Lyman trade rifle touchole

[Albanyco]

Ok, my touch hole is about 1/16 of an inch further back from the center of the pan. Can I shim the tang out a touch to correct this? This is my first flintlock, and I can hear the frizzen open before the gun fires. I've enlarged the vent to 1/16th and I'm using an English flint bevel down. I do get occasional flas in the pan, but only if I didn't prime it enough. The gun seems to fire best with the pan filled to just under the touch hole. Will getting the touch hole centered improve ignition speed? Priming with 3f and I do put a pick in the vent during loading.

Second question, I found a .58 cal lyman barrel for sale for cheap. It is a percussion barrel however. How do I remove the breechplug to swap it for a flintlock breechplug? I have access to a small lathe, so I think I can turn the new plug to fit and line up correctly. I want to bore the rifling out for a smoothbore, has anyone done this at home, if so how? I was hoping to do the work myself, but if this is not possible I will ship the barrel to a gunsmith to replace the plug and bore it.

Thanks,
G

 

[Ken Cormier]

Hi if YOU are getting constant ingnision I would not worry about it. By moving the barrel forward you start alot of small to not so small things to do to the gun. The pins or wedges need to be addressed as well as 're nose cap. If the powder is in front of the touch hole and the gun goes bang what the heck. Just my out take on this. :idunno:

 

[Zonie]

I wouldn't worry about the touch hole being 1/16" behind the center of the pan.

The ball of fire created when the pan powder flashes is so large it can't miss the vent.

That is why I always recommend building a flintlock as a first advanced rifle building project.

They are MUCH less fussy about having things all lined up exactly right.

 

[MJMarkey]

A 1/16" off center touchhole should not bother the ignition of your rifle. Much more important to wipe fouling away and keep the flint sharp and sparking well.

Can't help with your other problem.

 

[Albanyco]

Thanks for the replies guys, I guess I won't sweat it.

 

[Bob Meyer]

Try using 4f and push some in the touch hole before you clear it with the pick. The ignition will be almost instant.

 

[Pete G]

If it really bothers you too much, take a Dremel and make the pan a little larger.

 

[Col. Batguano]

It's only a problem if it's a problem. If it's not a problem it doesn't need fixing.

 

[Albanyco]

Yeah, but how do I know if I have a problem or not? It's my first flint gun, maybe I'm just not used to the lock time yet?

 

[Rick Boylan]

Just a guess as I am pretty new to flintlocks too, but I would think that if it is firing reliably then there isn't a problem with the touch hole position. I see things on my rifle that look to me to be a bit off, but it fires every time I pull the trigger (as long as I've loaded it correctly and have a sharp flint), and that tells me it's setup well.

:thumbsup:

 

[bpd303]

If there is a noticeable delay between the flash and ignition there is a problem. Ignition should be instantaneous with the primer flash.

 

[Rick Boylan]

Can't that also be caused by the powder in the pan being over the touch hole or by it being in the wrong position in the pan?

I've been trying to read as many posts on here about these subjects as I can to get a good basis for when I take my gun to the range.

 

[Ken Cormier]

Hi yes the firing can be slowed up by covering the touch hole. It is not the burning powder that sets the main charge. It is the flash that sets it off. When you cover the touch hole you make a fuse to the charge. Slowing down the bang. The powder needs a quick flash to ignite the powder. You will learn how much powder to use in the pan for good consistency in your gun. Just do not give up in the long run you will love rock locks. :2

 

[Bear Rider]

Filling the pan to the brim and covering the touch hole is a favorite hollywood stunt to make the audience aware that its a flintlock. You see this tremendous flash, and smoke plume, and then bang, the gun goes off.

Yes, there is a bit of delay, but you should not be able to detect it by eye or ear. A novice shooter will notice it until he learns to hold his stance until all the commotion in front of him stops. Until he does, his shots will probably all go low because he relaxes too soon.

 

[Zonie]

I usually don't mention it because we have so many people on the forum who don't think the pan can be overfilled or, they think getting loose powder into the vent hole can be done and the gun will still fire within milliseconds.

When I first started shooting flintlocks back in 1971 I always loaded my guns pan totally full, even going so far as to work a bit of powder into the touch hole for good measure.

Every shot, without exception, was a "click, POOOOOOOOOOOF....BANG!" just like the Hollywood movies always show. There was always over 1/2 second of delay.

Then, one day when I was low on powder I only covered the bottom of the pan, letting the vent hole stand proud and clear.

"click, PoofBANG". :shocked2:
No delay, no Pooooooooof.
I was so amazed I had to try it again. Same results. :shocked2:

 

[nhmoose]

Don't cover the flash hole is correct! My rocklocks are faster shooting than my ,gone now, old TC caplocks. Haven't looked back on the nipple huggers. Thanks you Maine BP Shooters

 

[Maven]

"When I first started shooting flintlocks back in 1971 I always loaded my guns pan totally full, even going so far as to work a bit of powder into the touch hole for good measure. When I first started shooting flintlocks back in 1971 I always loaded my guns pan totally full, even going so far as to work a bit of powder into the touch hole for good measure. Every shot, without exception, was a "click, POOOOOOOOOOOF....BANG!" just like the Hollywood movies always show. There was always over 1/2 second of delay."


Zonie & nhmoose, I think you should ask Larry Pletcher (Pletch) about this, as his research indicates faster ignition with a covered touch hole.

 

[nhmoose]

"When I first started shooting flintlocks back in 1971 I always loaded my guns pan totally full, even going so far as to work a bit of powder into the touch hole for good measure. When I first started shooting flintlocks back in 1971 I always loaded my guns pan totally full, even going so far as to work a bit of powder into the touch hole for good measure. Every shot, without exception, was a "click, POOOOOOOOOOOF....BANG!" just like the Hollywood movies always show. There was always over 1/2 second of delay."


Zonie & nhmoose, I think you should ask Larry Pletcher (Pletch) about this, as his research indicates faster ignition with a covered touch hole.

Thanks but I will pass, My years of competition have proved my way to me. Good luck with out your own actual experience.

 

[Zonie]

The last time we posted about this, Larry didn't discount my experiences but did point out that his tests don't support it.

I suggest to anyone who discounts my experience, they should try filling their vent hole with powder, then filling the pan to the brim and try it.

They (and Larry) might get a different result if they are using a rifle with a modern vent liner.
The rifle I was shooting had a rather small, long vent hole drilled into the barrel. It did not have the short vent liners that are now common.

 

[bpd303]

As we say over and over... each rifle & lock are unique on to themselves. Try more than one way and see what the rifle/smoothbore likes.