Properly drilled vent liners. Why?......

[Skychief]

The vent liner in my smoothbore flinter was so enlarged from shooting the snot out of it, it was past time for a new one.

Of course, I needed it drilled out to 1/16" at least as I believe most everyone does for better ignition.

My question is, do any liner makers drill them out to a sixteenth to begin with.

If not, why not? :youcrazy:

Best regards, Skychief

 

[hanshi]

Just a guess, but one size vent hole won't fit everyone. It's easier for them to just make the liner with only a pilot hole allowing the owner to decide which dia to drill. This is usually done with rear sights which normally only have centering notch making it easier to file the sight depth preferred by the shooter. Liners are easy to drill, anyway.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I'm not so sure either. I did drill the vent hole liner out on my Lyman GPR with a 1/16" bit. It didn't open up much at all, just removed a tiny little bit of metal. It was already very close to 1/16" I guess.

 

[necchi]

The vent liner in my smoothbore flinter was so enlarged from shooting the snot out of it, it was past time for a new one.

Of course, I needed it drilled out to 1/16" at least

:hmm: My question is why it had to be replaced?
I know about gas cutting,, but what was happening that made it necessary to replace that one with a full 1/16" hole that made it better?
And where does it say that a 1/16" hole is used by "most everyone"?
Or That a 1/16th inch is "properly drilled?

 

[Skychief]

The vent liner in my smoothbore flinter was so enlarged from shooting the snot out of it, it was past time for a new one.

Of course, I needed it drilled out to 1/16" at least

:hmm: My question is why it had to be replaced?
I know about gas cutting,, but what was happening that made it necessary to replace that one with a full 1/16" hole that made it better?
And where does it say that a 1/16" hole is used by "most everyone"?
Or That a 1/16th inch is "properly drilled?

It was enlarged enough that powder would leak through it into the pan

I won't guess why it enlarged so. Gas cutting might be a great guess though. A 1/16" hole will improve it as my powder will no longer dribble into my pan as I am hunting.

Searching here, I've read where seemingly most guys prefer a 1/16" or 5/64".

I've not read nor wrote that a liner drilled to 1/16" is "properly" drilled.

I won't assume, but will ask, do you prefer something other than 1/16"? :surrender:

 

[jethro224]

Vents do grow larger after a lot of shooting. They will need to be replaced eventually.
Last year I finally had to install a liner in my Pedersoli Bess when even 2F powder started blowing out of the vent when I rammed a patched ball down. I didn't bother to measure how far it was worn out but it couldn't be plugged with a toothpick. Ignition is much improved now too. :thumbsup:

 

[Skychief]

Good deal Jethro :thumbsup:

A toothpick did me no good either. The hole in mine eroded into an oval shape at the face of the liner.

Best regards, Skychief

PS, Hope you had a great trip to Noblesville :hatsoff:

 

[necchi]

I've not read nor wrote that a liner drilled to 1/16" is "properly" drilled.

Of course, I needed it drilled out to 1/16" at least as I believe most everyone does for better ignition.

Sorry, must have somehow been a misleading post. I didn't mean to read anything into it then what was actually posted.

 

[Skychief]

Do you have a preferred size of orifice in a liner necchi?

Best regards, Skychief

 

[coloradoclyde]

I kinda like having it be self priming..... :grin:

 

[Larry Pletcher]

There are 5 numbered bits between 1/4 and 5/16. Any good hardware has them.You can sneak up on what your gun likes. Personally I feel 5/64 too large,even for large bore.
Regards,
Pletch

 

[necchi]

Do you have a preferred size of orifice in a liner necchi?

No, I'm just wondering why you do?

I needed it drilled out to 1/16" at least

 

[Skychief]

Do you have a preferred size of orifice in a liner necchi?

No, I'm just wondering why you do?

I needed it drilled out to 1/16" at least

For better ignition than the tiny, tiny hole it came with would provide.

 

[mooman76]

Just an educated guess but I would think a smaller hole vent liner, if you could get it to work well, would shoot a little more accurate. I know when the cap lock nipples hole gets enlarged, accuracy drops off some. So wouldn't the smaller the hole you could manage be more accurate?

 

[Zonie]

There are 5 numbered bits between 1/4 and 5/16. Any good hardware has them.You can sneak up on what your gun likes. Personally I feel 5/64 too large,even for large bore.
Regards,
Pletch

Hmmmmmmm :hmm:

I think you might have meant to say between 1/16 and 5/64?

 

[don hepler]

I might be totally wrong on my way of thinking, but it seems to me, that a larger touch hole, would let a lot of gas escape. This would reduce velocity. I'm sure someone, somewhere, has tested it with a Crony.

On a coned liner, such as the White Lightning, the powder is within a few thousandths of the pan. I have never had my Tip Curtis rifle FTF, when the pan powder ignited. At least none, that I can remember. I've never modified the touch hole.

I shot with a club, all of last year, and almost every one on the line are shooting custom built rifles, with White Lightning coned liners. Rare to hear a delay or FTF. Other outsiders bring in factory built guns and old guns of unknown origin, and it's failure to fire, delays and etc. Usually they get so disgusted that they pack up and leave.

It comes down to quality liners and locks, and proper cleaning and loading techniques.

 

[ohio ramrod]

The vent liner in my smoothbore flinter was so enlarged from shooting the snot out of it, it was past time for a new one.

Of course, I needed it drilled out to 1/16" at least

:hmm: My question is why it had to be replaced?
I know about gas cutting,, but what was happening that made it necessary to replace that one with a full 1/16" hole that made it better?
And where does it say that a 1/16" hole is used by "most everyone"?
Or That a 1/16th inch is "properly drilled?

If my memory is right, (it seldom is these days) the Bevel brothers did some serious testing years back and determined that 1/16 was the best overall size for consistent ignition and consistent velocity. Many people have accepted their research with out questioning it. But that was back several years ago, and my memory isn't what I would like it to be. :idunno: :idunno:

 

[nhmoose]

1/4 to 5/16 would be some big touchhole!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[nkbj]

Instead of drilling I just use one of those little bitty pointy round rat tail type files, removing the lock out of the way and taking metal out a little bit more until it works right.

 

[Ray-Vigo]

1/16" in a starting point. You can file or drill, whatever works best for you. A good vent liner may actually raise the point of impact a bit, depending on how big the old hole was.

I have a rifle that started out with a plain touch hole of 1/8". This enlarged to a point I wanted a liner and I opted for the White Lightning. This raised the point of impact slightly, but not a great deal. The 1/16" hole in the liner works because it's coned internally so the main charge is close to the prime.

I have flintlocks with plain holes, hex head liners, ampco liners, and White Lightning Liners. The White Lightning is my favorite for reliability and the plain hole for authenticity, but the single biggest factor is cleanliness. A dirty pan and touch hole area, along with a dirty flint edge and frizzin are the fastest way to a malfunction.