Drum alignment on a percussion gun ..question

[Nessmuck]

Iam putting my 40 cal percussion rifle back together. When I tighten up the drum and then install the nipple....the nipple  doesn’t line up with the hammer....if I loosen it a wee bit...it lines up good. Question....I would imagine you would want this drum tight ...correct ? So are there thin washer shims sold ...to get a tight drum and proper alignment ,so the cap will fire ? Thanks for any help

[Walkingeagle]

I built a thin washer from a soda can. Worked great but is tricky to cut out properly. Took a few attempts with a exacto knife.
Walk

[rich pierce]

It embarrasses me to share my cob job fixes but here goes. I clean the drum face that seats against the barrel with needle files till bright; also the threaded shank right up against that face. Then I tin it with solder. I brush or wipe off excess solder while still liquid. Then I let it cool. That’s the important part  .

After scrubbing to remove any residual flux I re-install the drum. Being malleable the solder conforms nicely to the mating surfaces. Sometimes a little filing of the solder is needed.

This only works to fix a situation where the drum has rotated just a bit too far when tightened.

[FALout]

The drum is inexpensive, get a new one and do it right.  Another thing to learn is that you don’t mess with the drum once installed, I’ve seen too many brought to me to “fix” that have been over tightened.  I always cringe when someone wants to have their rifle convertible from flint to percussion, I always tell them to buy another rifle, have one percussion and one flint.  Back to problem, yea a thin shim can get alignment back and can work, but I go for the safest route of replacement with new one.  I wouldn’t try to bend/stretch hammer to make this work, gets more expensive to replace when it gets broken.
Bob

[Not English]

Rich, that's a good idea!

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I agree with Bob.  Drums are not supposed to be removed after they are installed.  Nor are they to be used on thin walled barrels, ie:  13/16" AF x .45 cal.  I could tell you a story about that from my early days of this career.
I do not use commercial drums with nipple seats already drilled and tapped.  I make my drums with a substantial thread journal and install them tightly with a special jig wrench I made to fit them perfectly.  Then I mark and drill the nipple hole and tap it so hammmer alignment is perfect.  The drum is never removed again after that.

[smylee grouch]

It embarrasses me to share my cob job fixes but here goes. I clean the drum face that seats against the barrel with needle files till bright; also the threaded shank right up against that face. Then I tin it with solder. I brush or wipe off excess solder while still liquid. Then I let it cool. That’s the important part  .

After scrubbing to remove any residual flux I re-install the drum. Being malleable the solder conforms nicely to the mating surfaces. Sometimes a little filing of the solder is needed.

This only works to fix a situation where the drum has rotated just a bit too far when tightened.

    Been there done that and it worked

[P.W.Berkuta]

You have here two "schools" of thought on this solution to your problem. I am in Taylor's camp on this. Hears why -- lead is soft and repeated blows from the hammer will move the drum and then it becomes loose and then it will blow out -- my two cents worth.

[Bob Roller]

On the few I have installed I used Taylor's method.There is NO way I would ever
install a drum in a 13/16 forty five caliber barrel but did make a flint style chambered
breech and install a drum in that and it was rock solid.
Bob Roller

[hudson]

I generally make my drums from a grade 5 or 8 bolt. I leave the drilling and threading for the nipple for last. I made an insert for the hammer the length of the nipple with a point. Install the drum and snap the hammer leaving a mark. Another fixture was made to slip over the drum with a drill guide and brass set screw to hold it in place. The rest I guess you can figure out.

[moleeyes36]

TOW sells a gizmo that supposedly allows you to use a drum that is not drilled for the nipple and then line up and drill the drum so the nipple will meet the hammer correctly.  Haven’t used one myself, so I can’t say how well they work.

Don Richards

[sdilts]

I've used the TOW gizmo a bunch. It works good.

[Walkingeagle]

I have as well.
Walk