Mag spark

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michacooks said:
Has anyone tried the mag spark conversion kit for 209 primers, I have 209 primers but the #11's are hard to find in my area.
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A Mag Spark came with a gun I purchased a while back. Although it worked, I have enough trouble dropping things like percussion caps, let alone small pieces like a primer firing pin assembly component, that I wouldn’t consider using one in hunting situations without spares for the droppable items. I carry extra caps (or flints) when hunting. Drop the Mag Spark firing pin assembly into the leaves, mud or snow, and you are potentially done without a spare.

Recently did some limited testing at the range with one and noticed a change in the point of impact when compared to regular percussion caps, not a negative, just something you may have to account for.

Another thing to consider, while percussion caps are difficult to find today, 209 primers disappeared for a stint not that long ago. If you are committing to using primers, suggest a thousand minimum, unless you don’t shoot much. Also would suggest Federal brand based on experience for consistency.
 
michacooks said:
Has anyone tried the mag spark conversion kit for 209 primers, I have 209 primers but the #11's are hard to find in my area.
Click to expand...
I had one many years ago when I got my first muzzleloader. It worked but with all the problems already noted in this and previous threads. Once I learned how to properly load, swab and clean my rifle correctly, including switching to real black powder, there were no more ignition problems with cap
 
Wondering how much on average you cut back on powder assuming the 209 primer is hotter than the #11 pc.
 
One of the things that has been said about the Mag-Spark is that the power of the primer completely channeled into the barrel can bump the projectile forwards and that this can create shot to shot inconsistencies with a resultant loss of accuracy. That's something I will be watching for.
 
I've ordered one of these as I have quite a few 209s left over from a business I had back in 2008. What I'm wondering is, will they work with toy gun paper caps? I guess I'll find out and report back. Hopefully, all I'll have to do is blow out the brunt paper instead of removing a spent primer.

I wouldn't use it on a Woods/Trail Walk. I'd save my limited supply of percussion caps for that!

By the way, these are not new or modern, other than the 209 aspect. They have a device like this pictured in Ned Robert's "The Muzzle Loading Cap-lock Rifle", that utilized Rifle primers. They were in use in the 1800s!

Walt
 
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Eric Krewson said:
I had one, like was mentioned prying out the spent primers was a chore, they expanded when fired to be stuck like glue in the device, it took a sharp knife and plenty of work t pry them out.
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I have them on guns I hunt with ,They do not expand in any of mine . I do tell folks to stik primer in mouth while spitting in cap ,do that and no sticking (works in mine ) for at least the last 15+yrs (I think)/Ed
 
Rifleman1776 said:
Why use at all? If you are going to use old style guns don't fool yourself into believing you are having some of the old time experience by adding modern gimcrackies.
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You do know Ned Roberts was doing this (ALONG) time ago right ? ,not at all modern just another traditional way like rock locks it lites the powder and does it predictably with (GUSTO) /Ed
 
michacooks said:
Has anyone tried the mag spark conversion kit for 209 primers, I have 209 primers but the #11's are hard to find in my area.
Click to expand...
From what I've seen on this site, caps are becoming a bit more available here and there, but that's just an impression I've gotten. Hopefully your area will become more 'saturated' with them soon! Good luck!
 
SDSmlf said:
A Mag Spark came with a gun I purchased a while back. Although it worked, I have enough trouble dropping things like percussion caps, let alone small pieces like a primer firing pin assembly component, that I wouldn’t consider using one in hunting situations without spares for the droppable items. I carry extra caps (or flints) when hunting. Drop the Mag Spark firing pin assembly into the leaves, mud or snow, and you are potentially done without a spare.

Recently did some limited testing at the range with one and noticed a change in the point of impact when compared to regular percussion caps, not a negative, just something you may have to account for.

Another thing to consider, while percussion caps are difficult to find today, 209 primers disappeared for a stint not that long ago. If you are committing to using primers, suggest a thousand minimum, unless you don’t shoot much. Also would suggest Federal brand based on experience for consistency.
Click to expand...
Not to mention, back during the ammo shortage of 2016 during the "Hillary Scare", guys who reload modern ammo couldn't find modern primers at all; hoarding. Then forward to the "Biden Scare", we see the percussion cap shortage. There was clear evidence of hoarding in 2016; after Trump got in office, gun shows were fat with modern ammo that people had been hoarding and were now trying to unload. It's a cyclical thing; I don't condone hoarding, but guys should keep a "political cycle" supply in stock.
 
nkbj said:
One of the things that has been said about the Mag-Spark is that the power of the primer completely channeled into the barrel can bump the projectile forwards and that this can create shot to shot inconsistencies with a resultant loss of accuracy. That's something I will be watching for.
Click to expand...
Never happened with me but then I know bore dimension and size accordingly , using Mag spark in all my side locks . And a #11 cap is a lot harder for me to use (PERIOD) I buy spare tops for the Mag spark as suggested by the seller . Have 4 ,only needed to use one (15 +yrs) /Ed
 
The Mag Spark is primarily for use with Blackpowder subs in sidehammers for one-shot situations like Hunting.

I had one on my T/C New Englander and it was a pain, it's not really good for shooting for fun at the range. If I needed the best reliability for the field for muzzleloading season , if I was allowed to use a sidehammer, I'd use one. I wasn't worried about staying H-C with a T/C New Englander.

It actually isn't too different from things that were actually used in the period, with the jim-whacked conversions for flintlocks, the Egg Primers, the primers used with the Lorenz rifles . I'm not saying it's "correct" but odd and bizarre one off conversions, screw in stuff, etc etc were used and examples are seen on rifles from the original period.
 
Rifleman1776 said:
Why use at all? If you are going to use old style guns don't fool yourself into believing you are having some of the old time experience by adding modern gimcrackies.
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Because now a days we mainly only hunt a couple of days and can't stay in the woods weeks and if it improves success use it.
 
I have had one on my Elk gun since 2004 and never had an issue. I did just buy a new as a spare and the lenght is a hair longer. Also I cannot interchange the tops, threading seems different as well. One thing to remember is crud will build up on the inside of the top, under the firing pin and reduce its movement. Remember this is not black powder or substitute powder, its from the primer. TC 13 cleaner and soapwater doesn't clean it, use bore cleaner used for an unmentionable. I had noticed the pin had very short movement even though it was cleaned with 13 and soap with hot water. Soaked it in borecleaner and the buildup was gone. Just some stuff I found while using it alot at range. All my other caplocks I use #11s , especially for waterfoul with a Pedersoli 12ga. Dont need to drop top of magspark in the water!
 
ohio ramrod said:
As others have stated they are not traditional, and they are bothersome to use. They do however allow people to continue to shoot percussion guns who can't get caps. My motto is:"If it works use it."
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They most certainly were traditional ,ask Ned Roberts (heard of him?) he used and described advantages of similar and sure was traditional / Ed
 

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