Touch hole position.

[GANGGREEN]

I'm not asking what the ideal position of the touch hole is, I'm simply asking whether most of you would accept this or immediately change it. Without telling the whole story, how many of you would be OK with this touch-hole position (or at least test fire it before deciding to make changes)? How many would presume that it's not ideal and would immediately drill and tap for a larger touch hole liner to "fix it"? Just curious.......

 

[rchas]

It's not ideal, but if it works I would leave it alone. Touchholes can be a little off center and have no difficulty or lag in igniting the main charge.

 

[EC121]

Not the nicest install in the world, but the only thing I would do is sand the scratches off the side flat. It should work fine that way. The offset cone should funnel the fire to the hole.

 

[excess650]

I HAVE a rifle that had an off center vent, and it was a PITA from the getgo. The vent was too close to the breechplug as I discovered AFTER I enlarged the hole in the liner several times, and had coned it on the outside. When I removed the liner to replace it, I was able to relieve the BP face a little. The replacement liner vent is 1/16", but the real fix was widening the pan to better have the vent centered.

To answer the question, I would try widening the pan towards the rear first(with a replacement liner already installed).

 

[Pete G]

Grind & polish the rear edge of the pan a bit. It will be fine.

 

[GANGGREEN]

Thanks guys. Basically the responses I would have expected.

 

[ord sgt]

Load the barrel, prime the pan point firearm in a safe direction and pull trigger. If it goes BOOM, reload and fire again and again. If not, pull the liner, plug the hole and then redrill.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I bought several TCs new in the box on line and every one of them had a similar touch hole position from the factory. I sent one back that had the touch hole in the back corner, TC said there was nothing wrong with it and sent it back to me. The lock was installed with hot melt glue to shim it out to the correct position, shoddy workmanship all the way around. I swore I would never own a TC again but have ended up with two more Hawkens percussion guns since that are early guns and well made. One is well made because it is a Kit gun that I put it together, the other is a stock that I put a GM barrel on.

 

[Mulemauler]

Would try it first and change if needed.

 

[Norman Brooks]

Would try it first and change if needed.

I second that...

 

[Sidney Smith]

I'd go with widening the rear of the pan. To me plugging the hole and re drilling for a new touch hole seems like it would cause more trouble than it's worth.

 

[45man]

I don't know if I would fool with it until you shoot it. I think it will be OK. The key is to not use too much powder.

 

[NorthFork]

No I would not accept it. If you are stuck with it then the couple fixes mentioned above would work.