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Post by Fink7695 on Oct 18, 2023 18:37:03 GMT -5
I have a TC encore conversion with an MGM barrel built by my local gunsmith who does smokeless builds. He installed a Hankins HIS breech plug a few years ago that uses the 45/70 size modules on my gun. While shooting recently I noticed the nipple that goes into the breech plug is fouled with black soot after shooting, honestly not sure when this started. Is this normal? I know the plugs are advertised with zero leakage so I was unsure. Currently shooting 63 grains of H4198 with a 275 Parker BE. Thanks
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Post by dennis on Oct 19, 2023 5:55:41 GMT -5
Head space problem? nipple of module not fully inserted in the breech plug?
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Post by smokelessk on Oct 19, 2023 7:23:42 GMT -5
I have a TC encore conversion with an MGM barrel built by my local gunsmith who does smokeless builds. He installed a Hankins HIS breech plug a few years ago that uses the 45/70 size modules on my gun. While shooting recently I noticed the nipple that goes into the breech plug is fouled with black soot after shooting, honestly not sure when this started. Is this normal? I know the plugs are advertised with zero leakage so I was unsure. Currently shooting 63 grains of H4198 with a 275 Parker BE. Thanks The spot you're talking about. It's on the outside of the nipple? Is it like residual soot or like a clear linear burst of soot? Some soot is completely normal. When firing the nipple expands within the plug to seal the breach just like a cartridge case does in a pistol or rifle. This is also why Hank uses a small nipple as opposed to something larger. The small nipple expands to create the seal a lot faster than a larger "chamber" would. This is one of the reasons the "cut off" rifle case breech plug design of the past was not successful. When the pressure is released after the bullet exits the barrel the nipple (or case) contracts to (or close to) it's original size. When this happens there is still lingering carbon and residue from the shot being fired. This is not a leak, it is just how the physics work. It is completely normal for a bit of this reside to be found on the outside of the nipple. I primed up 30 of my modules just last night in preparation for this year's season. They were all noticably "dirty" on the outside. Not leaking dirty, but enough carbon to get my fingers dirty. Totally normal. Some choose to clean their modules, I have never cleaned mine. An actual leak is pretty easy to identify. High pressure hot gasses escaping leave a very clear pressurized line of residue and often cuts whatever metal surface it is escaping through. I had a bad batch of primers that would occasionally rupture near the corner of the cup. Those modules still have gas cut marks and carbon streaks from where the primer failed. (Not normal, and it was proven to be a defective batch of primers.) |
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Post by jeffgra on Oct 19, 2023 9:42:44 GMT -5
I have a TC encore conversion with an MGM barrel built by my local gunsmith who does smokeless builds. He installed a Hankins HIS breech plug a few years ago that uses the 45/70 size modules on my gun. While shooting recently I noticed the nipple that goes into the breech plug is fouled with black soot after shooting, honestly not sure when this started. Is this normal? I know the plugs are advertised with zero leakage so I was unsure. Currently shooting 63 grains of H4198 with a 275 Parker BE. Thanks The spot you're talking about. It's on the outside of the nipple? Is it like residual soot or like a clear linear burst of soot? Some soot is completely normal. When firing the nipple expands within the plug to seal the breach just like a cartridge case does in a pistol or rifle. This is also why Hank uses a small nipple as opposed to something larger. The small nipple expands to create the seal a lot faster than a larger "chamber" would. This is one of the reasons the "cut off" rifle case breech plug design of the past was not successful. When the pressure is released after the bullet exits the barrel the nipple (or case) contracts to (or close to) it's original size. When this happens there is still lingering carbon and residue from the shot being fired. This is not a leak, it is just how the physics work. It is completely normal for a bit of this reside to be found on the outside of the nipple. I primed up 30 of my modules just last night in preparation for this year's season. They were all noticably "dirty" on the outside. Not leaking dirty, but enough carbon to get my fingers dirty. Totally normal. Some choose to clean their modules, I have never cleaned mine. An actual leak is pretty easy to identify. High pressure hot gasses escaping leave a very clear pressurized line of residue and often cuts whatever metal surface it is escaping through. I had a bad batch of primers that would occasionally rupture near the corner of the cup. Those modules still have gas cut marks and carbon streaks from where the primer failed. (Not normal, and it was proven to be a defective batch of primers.) |
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Post by jeffgra on Oct 19, 2023 10:11:26 GMT -5
Hey smokelessk, do you have any pictures you can post? It would be nice to see the difference between normal and a leaking modules.
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Post by smokelessk on Oct 19, 2023 12:02:08 GMT -5
Hey smokelessk, do you have any pictures you can post? It would be nice to see the difference between normal and a leaking modules.  The 4 modules laying on their side had primers that failed. Note the carbon on the face of the module. The far left one the carbon is gone now but the cut in the primer pocket is really easy to see. All the other modules in the picture are just dirty from normal usage. They are not leaking whatsoever. This system doesn't leak.  It would be nice if I had a brand new module for a photo comparison, but all mine are used. |
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Post by smokelessk on Oct 19, 2023 12:09:32 GMT -5
Here is a picture of a leaky breech plug. A factory Savage plug. Note the evidence of hot gas and carbon streaking along the side of the plug? That's a gas leak for sure. A very common issue with this style plug. Closer examination and you would be able to see the cut marks in the metal from the gas escaping. It looks exactly like you used a miniature cutting torch and cut the metal.  |
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Post by jeffgra on Oct 19, 2023 12:12:38 GMT -5
Thank you Sir!!
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