Touch Hole Diameter

[Jerry]

This must have been discussed before, but I would like to know favorite touch hole diameters in a S.S. liner? Thanks, Jerry

[rfd]

some folks try to get by with the stock .045" to .055" liner hole, i almost always find that too small for a .40 or larger bore.  my starting standard is .062" - i rarely need to go larger unless the lock/barrel dictates otherwise.

[elkhorne]

Jim Chambers once advised me to enlarge it to 1/16” for best and fastest ignition. If he is on and reading this, he perhaps can elaborate on the reasons for this. I just took his word from his experience.
elkhorne

[stubshaft]

1/16" for me too.

[jerrywh]

 I prefer .078"

[hanshi]

All of mine are 1/16".

[Daryl]

I like 1/16" to start.  It won't be too many years before it's at .070" depending on how much it'/s shot.  At about .80", it's time to replace it with a new one, bored to 1/16".
I used to wear out a nipple per summer. Vents seem to take a couple years, depending on the amount of shooting, of course.

[J.E. Moore]

I never did enlarge the white lighting liner I put in my rifle, I've shot it over 50 times so far and it's went off ever time. I do gently pick it on every shot with a brass pick I've made. I expected to have to enlarge it but wanted to try it to make sure before I drilled it and glad I did.

[WKevinD]

I use a #49 bit.

Kevin

[Phil Neal]

1/16 for me.

[Darkhorse]

I start at 1/16th. Then start shooting the gun. If ignition is inconsistent or slow then  using number drills I drill it one number drill larger and shoot some more. It  usually only takes one or two drill sizes to get the ignition I want.

[Acer Saccharum]

I use .078". Even at this diameter, not much 2F goes out the hole.

If I were going to use 3F, I'd leave it as supplied, and open it up only if you don't get good ignition.

[David Price]

I used to tell my gun building students keep opening up the touch hole until it blows the hat of the competitor shooting next to you,  and then go back one drill size !!!  Just  joking  of course.

I have always thought the thicker the barrel wall is the larger the hole needs to be.  Unless you are using a touch hole liner.
I try to keep the hole as small as possible as long as there is instant ignition and no hang fires.  If there is,  open it up one drill size at a time.

On my hunting rifle I like to look in the hole and see the powder.

David Price

[rfd]

a touch hole liner do allow hole size experimentation, and if ya go a size too large the fix isn't all that costly of money and time, even with a chambers white lightning.  y'all are using a CWL, right?     

[Jim Chambers]

We make the initial hole in our White Lightnin liner .052.  Serious target shooters tell me this works fine for them.  They say that once the hole enlarges beyond .062 they start to loose just a little bit of accuracy, and they change the liner at that point.  Personally, I am more interested in getting 100% ignition rather than pinpoint accuracy.  At .052 I sometimes get a misfire.  At .062 is get the 100% ignition I want.  When that big buck walks within range I don't care if I miss my aiming point by an eighth of an inch.  I'm more interested in making sure the rifle fires when I pull the trigger.

[rfd]

i see basically three kinds of flintlock long gun shooters - (1) those who strive for cartridge rifle accuracy, (2) those who strive for perfect ignition at every trigger pull, and (3) those that want either one or the other, or maybe both.  back in the day, i think the weight ot those times made everyone wanna seek door number 2. 

[Dave Marsh]

100% agree with what Jim said.  I use only guns with Chambers locks and liners.  At .062 they go off 100% of the time.  In fact when I shoot mine with my hunting partner who does not want anything to do with a flint or caplock based on bad experiences 20+ years ago I am getting close to getting him to try a flinter again.  He is stubborn but I keep surprising him with my flintlocks.  Thanks Jim.   

Dave