Larger Flash Hole

[Rebel bull]

I also concave the face of the liner but before installing it i also cone the inside then open the hole . also once installed i never remove the liner clean with it in place

 

[Terrier]

(going to start my own thread for this question)

Is getting a lot of powder in the pan a common occurrence for you guys?

 

[wiscoaster]

....

Is getting a lot of powder in the pan a common occurrence for you guys?

Never for me.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

Your Investarm rifle has a chambered breech.

If it's not getting it CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN after your shooting sessions, it could very well always give you trouble.

Do you remove the barrel, submerge the breech in water and do the ol pump n scrub to clean?

Are you swabbing between shots? Crudus knocked off during the down stroke can/will fall down in the breech chamber and block the fire path. This is an inherent issue with chambered breech guns. Not so much of a worry with guns possessing flat faced breech plugs.

If you must swab between shots, I would suggest doing it after you First: verify the fire path is unobstructed, and Second: after the powder has been poured. I would for sure use some type of an op wad to protect the powder if you are using a moist swab.

Sometimes I'll use a slightly-larger-than-bore-size .125" lubed felt OP wad with a ball puller screwed through the center as a bore scrub. The lube will soften the fouling, and the oversize wad will push/pull it out of the way. Consistent fire and easy loading, all at the same time.

Good luck!

 

[flatcreek]

If I'm using 2f powder I use a .0625 touch hole, using 3f I use a bit smaller maybe .055. I don't like the powder coming out into the pan, I like it piled against the the inside of the touch hole. I think your problem is something else, like to much oil in the breech, wiping between shots and pushing fowling into the breech or some obstruction behind the liner.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I bought a Invest Arms Hawken style rifle .50 CAL. new from Dixie Gun Works. I had reliability problems with ignition. I've tried every thing that I know, my club members know, our forum knows and YouTube knows.

new English flints, tried both bevel and bevel down
.062 flash hole dia. in the sunset position
4f powder in the flash pan (Goex)
50 gr. 3f main charge (Goex)
.490 RB
.018 thick pre lubed patch
flash pan powder towards the outside and inside of flash pan
tapped on barrel to make sure powder is in the patent breech
picked flash before each shot
Sometimes I get flash in the pan but no main charge
Sometimes it goes off okay
Sometimes hang fire
Tough to shoot when it's like this

Bought a new L&R lock, didn't work any better

I'm so frustrated that I'm thinking of buying a Kibler Woods Runner with hopes of better reliability.
PLEASE HELP!!

If you are getting a reliable flash in the pan or hang fires, there is something between the pan and the powder charge preventing ignition of the powder. Yeah, the new L&R lock won't help if the issue is between the touch hole and the powder charge.

Key to a lot of these issues is the chambered breech and the accumulation of oils drying out after cleaning. After cleaning, store the gun muzzle down. Use a stiff bristled pipe cleaner or an airgun or welding tip cleaning brush to clean from the touch hole through to the powder charge. Use a sub caliber (22 up to 30 caliber) cleaning brush to scrub out the chambered breech. Your use of rubbing alcohol and the air compressor to prep the gun before loading is good. Do block the touch hole and let the rubbing alcohol do its job of softening and loosening the dried on grease and fouling.

 

[Flintlock Ron07]

I have a investarm hawken also. I couldn’t get reliable ignition with 1/16 touch hole so I drilled it out to 5/64 and it worked perfectly ever since. My other gun I also have drilled to 5/64 and I like it

 

[Taevers]

Hello everyone.
My question is, will opening up my flash hole from .0625 to .070 dia. on my flint lock rifle make ignition more reliable?
Thanks.

Larger touch hole has made my flintlocks more reliable. I drilled them out about the amount you were curious about. Only downside for me is 3F can be driven out the touch hole when you seat your charge. I plug it during loading on a target session when using Swiss 3 F. As to accuracy, I don’t shoot in national matches, just club matches every month for fun. You can’t shoot a nice target with a hang fire rifle anyway. I think you’d be happy with a larger touch hole.

 

[bummy]

When your rifle is loaded do you see or feel the powder (with a vent pick) inside the flash hole?

Sometimes. I usually load it with a paper clip in the flash hole, or sometimes before I prime it.

 

[bummy]

I have a investarm hawken also. I couldn’t get reliable ignition with 1/16 touch hole so I drilled it out to 5/64 and it worked perfectly ever since. My other gun I also have drilled to 5/64 and I like it

Thanks Flintlock Ron. I'm going to try opening it up to .070

 

[bummy]

Larger touch hole has made my flintlocks more reliable. I drilled them out about the amount you were curious about. Only downside for me is 3F can be driven out the touch hole when you seat your charge. I plug it during loading on a target session when using Swiss 3 F. As to accuracy, I don’t shoot in national matches, just club matches every month for fun. You can’t shoot a nice target with a hang fire rifle anyway. I think you’d be happy with a larger touch hole.

I may try 2f powder and see if that helps. Thanks for your help.

 

[EC121]

Plug the hole with one of those little interdental brushes. It will let the air out and keep the powder in.

 

[Mike in FL]

Yes, and less accurate.

Not contesting your statement, but I am wondering how a larger touch hole would make the rifle less accurate..

 

[Mike in FL]

Never for me.

Yes, I enlarged my flash hole to 1/16th on my Kibler Colonial. To make sure the drill bit was indeed 1/16, j measured it with a dial caliber. When ramming the PRB down, I found 3F in the pan. Never did figure that out but I ended up zeroing with 2F which does not leak through.

 

[bummy]

Plug the hole with one of those little interdental brushes. It will let the air out and keep the powder in.

Thanks, EC121. I'll give it a try.

 

[ochsner_tim]

Thanks Flintlock Ron. I'm going to try opening it up to .070

I have had good success with using small wire gage reamers instead of the drill. I put the reamer in a pin vise and turn by hand. I go up a size and then shoot the rifle to see if it helps. I've made my rifles go off consistently with only opening my touchhole .0005 to .0015 larger.

 

[Taevers]

I have had good success with using small wire gage reamers instead of the drill. I put the reamer in a pin vise and turn by hand. I go up a size and then shoot the rifle to see if it helps. I've made my rifles go off consistently with only opening my touchhole .0005 to .0015 larger.

I use a pin vise as well with my small number drill bits. Only takes 3 or 4 turns to get through a liner with a sharp HSS bit. I’ve never seen a set of wire gauge reamers. I’ll have to look at them on the old interweb. Thanks for sharing.

 

[bummy]

I use reamers in a milling machine to get an accurate hole.

 

[ochsner_tim]

I use a pin vise as well with my small number drill bits. Only takes 3 or 4 turns to get through a liner with a sharp HSS bit. I’ve never seen a set of wire gauge reamers. I’ll have to look at them on the old interweb. Thanks for sharing.

My mistake, I meant number reamers, not wire gage.

 

[smo]

A # 3 finish nail will go in the flash hole on my rifle & smoothbore..
It’s what I use as a pick when needed..

As far as loss of accuracy caused bye pressure escaping the vent…
IMHO, the only possibility this could effect accuracy at the range these weapons were intended too be shot would be loss of velocity/ pressure….

So, add more powder..

I haven’t noticed any difference in my guns accuracy after enlarging the touch holes.
The only difference I’ve noticed was in the ignition consistency.