Vent Questions

[PreserveFreedom]

Wow I didn't realize a lubricant discussion could get so heated! Whether or not a vent liner is authentic or not is beside the point. The kit I bought for my first flintlock has one so it will continue to have one. Taking everyone's advice into account, I removed the liner and put T/C Super Lube on the threads. I don't know if it ever will be removed, but I would like to know that if need be it can be removed. Whether or not you agree with the idea of a liner, those that have ever had to go to a gunsmith because you scraped the slot off a screw that was seized should appreciate one wanting to plan ahead to avoid a potential problem.

 

[Semisane]

Whether or not a vent liner is authentic or not is beside the point. The kit I bought for my first flintlock has one so it will continue to have one.

Now don't go all logical on us Preserve Freedom. Somebody's head might explode. :wink: :grin:

 

[Stumpkiller]

That's my thought. If it's sealed right originally it's no more a danger of incipient rust and corrosion than the breech plug - which I never remove either. Not being a gunsmith I'm more likely to do harm than good. ;-) I figure them smart little microns in a good penetrating oil know where to look for cracks and crud.

I have heard it told that the British Army used to flog any soldier who removed the lock or other parts from his musket and only a sergeant was issued or allowed a screwdriver. Supposedly that's why muskets have a hole in the top-jaw screw instead of a slot - so a screwdriver wasn't needed to change a flint.

 

[roundball]

And unscrewing a vent liner with an easy out is a simpl2 15 second activity at the house, doesn't require a 'gunsmith'

Are you saying those of us with White lightnings should do this?

Don't be ridiculous...I said what I said and you even quoted it.
Where does it say anything about you or anybody removing white lightning liners ???

And my closing comment was:
Just my .02 cents on the matter...carry on

 

[Rifleman1776]

I like to coat just about every part of a muzzleloader than I can with Bore Butter. Then I got to wondering:

You got me to wondering also. Why?
I guess the current world of muzzle loading is leaving those of us behind who still try to preserve a few bits of tradition and history.
Today, if it isn't come kind of cleverly named gunk that comes in a plastic bottle from a store, it isn't useful for muzzle loading.
I'll support those who say a vent liner almost never needs removing in ones lifetime. Maybe in two or more lifetimes but most likely not even then.
I better stop here.....I'm getting on a roll and not a good one.

 

[roundball]

Whether or not a vent liner is authentic or not is beside the point.

Whether or not you agree with the idea of a liner, those that have ever had to go to a gunsmith because you scraped the slot off a screw that was seized should appreciate one wanting to plan ahead to avoid a potential problem.

Correct...you simply asked these basic questions:

1) Do you remove the vent during cleaning like one would remove the nipple while cleaning a percussion gun?

2) Should I take the vent out and put anti-seize on the threads like one would do on a breech plug, or will the Bore Butter be fine to keep it from seizing up?

 

[rabjr]

And unscrewing a vent liner with an easy out is a simpl2 15 second activity at the house, doesn't require a 'gunsmith'

Are you saying those of us with White lightnings should do this?

Don't be ridiculous...I said what I said and you even quoted it.
Where does it say anything about you or anybody removing white lightning liners ???

And my closing comment was:
Just my .02 cents on the matter...carry on

Whoa! I was just asking for clarification. :shake:

 

[Stumpkiller]

I vote "No" for #1, qualify it with "Not ever unless to replace a damaged one" and "See answer to #1" for answer #2. :haha:

I don't remove my teeth to clean them, and because I clean them properly I look forward to never having removable teeth. :rotf:

 

[rich pierce]

I always find it amusing when people are surprised that topics evolve from the original question. "Whoah, there- we didn't ask about THAT!" Not sure the forum forbids topic drift as long as topics and posts don't violate rules.

 

[ebiggs1]

I remove mine each and every time I clean the gun. It just may be the one's of you that don't, are the same one's that see FTF's in “patent breech” flintlocks. I also use a bore light to check better. I use anti-size on the threads of all the threaded parts. Remember this is a case of a little is great and more is not better. Bore Butter would not be my first choice, however. I love it as a patch lube but certainly not as a preventative.
Everybody has to do what they believe is correct and others should not condemn them for it. It is Human nature to see something and then try ways it might work better. Some folks complain about someone else using a coil spring inside the lock and they can't even see that!

 

[tg]

"I always find it amusing when people are surprised that topics evolve from the original question.'

Good point Rich there are two basic levels of posters here and one level often has the "Keeping Tradition Alive" in mind when giving responses as one has any way of knowing the original posters interest level or understanding of that aspect, if they are not interested they can just ignore any of the posts that are of a traditional nature, and likely a few lurkers with traditional MLing may learn a few things as a side benifit, the posting of opiniions as facts is something that should be avoided but is difficult as many of those who do so simply do not know the difference as they operate on long time hand me down information that is often not quite up to snuff.

