out of the threads as well as reducing wear from removing them to clean. Shotgun tube lube also works well for this purpose since it is a good high strength anti seize compound. Ordinary greases do not work very well.

[William]

The 6 x .75 nipple only went in halfway and felt as if it was going to cross thread if I went any farther, plus it was loose.  I tried putting the nipple from the new rifle into my Lyman barrel which I know takes a 6 x .75 but it would not work.  Then I tried the 1/4 x 28 and it was clearly too large in diameter.  That leaves me to believe that it should take the 6 x 1 but I want to be sure.  It's all academic at this point since I gifted the rifle to a buddy anyway and the nipple that came on it seemed to work fine but it's the plain mild steel version and it would be nice if I could recommend the right size stainless version or even the Treso bronze when this one wears out.

Later on I reminded my friend to place a drop of oil on the threads before reinstalling it after cleaning and he was way ahead of me.  Must be all that training he got when he was in the military.

[William]

For whatever reason, the 1/4 x 28 nipple that I took out of my Mike Lange 50 caliber rifle would not thread into the bolster of my friend's new rifle, but the spare that I had in the same size went right in.  After checking the thread size/pitch at Home Depot it showed to be a 1/4 X 28, which I couldn't believe at first.  Went right home to get my spare then over to my friend's house to try it in his rifle and it went right it.  Now, how/who and when did the previous owner drill the bolster out to an American size?  Or was the breech plug and bolster get changed to fit on a barrel stamped "Made in Italy?"

Weird huh?  Anyway, problem solved.....

[Dogshirt]

Several possibilities here. First thought is someone stripped the threads and had to go to a bigger size. Second would be someone afraid that METRIC nipples wouldn't be available in America. Thirdly, someone just didn't want to deal with metrics. I'm sure the list could go on and on, but as long as you now know what you need the problem is solved. I've found MANY things in life that make me go "HMMMM."  Sometimes it makes my head hurt trying to figure out why folks do what they do. 

[William]

It now makes me think that this barrel looks new because it is, or at least was until we went and shot it the other day.  But why would they use an Italian barrel and mate it with a breech plug and bolster that was made in America?  Was there ever an Italian manufacturer that used the 1/4 x 28 nipples?

If I could just figure out who originally made this rifle and it's original configuration, well, I'd be more informed but I probably won't be satisfied....   I guess it's just my nature because the long & short of it is that since I no longer own this thing it shouldn't matter at all.  Still, I wonder and wish this rifle could talk.

[flintboomer]

Pedersoli uses 1/4 x 28

[Red Badger]

"If I could just figure out who originally made this rifle and it's original configuration, well, I'd be more informed but I probably won't be satisfied....  "

This from a guy who uses his SUV as a Buffalo lure???

[William]

-BWAHAA-HAAA

[Red Badger]

-BWAHAA-HAAA

Sorry I could not resist....  Happened to be lookinbg at some older photo's and saw that one - Had to reserect it!

[Rocklock]

William, I seem to remember some nipple threads being a 6.5x? (probably a senior brain fart) that may be what you have.  I would look at having the bolster or drum drilled and tapped to 1/4x28 or if indeed its is a drum and nipple configuration, replace the drum.
TC

[Dogshirt]

William, I seem to remember some nipple threads being a 6.5x? (probably a senior brain fart) that may be what you have.  I would look at having the bolster or drum drilled and tapped to 1/4x28 or if indeed its is a drum and nipple configuration, replace the drum.
TC

6.5 is readily available from TOW or any other dealer. No need to re-tap for anything else.