Thoughts on bore diameter in flash liners?

[Silvertip8k]

Any thoughts on pros and cons of diameter of holes in flash hole liners...say .0060" vs .0080"

I have the horizon line perfect on a new flinter...just know theres folks out there with more knowledge...thanks

 

[Flintandsteel]

The smaller the bore size, the smaller the touch hole....IDEALLY. Doesn’t always work that way. It also,depends on what you’re using it for.
if you’re shooting for X’s, the very smallest hole will net the most consistent results. (Less variation, shot to shot).
If you’re hunting, you want totally reliable ignition, so a little bigger might be better.
The hole is only going to get bigger with use.
I start with 1/16” .0625. Most times that’s reliable, it can be opened up a bit if needed.
Obviously the variables are more critical with smaller bores.

 

[Griz44Mag]

After installing a new liner I check that it is a minimum of 1/16"
If it isn't reliable - I open it up a bit until it is....

 

[Silvertip8k]

Copy that...it is 60 thou now...using 3f for primer its good...but have had a few misfires...no 4f for sale at the moment...I will try running a 3/32" bit through it...

I did try making some primer powder myself ...a small amount of 3f ground with a small piece of wood on a 3x5 card...its worked real good...

 

[Silvertip8k]

Thanks

 

[Sidney Smith]

I always open up a liner ro 1/16th inch. I found that size to be very reliable, and its going to get larger with use. Id rather not start out with a flashole bigger than tnat though.

 

[Grenadier1758]

3/32 nds is too big. There's a number drill, #51 IIRC that is 0.700. I would not recommend a touch hole larger than 5/64.

 

[hanshi]

Every liner I've had on a flintlock came with a miniscule "pin hole" and didn't give the best reliability. I started opening the hole up and when I got to 1/16" reliability was near perfect. That's the only size I use.

 

[Flintandsteel]

3/32 is definitely too big. The 51 is about as far as I would go.
A large bore could handle a few thousandths more.

 

[Grenadier1758]

3/32 nds is too big. There's a number drill, #51 IIRC that is 0.700. I would not recommend a touch hole larger than 5/64.

Ack! Ack! Ack! I got twisted around with my decimal points and leading zeroes. The #51 drill should be 0.067". The number 50 is 0.070". Just looked the drill sizes up. Please accept my apologies.

 

[Art Caputo]

Of my ten flintlocks I have flash holes that range from.048’-.078”. I have not been able to establish a definitive relationship between bore diameter and flash hole size. As others have mentioned, with one exception, !/16”(.0625”) is my starting point with half my flintlocks using this size. If ignition is not to my liking, I will test upwards with a #51, #52, and a 5/64” drill bit(the largest). Amazingly, my flintlock with the fastest, most consistent, and reliable ignition(on par with any percussion I have used), has a .048” hole in the White Lightning on my W. Braaten/Late Lancaster 50 caliber!! While tempted, I am loath to open it up, even though the small size is counterintuitive to all my experiences. It appears to be the original size of the guide hole, apparent when the White Lightning liner is filed to the barrel flat. Perhaps there is a reason!? At the other end of the spectrum my largest is a 5/64” in my 62 cal Fowler with a White Lightning liner which gives very fast ignition.

 

[Larry Akers]

I am not saying anyone is wrong, this is my personal opinion backed by over 50 years of experience. If a person is having trouble getting their flintlock to fire, assuming it is not a sparking problem, the problem is not the size of the hole in the liner but the length of the flash channel in the liner. Except for the Chambers White Lightening I have not seen a commercially made liner that was made what I consider correct. That is an interior cone shape with the tip of the cone within .030" of the outside surface. Ideal would be a knife-edge channel but that is impractical because it would burn out too fast. I consider a 1/16" diameter touch hole to be too big which is why I started making my own liners ( they look like Chambers' liner) over 45 years ago. When my liner burns out to .062 I'm ready to change it. My liners have .057-.058 holes (I bought reamers to get those sizes) and if my priming powder ignites, the gun goes BANG--every time. When I load I have powder grains in the touch hole at the outside surface. I believe a small touch hole diameter increases ignition speed and projectile velocity because more pressure and fire are contained in the barrel where it can do work--ignite more powder and move the ball.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

Try that for size..

 

[Griz44Mag]

Try that for size..View attachment 73595View attachment 73595

Interesting frizzen. It looks like it has half moon projections that blocks off the flash hole and the opposite end of the pan when it is closed.
The pan has nothing to keep the powder from draining out of the pan unless the gun is held perfectly level.

 

[GREENSWLDE]

The Half moon on the inner end has a hole to match the touch hole for self priming with the pan cover closed. When the pan opens there is a small gap left in the powder train to the touch hole.
It was a system developed by John Manton to increase ignition speed and IT WORKS.The lock time has been mistaken for a cap gun in the past. The Stainless Steel vent liner has a .075" touch hole backed off on the inside to 3/16".. OLD DOG..

 

[Robby]

I use white lightning liners and use them as they come with no problems. They even go off without primer most times.
Robby

 

[oldwood]

In late 1970's and through the 80'S , Used to shoot competition w/ .50 X 44" T and F Getz barrelled long rifle. Barrel had a touch hole liner in it . Opened the hole to 1/16 for better ignition. After several hundred rounds , the hole became slightly enlarged. The accuracy was effected , so instead of changing my load , 80 gr. fffg w/ .490 ball , changed the touch hole liner , drilled back out to 1/16 th , and accuracy restored. Touch holes are very important in maintaining performance..........oldwood

 

[Col. Batguano]

Geez Greenswlde! That's HUGE! Do you ever have problems with bats going in there and nesting?

 

[nkbj]

I use a slender rat tail file so diameter has little meaning.

 

[YJake]

1/16 has been perfectly reliable in the flintlocks I’ve assembled.

-Jake