Touchhole or Lock

[LURCHWV@BJS]

  After getting the barrel inlett to the stock, should I drill the touchhole(liner) then line th lock up to it, or do the lock then drill for the liner?


                                                        Rich

[Jim Kibler]

Inlet the lock and then drill for the liner.  Make sure the lock is positioned  such that the touch hole ends up where you want it.

[Roger Fisher]

Center punch (slightly) a mark where the center of the vent should fall.  This is a good 'milemarker' as you slowly inlet said lock.

[LURCHWV@BJS]

I kinda figured that ,but I'd rather ask then screw up.

             Thanx Rich

[Acer Saccharum]

I always plan where the touch hole will be, so I can place my lock.

I don't put the liner in until last, so I won't be tempted to fire the gun while it's still in the white.

[Bentflint]

Don't like shooting square guns Tom?

Bruce Everhart

[The other DWS]

related touchhole placement question.  
When using a touchhole liner,  how do you plan the touch hole in relation to the face of the breechplug--assuming you'll be drilling and threading a larger hole centered on the actual touch-hole's location?

EDIT: edit:
I just did a search for past threads on touchhole/liner placement.   did the breech-plug/touchhole configuration tests get completed and published?
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=2994.45

[Telgan]

Center of the touch hole should be approx . half the the diameter of the touch hole liner - forward of the face of the breach plug. This will keep the liner threads from interfering from the breach plug threads.

[Birddog6]

After getting the barrel inlett to the stock, should I drill the touchhole(liner) then line th lock up to it, or do the lock then drill for the liner?


                                                        Rich

Depends on what you are building.   If it is from a Blank, you do the barrel first, then the lock, then the vent hole.

If it is a Precarve with a Lock Inlet, you do the Lock First, then inlet the barrel, then the vent liner.

Keith

[FALout]

Keith mentions a fine point about precarves, once that lock is dictated by the inletting, moving the barrel is your only option.  I use blue layout fluid on the barrel so I can mark where I'd like the liner to center, then you just have to drill sraight.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

related touchhole placement question.   
When using a touchhole liner,  how do you plan the touch hole in relation to the face of the breechplug--assuming you'll be drilling and threading a larger hole centered on the actual touch-hole's location?

EDIT:
I just did a search for past threads on touchhole/liner placement.   did the touchhole tests get completed and published?
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=2994.45

Here is larry Pletcher's site.  Science, not myths.... Good stuff!!  And yes you will find his touch hole experiments and expertise on locks helpful. 

http://www.blackpowdermag.com/

[Long John]

Rich,

I build all my guns from a blank.  After cutting out the stock profile I let in the barrel first.  I then centerpunch where the vent should go.  Then I install the barrel in the blank and inlet the flash pan of the lock so it lines up perfectly with the vent centerpunch hole.  (I use the Chambers locks with detachable flash pans.)  Then I reattach the lock plate to the flash pan and use the pan mortice to line up the lock plate for inletting.

Best Regards,

JMC