I feel bad about not having written something sooner, now that I've heard some of your comments and concerns. It seems that some of the newer muzzleloading shooters / hunters were having problems with hang-fires and thought it was something they were doing wrong. Not so.
Over the past few years, the industry decided we needed breech plugs that we can remove with our fingers. I'm not sure why, removing the dang breech plug with a wrench was never a problem for me, it took a few seconds but I can't ever remember breaking a sweat over having to do it that way.
So why did we need our breech plug out quicker?
Is it because they think we love cleaning a dirty breech plug so much that we wanted to hurry up and get it out so we can get started on that chore? Do they think we just can't wait? Who has been calling the rifle manufacturers and telling them we wanted to get our breech plugs out faster? Who told them we wanted a break from having to use a dang socket wrench anyway? Which one of you was it?
Whatever the reason, and no matter who ratted us lazy muzzleloaders out to the manufacturers, the new QRBP is here and they are not going away.
The problem is that all of them, no matter the manufacturer, have caused a whole new problem for us to deal with (now that we have gotten rid of that pesky wrench). The new problem being that we need a much better maintenance program and a much more detailed cleaning regiment...much better, more detailed and more often.
As I see it, there are 6 breech plug features that have an effect on ignition and accuracy:
1. The Primer Pocket
2. The Fire Channel - that hole between the primer pocket and flash hole.
3. The Transition Area - the area that connects the fire channel to the flash hole.
4. The Flash Hole
5. The Face of the Breech Plug
6. The length - and this is what has been the driving force in causing us to have to pay more attention to the other five features.
Now that is really a lot of stuff to have to pay attention too!
It's also a lot to write about, especially in one blog post, so this is what I've decided to do. I'm going to spread it out over my next several posts to keep this one from running too long.
So watch the MAX Blog as I cover each feature individually, starting at the bottom of the list with #6: The Length. Length is not all bad if a company has done all their homework.
Till my next article, take a look at the breech plugs below and compare them to yours.
Also, I encourage all of you to visit Blackhorn 209's website and take a look at the work they've done and the information they are sharing concerning ignition guidelines, like how to deal with breech plug problems and how to get them to work correctly and accurately. Then before you leave their site, join the Blackhorn Team; I don't think you'll be dissapointed.
And while you're surfing the internet, go to CVA's website and look at what they've done to correct or help you with their breech plug ignition problems....oh, what's that you say? You can't find any link on their page to help with QRBP ignition problems? Hmmm.
After checking out each site, decide for yourself which company seems to have your best interest, your accuracy and your shooting & hunting successfulness, at heart.
And just for a little comparison, here is a picture of CVA's QRBP along side the new breech plug designed by Blackhorn.
One more thing - Traditions is a company that very little has been said about in all this. I, for one, have no experience with their rifles, but I'm ordering a Vortex tomorrow! I've had my eye on one for quite a while now, it's a perfect timed to take action on my desires. And Blackhorn has never mentioned any problems with Traditions breech plugs to me, so maybe it's time for us to have a look at another mid-priced In-line.
If you are shooting Traditions rifles I'd be very interested in hearing your comments below, what's been your experience?
Not trying to be a PIA but I think you got the breech plugs backwards it's CVA on right Blackhorn on left. Is there a way to get Blackhorns design?
ReplyDeleteWally
It wasn't me who asked every ML rifle maker for quick-removal plugs, I swear! Even when using pre-BH209 BP subs, I've always preferred breech plugs with full-circumference threading. Not just so the spark doesn't have to jump far to the powder, but also for strength and gas containment. Gotta maintain respect for the genie in the bottle, folks - however contained and controlled it may be, it's still a powerful explosion occuring within 6" of my face. Longer plug also means less rifled barrel segment for same length of barrel, all else equal, and if I can buy another inch of rifling (hence another few fps, and maybe a little tighter group downrange) without carrying another inch of rifle overall length, that strikes me as the better deal.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous #1 - you are so right, that's what I get for letting my wife type up the blog for me! Thanks for pointing it out, I got her to change it!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous #2 - I'm with you all the way! The new longer breech plugs were not worth the trade-off for me either! All of your comments and concerns are true. The one thing you did point out that others sometimes overlook, you are missing some rifling that matters. Glad to hear you aren't the rat fink! We are still looking for the dirty rat, but I don't think it's going to be a consumer....
ReplyDeleteEven the V1 plugs have hang fire issues with BH209 so its not just the QRBP. A very simple fix though no matter what plug you have.
ReplyDeleteYou can get the stock CVA QRBP to work just fine with BH209 by adjusting the firing pin so you get consistant pressures through the breechplug flash channel. If your CCI 209m's are filthy then you're getting too much blowback and losing some of the primers full force to ignite the BH209. Try taking the gun apart and unscrewing the firing pin and then removing the little rubber o-ring. Go to the hardware and take the stock o-ring and match it up with a slightly thicker o-ring to replace the stock one. Your primers will be clean now and you will get complete primer fire through the breechplug now and no more hangfires. If I could find out how to post a pic on here I would show the pics I have of what I did.
ReplyDeleteyep sealing up all that gas is whats important. A larger flash channel keeps things flowing good as well. I like a flash channel in the .032 to .035 range.
ReplyDeleteoops that should be Flash HOLE in .032 - .035
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that keeping the breech plug clean(wiping of the plug face every second shot)significantly affects accuracy in my Traditions Buckstalker. I am using Black Horn 209 so it is not a big chore but it does make a difference in 100 yard shot grouping.
ReplyDelete