Vent hole placement question

[bones92]

I have a Rifle Shoppe Brown Bess that I am looking to get into shooting shape (having never been completed and sitting around the past 10+ years). 

The last major item is drilling the vent hole.  The gentleman at the Rifle Shoppe advised a 3/32" hole, to be centered on a line running between the top edges of the pan where it contacts the barrel.

Does this sound correct?

Also, can I just use a normal drill bit intended for metal?

[FlintFan]

Yes, the location is correct.  The only thing I might take a small exception to is the size of the vent hole.  I would rather start with 5/64 (.078) on a musket.  If you find you need to, you can always enlarge it to 3/32 (.093) later on. Better to start too small, than too large.

[EC121]

Check to see where the face of the breech plug is located and mark it on the barrel.  Check for clearance.  Then do what he said.  I use an Exacto knife and hold it flat on the pan and scratch a horizontal line across the barrel.  Then make a vertical line across the horizontal line to mark where you want the spot. 

[jerrywh]

I prefer a .072 to .078  touch hole on all the flintlocks I build. Recent intense tests have proved it makes little difference at what level thew touch hole is in the pan. In fact touch holes located in the bottom of the pan have tested faster than those in the top.  However I still like mine in the top.

[Daryl]

I take it this gun will not have a vent liner, thus the recommendation on larger vent hole.

[John Shaw]

Should a gun without a liner be coned on the outside and if so how deep?

[flinchrocket]

I wouldn't cone the outside. It will probably enlarge itself pretty fast.

[little joe]

John Shaw  I have coned the outside and its a try and see. I have had it not work very good and also excellent.

[satwel]

When I built the TOTW 1742 Long Land Pattern kit, I drilled a 5/64" vent. Start there, shoot it, and see if you get miss fires. As stated previously, you can always go up a size up if you have to. I do get an occasional flash-in-the-pan with the 5/64 vent. I'm going to shoot mine some more and see if the vent enlarges itself before I go up a size.

[bones92]

I had not really considered a vent liner, given that it is a Brown Bess.  But for longevity (I hope my son owns and shoots this his whole life) would a vent liner be wise? 

I guess the real question is... would it be considered poor taste to have a liner installed on a Brown Bess (considering the living-history perspective)?

[Mike Brooks]

I'd put a vent liner in it. I make sure the hole sits right on top of the horizon these days. That way the hole is never blocked by the powder in the pan. Especially important in a hunting gun.....but what do I know....

[redheart]

Isn't there a tool to cone it from the inside?

[Daryl]

Yes.  Perhaps the search engine will find it here at ALR.  Wasn't AcerSacarum selling them?

[BOB HILL]

Tom Snyder did make a tool for cone the vent from the inside.
Bob

[James Wilson Everett]

Guys,

A simple vent hole coning tool for the interior:
https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=61857.msg620210#msg620210

Jim

[Monty59]

Hello, I use the coning tool from Thomas Snyder and it works well I coned a vent hole for a friend's barrel here some pic's

Monty