Well Bob, how did the Brits make there breeches? I am about to start a Hawken styled rifle and will be using a straight tapered 1 1/16" to 1" Don Get barrel in 50 cal. I am in need of a good breech for this barrel. If you can point me in the right direction to find this information it would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Jim Parker
Jim and others
The Brits drilled them across,in one side and out the other.The cross over
was below the center line of the bore and was then drilled for the nipple
seat,usually to the depth needed for full threads for the nipple.This requires a
bottom tap,usually a 1/4x28.A small hole slightly larger than the flash hole in'a nipple
is drilled thru the web of steel below the nipple and into the cross hole.
The cross hole is drilled and tapped for an appropriate thread of 12x24 or 28.
The idea here is to prevent a major pressure build up against the base of the
nipple.On the original British guns the hole on the left side is plugged with the
12xwhatever threaded rod and then upset with a hammer and filed smooth and
frequently engraved.The right side is also threaded 12x whatever that is stopped short
of the nipple seat and a threaded rod is screwed in tight and filed flush.Sometimes
there are platinum discs seated over this plug and called a blowout plug.
The mechanical nature of the whole arrangement defies the "blowout" idea from
the start.
I noticed a screw on the bolsater of the Schalk rifle and it may be cross drilled as well.
A .32 isn't likely to kick up much pressure so it might not have the elaborate nipple seat
Bob Roller
