Ignition systems (Flint to Precussion to Flint)

[LURCHWV@BJS]

    I've seen where some shooters have a system on there rifles where they can switch from  Flint to Precussion back to Flint.  My question is only when planning to build one do you choose a touchhole liner that has the same threads as a drum, or is there another system I need to look for?



    For some reason I can't send an e-mail to Jim Chambers.  I have fallen in love with his Early Germanic Lock.  Does he make a Precussion version of it?  I'm still not real big on Flintlocks, But I am entertaining the notion that the reason I had so much trouble with it was the low Quality of the lock.



              Thanx Rich

[Don Getz]

Lurch.....If I were you I would build a gun with one type of ignition....flint or percussion, personally I would make it a flintlock.   You can find a touchhole liner and a drum that have the same threads and would be interchangeable, but, over
a period of time, if you change them very often, the threads will start to become  worn and could cause trouble.  If you
would build a new gun with a good fliint lock, which apparently you have not experienced yet, you would be amazed at
how well they work.   You would also find that they are actually easier to maintain, and, you would remain in the good
graces of most of the guys on this forum......just joking............Don

[Stonewall Creek]

if you want to build a convertable rifle get the match locks and build it in percussion first then fit your flintlock in sometimes you have to file some metal on the lock so that both fits the mortis i have made few of these and i made one for my 6 year with the L&R manton works great i would suggest 5/16x24 thread this gives you safe on the drum size and great flintlock ignition i sell these match drum and touchhole let me know if i can help you.

[Roger Fisher]

Okay Rich I'll relate one of my mistakes!   Yrs ago I decided on a secret weapon to take in to the shoots to win the flint agg then convert to a sissy gun lock and win the Percussion Agg,,,,   As they say best laid plans.....

In any case it got to be a royal pain to nutz around pulling the flintlock, cranking out the liner (wrapped with teflon plumbers tape) turning in the drum to it's indexed mark then installing the matching sissy lock.  Actually only took/takes 5 minutes or so; but I decided that if I wanted to shoot flint I would take a flint rifle.

Changing from one to the other did give me a different point of impact.

You may want to ponder your plans a bit more!  Just a thought!  So I have an extra drilled and tapped flintlock in a drawer someplace......

[t.caster]

PLEASE DON'T DO IT! I agree with Don & Roger. I have also done this with poor results. They will shoot to different points of aim, so you either futz with your sights and powder charge all the time or you learn to hold over an imaginary point on your target. YUK!
Your drum will eventually tighten (rotate) in too far so the nipple don't line up with the hammer, so you back it up to align. Then it is loose, so it won't stay where you want it! And it JUST AINT SAFE!!!
Two different, dedicated rifles is the only way to go if must have a capper.

[LURCHWV@BJS]

Thank you Gentleman,
   
I've never heared anyone refer to percussion guns as sissy guns.   I'm not offended  just never heard it.  I did however think about what you were saying as I was reading it.  The thought of the MANY times I've had trouble with the precussion after cleaning, especially the one with the hawken style breechplug.  The low quality lock I was using on the Flintlock I had although It rarely fired, I never had that much trouble with it after cleaning.


                             Rich
   

[stuart cee dub]

I was at a match some years ago( not more than 8 or 9 ) in northern Mn where one of the competitors had a gun with a percussion lock on one side and a flint on the other so he could shoot one gun in either kind of match .
While not mainstream traditonal it did work and the guy was a pretty good shot too.I can't recall if it was a single or double trigger gun .I think of this gun every time this question come up.
Sorry I did not look at it more closely as now I would know what kind of questions to ask as to how certain technical problems were overcome .

[Roger Fisher]

Thank you Gentleman,
   
I've never heared anyone refer to percussion guns as sissy guns.   I'm not offended  just never heard it.  I did however think about what you were saying as I was reading it.  The thought of the MANY times I've had trouble with the precussion after cleaning, especially the one with the hawken style breechplug.  The low quality lock I was using on the Flintlock I had although It rarely fired, I never had that much trouble with it after cleaning.


                             Rich
   

Sissy guns - that's just a local description!   $#*! I shoot one or more most the time.  I can handle the digs and jabs no sweat. 

[smallpatch]

The only way I've ever been able to make it work right, is two locks, two barrels.  One percussion barrel and lock, one flint barrel and lock.  The only issue then is just changing them out.

[bs2]

The only way I've ever been able to make it work right, is two locks, two barrels.  One percussion barrel and lock, one flint barrel and lock.  The only issue then is just changing them out.

Then get a second stock, a few more parts, and make the second rifle!

I have thought of doing this also, [wishful thinking] ................each time I end up with two separate guns. 

[Pete G.]

Having a gun that can use either ignition system sounds like a good idea at the time, but it is one of those things that just doesn't seem to work out very well when you actually try it. What you usually end up doing is finding a preference for one or the other, and then you have a lock that you don't use. You can rationalize that you now have a lock to build another rifle around, but it is a lock that you don't really prefer, and so it never happens.
To each his own, but personally I got a good flint lock, and so really don't have much interest in the cap guns any more. I even went so far as to convert my old cap rifle to flint. I would either pick one and go with it or build two different rifles.

[wvmtnman]

I would be afraid of the vent/drum threads getting worn over time.  A friend of a friend had the threads of a drum wear out.  He thought the drum was supposed to be removed each time the rifle was clean.  One day my friend noticed powder burn marks out from the drum.  Sure enough a gas was leaking out through the worn threads.  The drum could be screwed into position by just a twist of a finger. If you really wanted one gun to do it all, I would use to barrels.  However, with a few more dollars you could have another gun
                                                                   Brian

[Dphariss]

    I've seen where some shooters have a system on there rifles where they can switch from  Flint to Precussion back to Flint.  My question is only when planning to build one do you choose a touchhole liner that has the same threads as a drum, or is there another system I need to look for?



    For some reason I can't send an e-mail to Jim Chambers.  I have fallen in love with his Early Germanic Lock.  Does he make a Precussion version of it?  I'm still not real big on Flintlocks, But I am entertaining the notion that the reason I had so much trouble with it was the low Quality of the lock.



              Thanx Rich

If you want a percussion build a good dedicated percussion gun.
If you want a flint build a good flint gun.
If you skimp on parts, don't assemble them right etc you will have problems.
I am no fan of having removable vent liners.
Dan

[LURCHWV@BJS]

Thanx

    I am definately not going with an interchangable system now.  I will build a Flinter,  If I still don't like it after sometime and earnest effort it can always be convented.

   Thank you all,  your opinions mean a great deal to me.


                               Rich