Installing Touchhole Liner

[dannylj]

I'm ready to install the liner on my fowler. The liner I have is parallel sided with no tapered shoulder. Am I thinking correct that the best way to install it is drill the hole and when I tap it not to tap all the way thru but leave a slight taper at the bottom of the hole to allow a tight fit then file smooth. In the past I have had liners with a shoulder that you could counter sink to have a stop to tighten against.  Danny

[chubby]

Hello Danny,  the way i do mine without a shoulder is to drill the hole, say 1/4 x 28, start with a lead tap for a few threads and then use a bottom tap a few turns at a time checking with the liner. because they all differ a little in length.  I hope this may help!  Chubby

[J. Talbert]

Are you sold on this liner?

Why not use one with a shoulder, such as the White Lightning?
They seem much more secure to me...

Jeff

[dannylj]

Thanks for the replies. I was trying to use what I had on hand. I have used the method I described before with no problems. Just wondered if there was anything inherently dangerous about it.  Danny

[wet willy]

I'd do as you thought, D&T, but use a bottoming tap near the bore. Sometimes, despite best efforts, you end up tapping into the breech plug  .... which is OK if not for more than perhaps 0.10" .... and then you will need to use a tapered tap.

Chamfer the hole on the barrel outside before installing the liner. I use a hand-held 82 degree chamfer tool, and cut-n-try to assure the liner is a clean fit. Small gaps around the liner will likely disappear when you file the liner flush.

I like the "white lightning" style rather than the screw-in version as it can be twisted tight with a tool, then remove the sacrificial end piece.

[flehto]

My squirrel rifle built in 1978 has a shoulderless liner and I drilled a slightly undersized hole first and then went in w/ the tap drill and left a shoulder in the hole. Then used a shortened lead tap and finally a bottoming tap.  This has worked well even w/ liner removal at every cleaning.....Fred