Adjusting the drum for hammer/nipple alignment

[steg49]

On a rifle I recently built the drum tightens at about 1/16th turn past the point where the hammer and nipple align, thus I need a shim to have it hold at the correct alignment.  My question, can I shorten the drum so that the threads engage at a different point to correct this problem? or just continue with the shim?

[Roger Fisher]

Shims in this application are frowned upon!

In this case I simply go to another drum!

I suddenly realize that this is where my collection of new drums came from

[Dphariss]

On a rifle I recently built the drum tightens at about 1/16th turn past the point where the hammer and nipple align, thus I need a shim to have it hold at the correct alignment.  My question, can I shorten the drum so that the threads engage at a different point to correct this problem? or just continue with the shim?

The drum should be properly installed *then* drilled for the nipple so the hammer strikes it properly.
I would not use a drum and nipple I consider them unsafe.

Dan

[rsells]

I agree with Dan.  I use a blank drum and install it correctly, then use a tool I got from Track of the Wolf to drill and tap the drum for the nipple.  It is a slick little tool, and I use it when building a caplock using a drum.  It makes it a bunch easier to get the job done correctly.
                                                                   Roger Sells

[Acer Saccharum]

You can take some off the shoulder of the drum to get the timing right, but only if the hammer cup will still have room for the nipple. If not, you can bend the hammer a bit to make the fit right.

Tom

[Ky-Flinter]

.... the drum tightens at about 1/16th turn past the point where the hammer and nipple align......can I shorten the drum so that the threads engage at a different point.....

You will have to remove enough material from the seating face to allow the drum to turn approximately 15/16 of a turn....  right?  And keeping the seating face flat and parallel so it seals could be a challenge.  New blank drums aren't that expensive, but......

As long as you have sufficient thread length engagement in the barrel, why would the use of a shim make it weaker?  It's the threads that hold it in, not the mating surface between barrel and drum.

I had this issue a few years back, but I only needed a very thin shim, which I made out of brass shim stock.  I never removed the drum for cleaning, &c and I had no trouble with it.  After several years of shooting, it was still sealed up fine, when I converted the rifle to flint.

-Ron

[northmn]

You can also align it and use soft solder to hold it in place.  Solder the bottom where it does not show.

DP