Ignition troubles

[laffingman67]

Ok, I have a Japanese made kentucky style rifle in .45 (or close to it). I know, it's ugly, but it's a tack driver and goes off every time. I usually use 55gr 2f with a .440 rb and a 10 thousands spit patch. I ran out of 2f this weekend so I used 50gr 3f instead. The first shot went off without a hitch. Just as accurate as it ever was. The second shot went hissspunt and the ball litterally rolled out the barrel about 20 yards ahead of the gun. Well, now I'm scratchin my head. I reload and shoot again and it does the same thing??? Now, I know for sure that I put enough powder in because after the first shot I checked my measure to make sure I had it set on 50gr. Sure enough, it was on 50. My buddy thinks it might be comin out the touch hole, because I had a little more blow by than I usually have. The touch hole doesn't look to be over sized though... :hmm: Help me out here guys...

 

[Birddog6]

If it has a screw-in vent take it out & see what the problem is. But it sounds like the vent is clogged or the patent breech is clogged up. :hmm:

 

[BEP]

How old is that 3F that you tried? And how has it been stored?

 

[bart_anastasi]

If the powder he is using went off OK the first time and the gun is being loaded from the same flask I doubt if the problem is the powder.

 

[BEP]

Good point, bart.

 

[Mulebrain]

What type of powder are you using?

 

[laffingman67]

Goex 3f powder. I purchased it this past September from a friend. He purchased a 25lb mixed lot this summer.

 

[J.D.]

YOur friend is probably right. Try inserting a ventpick into the vent, held in place by a closed frizzen when you load. Be sure to have a frizzen stall in place on the frizzen, for safety.

It doesn't always take a lot to blow powder out of the vent. Especially if you shoot a tight patch/ball combination with an oversized vent.

J.D.

 

[MikeChapin]

From what you mentioned, it sounds like the touch hole is eroded. The liner may have been ready to go and the extra heat and pressure of the 3F may have finished the job.

The first thing I would do is put in a new touch hole liner.

 

[laffingman67]

Ok. Let's say the touch hole is too large. There is no liner, just the touch hole. Would it be reasonable to assume that I could drill and tap to 1/4-20 and install a liner? The touch hole lines up right in the middle of the pan now, so I should just drill right there.

 

[Rebel]

Close the frizzen, Load a charge and and see if your pan is full of powder. I had that happen once with 3f powder with an oversize vent hole. All the powder was being pushed out the vent.

 

[Dphar]

Ok, I have a Japanese made kentucky style rifle in .45 (or close to it). I know, it's ugly, but it's a tack driver and goes off every time. I usually use 55gr 2f with a .440 rb and a 10 thousands spit patch. I ran out of 2f this weekend so I used 50gr 3f instead. The first shot went off without a hitch. Just as accurate as it ever was. The second shot went hissspunt and the ball litterally rolled out the barrel about 20 yards ahead of the gun. Well, now I'm scratchin my head. I reload and shoot again and it does the same thing??? Now, I know for sure that I put enough powder in because after the first shot I checked my measure to make sure I had it set on 50gr. Sure enough, it was on 50. My buddy thinks it might be comin out the touch hole, because I had a little more blow by than I usually have. The touch hole doesn't look to be over sized though... :hmm: Help me out here guys...

Blowing out the touch hole most likely.
Will likely self prime with the frizzen closed. I am surprised you are not losing some of the FFG.

Dan

 

[Zonie]

Ok. Let's say the touch hole is too large. There is no liner, just the touch hole. Would it be reasonable to assume that I could drill and tap to 1/4-20 and install a liner? The touch hole lines up right in the middle of the pan now, so I should just drill right there.

The first thing I would check before drilling out the existing touch hole is its size.
Can you insert a 1/16 (.0625)diameter drill bit shank into it? If so, try a 5/64 (.0781) diameter.
If the 5/64 fits loosely it is probably time to consider using a vent liner.
A standard vent liner uses a 1/4-28 thread. A "White Lightening" liner is a 1/4-32 thread.
I've bought 1/4-28 taps at Ace Hardware but the 1/4-32 is a special that you can get from TOTW.

Yes, you can use the existing hole as a guide for the tap drill but you may be drilling into the face of the breech plug so go slow and careful.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I had a Bess with a 7/64" touch-hole and the ball still went down-range with a passion! You'd know if it was touch-hole erosion to the point of causing a ball to "fall out 20 yards ahead of the muzzle" as you'd be blowing almost as much smoke and flame to the right as you were straight ahead. Mine is currently larger than 1/16" and smaller than 5/64". If you can insert a 5/64" bit (shank first) easily it may be time to install a new vent liner. Usually the accuracy falls off before pressure loss becomes very noticable.

If you are getting a "Hssspffft" and it's still going off it sounds like bad powder. What are you using as a lube? Are you soaking the powder?

 

[mazo kid]

I'm with Stumpkiller here; a couple of years ago I bought a left hand flinter that a friend had built and used. When I got it home and looked at it, I called him up and asked if the vent liner was eroded. He said he drilled it that way, and to make sure the frizzen was closed when putting powder down the barrel as it would self-prime (fffg). He had built it that way specifically for hunting; no need to prime separately. No problem what so ever in getting the ball down range! It has harvested several deer. I would look more for moisture or oil in the barrel breech. Emery

 

[bart_anastasi]

Which is if I recall a Ranger Load

 

[laffingman67]

Stumpkiller, yes I am getting a sound as you describe. That's what thru me off, the first shot went off just fine. I was using good ol fashion spit. Maybe I got too sloppy! :haha: It was damp out Sunday, but not really wet. ??? I also have a Bess that you cound drive a nail thru the vent and it goes off fine.

Yes, you can use the existing hole as a guide for the tap drill but you may be drilling into the face of the breech plug so go slow and careful. - This is what I was concerned with, exactly.

OK Here's what I think I will do. Go ahead and install the new vent liner. (new tap probly cost more than the p.o.s. gun :haha: ) And I've been wanting to whip up some moose snot and try it out too.

Thank you gentlemen for all the responses! :hatsoff: