nipple question

[gunhawk]

Hi all,
When done shooting,  do you leave the nipple in the gun, or take it out ?
I have been taking it out, especially when storing the gun for awhile between times shooting it. I then rest the hammer all the way down.  I am thinking of leaving the nipple in,  and resting the hammer down on it, but wonder what to use to lube the nipple threads. (to avoid it seizing while stored).

[Patocazador]

If I took the nipple out, I'd lose it and go bananas when it was time to shoot.

I only remove the nipple to clean the gun (and nipple). Then I put anti-seize paste on the threads and replace it. I leave the hammer down on the nipple when storing.

You can get a tube of anti-seize at the auto-parts store and it will last you, your kids, and grandkids the rest of their lives.

[flintboomer]

My old Allen and Thurber would have come off the spring if I had done that! There is no need to leave the nipple out.

Shotgun tube lube or anti seize from the parts store work best, next best would be white lithium grease. Any kind of grease would be 3rd choice or better than nothing.

As the old Brylcream add used to say "A LITTLE DAB"L DO YA"

[Papa]

No need to remove the nipple during cleaning. Pumping water through the barrel also cleans the nipple and breech. Be sure to displace any water after wiping out well. Leave the hammer on the nipple with a piece of leather under the hammer. It will keep the nipple cone from being battered.
Mark

[Hanshi]

I do what Patocazador does with his guns.  Nipple is removed and cleaned.  Then the threads are coated with anti seize grease and the nipple reinstalled.  And I do also lower the hammer.

[hotfxr]

I might take the nipple off, if water does not come through when cleaning. The thing with threaded metal parts is every time you unscrew and screw back in, it wears down the parts. especially if you really torque the part down. {Remember the breech bolt discussions.} Pretty much every part with threads on a firearm should be firmly torqued in place. If you have a part such as a nipple that does come out from time to time, use anti-seize on it, every time. It will slow down the inevitable failure of the part. Yes I said it will fail. Maybe not in your lifetime, but eventually it will fail. If you are an average every once in a while shooter, realistically you won't have a problem. But someone who is shooting a few times a week and shoots competitively will see a difference. Of course the few serious shooters I know also have several spare nipples on hand and go through them often. They wear out from shooting also, not just from being taken on and off.

[Black Jack]

I remove the nipple when cleaning. With removable barrels on patent breech guns I submerge the breech end in a container of warm water and pump the water back and forth thru the bore. Having the nipple removed allows for a better flow. Then reinstall with thread lube. To help protect the threads, just tighten to a "snug" degree......not to "gorilla" tight. Works for me.