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White lightning touch hole in a Thompson Center, Hawken

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Dieselmech570

32 Cal
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
18
Reaction score
6
Location
Pa.
Has anyone ever installed a Jim chamber’s white lightning touch hole in a Thompson Center, Hawkins barrel? If so, how hard is it to remove the breech plug? I have heard it can be a real bugger on the Thompson Center, Hawkins?
 
Not really sure of what is to be gained by installing a White Lightning touch hole liner in a T/C flint lock breech. You will still have the long and convoluted flash channel to the main charge.

The T/C breech plugs are notorious for being installed with high torque. They are difficult to remove. There is a breech plug tool that fits the T/C breech plug to use with a large (very large?) crescent wrench to remove the breech plug. However, as @rdane mentioned, the breech plug does not have to be removed to install the liner. The following is a link to a breech plug tool on E-bay: Thompson Center T/C Breech Plug Removal WRENCH BLACK POWDER MUZZLELOADER VINTAGE | eBay

Tell us a bit more about what made you decide to install the White Lightning touch hole liner?
 
Rodger that, I guess you’re right, I didn’t think about that. I don’t have to remove the breech plug to install the liner. I was just thinking about previous builds where I had the bridge plug out to ensure the liner did not protrude into the bore. But I suppose I could do that by trial and error before I cut the insulation stub off, by checking with a ram rod and patch. I am currently rebuilding an old beat up Thompson Center, Hawkins, by that I mean stripping the barrel and Browning, and reshaping the stock slightly and refinishing. Point taken, I will just be careful while installing the liner to ensure it does not protrude into the bore before final assembly. Thank you!
 
The only reason I was considering a white lightning liner was to try to improve ignition. I have used them with great success on other rifles, I just figured I would use one on this Thompson center hawken if possible while I was doing the rebuild on the stock and barrel finish. Maybe I will just try it first the way it is,,, I picked it up from a friend in a trade, and it has been severely neglected in the past.
 
On a TC, the liner will not go into the bore, only in the chamber in the plug. White lightenings require a special tap, and you will need to drill into the chamber.
 
OK, I just took a closer look at it, and I see what you mean. You are correct there is no way the liner could extend into the bore itself. Upon realizing that, I believe I will do the restoration, then test fire with the existing or a replacement Thompson center liner if needed. Thank you for that information, I did not notice the existing seam prior to this inspection.
 
Which TC liner do you have now?
I changed mine over to the 7327 liners with the 1/8" hex in both of my rifles years ago and have no ignition problems provided I take care of the rest. I know some guys don't care for the appearance To each his own. I believe they made a big difference.
Take care,
Ed
 
It does have the liner with the 1/8" hex, Thank you, I will try it first, prior to changing it. The prior owner or someone else has the surface at the entrance of the touchhole buggered up and it just looks bad. I was going to drill, tap, and install a 5/16" white lightning liner. I am now thinking,, I may just try to put it in my milling machine, and dress up the touchhole with a countersink bit? Providing it functions well as is.
 
Now, @Dieselmech570, the plan to dress up the face of the deformed touch hole liner has a lot of merit. To install the White Lightning touch hole liner would have required three taps to make the threads. There is no through hole for the initial tap. A plug tap will have to deepen the threads and maybe a final threading with a bottoming tap will be needed for full engagement of the threads of the new liner. By all means, keep the modification simple.
 
Hey sounds like you have a plan Dieselmech. There should be a chamfer around the hex slightly larger than the broach. Just cleaning that up may help.
Whether you subscribe to the never remove the liner camp or do remove and this is a completely different argument that I don't care to begin, you may consider removing once if you can. Put a light coat of anti-seize or choke tube grease on the threads only. Makes life allot easier somewhere down the road.
Good luck!
 
Thank you all for your responses. I will try dressing up the damaged area and using the existing liner or replace with a new hex style liner with Anti seize. When I get some time,,,,, work keeps getting in the way of my hobbies!
 
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