 

[tg]

"For those of us who actually hunt with our weapons, getting caught in the woods with a wet liner, being able to sit down under a tree and remove the liner, pick out the mud, add a bit of dry powder and fire off the charge can be a lifesaver!"

Well shut my mouth, I guess I should maybe try hunting with my ML this year.....pretty big step it sounds like, got no idea how to keep the mud out of the vent hole...(Man!) I am hosed, all I have is a plain hole in the breech to connect the pan flash to the main charge, what to do? what to do? hmmmmm (sadly shaking head) I was kind of getting excited about possibly take game using the same gear and accesories as they did in the past, maybe I just gonna get me one of dem plastic bolt action bubble packed outfits, it would stay nice and dry if I did not open the package untill the Deer stepped out from behind a tree...well, we gonna give it a whirl by golly one way or da other.

 

[BEP]

I always use some kind of anti-seize compound when installing a vent liner. Doesn't matter if I intend to remove it or not. If removal at some future time requires a gunsmith or machinist and an e-z out I figure that they'll appreciate the anti-sieze stuff. Simple.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I always find it amusing when people are surprised that topics evolve from the original question. "Whoah, there- we didn't ask about THAT!" Not sure the forum forbids topic drift as long as topics and posts don't violate rules.

Rich, you are absolutely right. I do it as much as anyone. But, I'll plead not guilty to being wrong. We are passionate about this strange avocation at several levels. Preserving tradition is probably the biggest factor. The 'family' attitude is huge. I could wax on and on. We all use it, but plastic isn't really a big part of the tradtion. And, I don't even know, or care to know, what Bore Butter is other than a commercial concoction.

 

[leslie]

I agree 100%.But then I too live on the wet side of the mountains.

 

[PreserveFreedom]

Hey I always appreciate knowing what is more authentic. I don't have any hard feelings about a thread drift. Hopefully no enemies have been made here?

If it makes anyone feel better, I was looking at an inline muzzleloader at WalMart a couple weeks ago. My wife works there so I would have gotten an employee discount. I just couldn't do it though. I do love the traditional style and I always will. My wife says that I am an old soul.

 

[tg]

" Hopefully no enemies have been made here?"


I would not think so, most of us have so many now we have no room or time for anymore :idunno:

 

[tg]

"And, I don't even know, or care to know, what Bore Butter is other than a commercial concoction'

I do not recall the exact ingraiants but I alwys thought it waqs just knid of a modern take on a beeswax type lube, I tried it many years gao but just saw no need to buy it when the stuff I made worked ok for patch lube and any light gun oil works for rust protection for me, if I had an iron barrel I would likely do a major over haul of my cleaning preservation methods.Bore Butter seems like a minor issue that while maybe not completely traditional it offers no ADVANTAGE over what was original used and that is the gauge I go by for the most part when comparing the traditional and modern stuff that is out there, you take a modern bullet that is good to 200 yds with a micro click aperture sight vs the original conical and sights and we are in a different league more so if one figures in that the ball was the norm for nearly all the gun types we shoot now..ADVANTAGE that's our word for today children, would you? could you? will you... GO TRADITIONAL!

 

[Stumpkiller]

If you can't allow a friend to have a different opinion about things than yours, you're not much of a friend.

Don't confuse discussion and contrary opinions with anger and argument. However, we ought to hard code "In my limited experience and humble opinion" in front of every post that appears. :haha:

Gosh, tg, you figure when April rains came around in the North East the hunters and soldiers got permission slips not to have to go outside? Or he longhunters who had no "inside" to get inside to for two or three months running except a leaky lean-to or fly?

Show of hands of who has a ball-puller tip and tow worm in their patchbox and a cow's knee in their haversack. :v

 

[tg]

"Gosh, tg, you figure when April rains came around in the North East the hunters and soldiers got permission slips not to have to go outside? Or he longhunters who had no "inside" to get inside to for two or three months running except a leaky lean-to or fly"

I do not have a clue as I am new to this, I would like to see one of these guys removing his liner though while sitting under the tree in a spring thunderstorm but those guys actually hunted with their guns so they probably knew a lot of tricks like that cows knee thing you mentioned, I cannot help but think that if one has mud in the liner it may have been a day better spend getting a note to stay inside, who said anything about looking for friends?...gotta go now and figure out whether that black grainy stuff goes in first or if the piece of cotton cloth does, man this is tough what is that fat round ball good for?

And I thought that anyone could have any opinion they wanted to, be it base on fact or not that is what makes our country so great? a multitude of people with contradicting opinions with nothing factual behind any of them, it's the American way, now we just need Rossane to sing the national Anthemn :v