This is an idea I first heard about from Lee 9 and Sabotloader here at Modern Muzzleloader. It involves modifying an Omega breech plug to take a Savage ML vent liner. A vent liner is like a removable, separate flash hole--you can replace the vent liner when your flash hole wears open too much after a couple hundred shots, and you do not have to replace the whole breech plug. Vent liners cost about $3 each from Savage. New breech plugs cost over 5 times that.
And--what I like most--with the removable vent liner, it is easy to clean up the carbon that builds up in the BP when shooting Blackhorn209 and 209 primers.
I'll try and post the pics with a comment about what I am trying to show--the pics are not the best, but I hope they are clear enough.
Like I said, this all started, for me anyway, with info from Lee 9 and Sabotloader--thanks a lot--I think your idea is brilliant.
This is, from left to right, a factory Omega BP, my modified Omega BP--it's been countersunk to match the vent liner, drilled through with a #21 drill bit, and tapped for 10-32 to accept the vent liner--and the Savage vent liner is on the right. The Savage Vent Liner is basically an allen head screw with a flash hole drilled through it--the flash hole is about .031" I believe.
Here is my Omega w/ the modified breech plug after 23 shots of 100 to 110 grns. of BH209 and Win 209 primers. Notice how little dirt and blowback there is. There is just a little carbon building up in the "flash channel" under where the primer goes.
This is the breech plug face (powder side) after 23 shots of BH209
Here is my breech plug with the vent liner removed showing how I can drill the carbon out all the way through with a 5/32" bit. The 5/32" bit does not damage the 10-32 threads if you are careful and keep the drill straight.
Here's my modified BP all cleaned up without the vent liner in it. And the last pic is the vent liner installed and the BP ready to go back in the rifle.
And--what I like most--with the removable vent liner, it is easy to clean up the carbon that builds up in the BP when shooting Blackhorn209 and 209 primers.
I'll try and post the pics with a comment about what I am trying to show--the pics are not the best, but I hope they are clear enough.
Like I said, this all started, for me anyway, with info from Lee 9 and Sabotloader--thanks a lot--I think your idea is brilliant.
This is, from left to right, a factory Omega BP, my modified Omega BP--it's been countersunk to match the vent liner, drilled through with a #21 drill bit, and tapped for 10-32 to accept the vent liner--and the Savage vent liner is on the right. The Savage Vent Liner is basically an allen head screw with a flash hole drilled through it--the flash hole is about .031" I believe.
Here is my Omega w/ the modified breech plug after 23 shots of 100 to 110 grns. of BH209 and Win 209 primers. Notice how little dirt and blowback there is. There is just a little carbon building up in the "flash channel" under where the primer goes.
This is the breech plug face (powder side) after 23 shots of BH209
Here is my breech plug with the vent liner removed showing how I can drill the carbon out all the way through with a 5/32" bit. The 5/32" bit does not damage the 10-32 threads if you are careful and keep the drill straight.
Here's my modified BP all cleaned up without the vent liner in it. And the last pic is the vent liner installed and the BP ready to go back in the rifle.