Best and longest lasting vent liners

[deadon]

I did a search and . Maybe its best to ask this question again,as newer and better are made everyday. Which vent liners last the longest, How much do they cost{work is very slow} and where do I get one? Thank, Rusty

[onecardchuck]

Lehigh,

By far the best I have used and many others.

Here is a link for you,

lehighbullets.com/products.asp?cat=25

[olegburn]

One of our members sent me a few of his homemade VL's.
I have 100 give or take shots on one and it is still holds up.
It started with .031" opening and still not over .033".
About 40 of these shots were on hot side ( 68-70 gr of H4198 under 300gr.bullets).
VL were made of HoloChrome screws IIRC.
Factory VL's go to trash at around 50 shots.
If that helps.
olegburn

[Richard]

Olegburn..........I make mine from Holokrom also and drill with a .031 bit. By 40 shots they are at .036". I just replace them about every range session that puts 25 or more shots on them. At the price it cost to buy/make them (about the price of a .40 cal SST bullet) its the cheapest part of my range day.
Richard

[bigmoose]

Richard,

Have you ever tried VL's that start at .27 & .28. Maybe I'm a nut job, but once the VL gets over .31, I throw them out. I also prefer VL's to harden plugs, Rick made me three hex VL breech plugs, for my .45.
They have to last me forever
I asked the gent from Lehigh, if he would consider making .28 VL, but with the success you folks are having with the one he's making, it would make no sense to make the smaller ones.
Very nice 300 yard shooting, I'm happy I don't have a 300 yard range, just think how red my face would be if I couldn't hit the frame at that yardage.
I did shoot the 400grs Buster bullets 8 shoots and I quit, The next time I will use the lead sled with all the weight, I can put on it , I used 62.5 and 63, as Edge said 64grs was pushing it.
No one shot groups, but 3 shots in 1 /1/2 and 1 1/2 plus a little the last two shoots just about touching. but I was finished after 8 shots, so it was a 2 shot group, but I doubt any animal on this good Earth, will be able to tell the diference getting hit 2 inches off the mark.
It shot lower than the zero for 300gr Barnes X bullet Its a beast.

[artjr338wm]

Thanks for posting the question deadon, as I also am extremely interested in vent liners.

One other question that is related to vent liners that is of equal importance is this:

For those of you who use Teflon tape instead of anti-seize on your vent liners, what thickness/color do you use and how much do you put on, and do you also use any thing else after you apply the Teflon tape on the tape itself like anti-seize?

I plan on trying out a standard Savage factory BP W/VL next range session just to see what happens, especially any changes in POI.

Much thanks,
Arthur.

[mike.dawson]

Art, I have both the Lehigh and RW's hardened ones. I prefer the lehigh because the deep hex opening to get a allen wrench in, The OEM VL doesnt last.

Pink Teflon tape, one wrap around the plug in the same direction it screws in, I put never seize on the VL both the threads and the back of the face and only put it in til it stops, I dont snug it up I am a big fan of the pink, Lowes carries this tape in stock here in Tampa

On my Knight Disc 45cal. with the new Lehigh BP and VL I don't use anything I put it in bare and shoot only BH209, only never seize the VL to the BP

Mike

[deadon]

Arther, I don't know if you read the thread but I ask if there was anything other than anti seize, What a mess. I think it was Littlejoe That said he used Rem oil with teflon on his breach plug and vent liner and never had a problem .I have used it Through four vent liner changes and I think Richard now uses it also. No mess like anti seize and no trouble like teflon tape.

[Dave W]

Rem -Oil is the ticket ;D

[bloodtrailer]

RB drill bushing last longer , but you have to modify the breach plug. RB might be hard to get hold of but there was another gentle man doing them in PA. And tape the plug.

[boarhog]

Well, here goes. I have original equipment liners, Lehigh liners, and home made out of stainless steel, and Holokrome. My first factory liner lasted well over 350 shots. Most were with lite to medium book loads in the original 50 cal barrel. After I had Richard install a 45 Pac-Nor for me, I still got over 100 shots on the same VL, some of which were 2800-3000 fps+. When I replaced the VL, it was still under .035, but not by much. I have not shot enough on the Lehigh to know what to expect. So far 50-75 shots of medium warm loads, and it still measures less than .032. As for the stainless home made, I got close to 50 very warm shots on it before I tossed it, and the Holokrome has about 40 shots on it, and measures a bit loose on the .033 pin.

As for making the VLs, I ordered the screws and a pack of Cobalt #68 drills from Fastenal, and another pack of bits from MSC. I broke 2 or 3 while making the first 5-6 VLs. I then built a jig to hold the screws in while drilling, and bought some good cutting oil. Seems like I got 6-8 screws drilled before the drill bit got dull. My jig isn't tapped perfectly straight, and the hole I drill in the liner is not always perfectly centered in them, but that has not affected speed or accuracy. As per Richard's advice, I set the drill press on 620 RPMs, and go easy.

As for the tape or anti seize, I use tape with a few drops of Rem-oil on both BP and VL. I have not found the pink, but have used white and yellow. The yellow seems thicker or tougher. So far no stuck BP or VL.

[artjr338wm]

Mike, deadon, Dave, and bloodtrailer, thanks to all for your info.

FWIW, I have only used a RBnAR modified DB insert BP. It started out I THINK but can not be certain at .031". I have fired now well over 700 shots with it, 90%+ of which were comprised of quite hot loads that used powder charges of weights between 65 and 75 grains of 10X, H4198, IMR4198, and RL7. I just used my torch cleaners to measure the flash hole and the .033 tip will not fit in it at all and the .032 fits but it is noticeably snug.

Bloodtrailer, I contacted every person I knew of to try to get a second BP with a drill bushing insert, but was unsuccessful, even after repeated attempts, so i have given up on it for now until some one here finds a source that will make them using a drill bushing insert of extremely high quality/hardness. Last I read the high quality ultra hard inserts were costing near $100, if true I am sure that has something to do with my difficulty finding some one to make me a MOD/BP.

Lastly, I do not now or ever have used any anti-seize or tape on my breach plug threads. On the advice of a 10ML-II expert I simply loosen then re-tighten my breach plug every ten shots, WITH OUT EXCEPTION. I also remove my breach plug before the sound of the days last shot finishes echoing down range.

I have done this with my breach plug for over 5yrs and 700+ shots with exactly zero problems of any kind.

Thanks again,
Arthur.

[artjr338wm]

deadon, Dave W, and borehog,
Am I correct in understanding you by saying you first wrap you vent liners in Teflon tape the same direction as the threads, then apply a little Rem-oil and then install your vent liners hand tight only?

At least that is how I understand you post to read.

Thanks again,
Arthur.

[olegburn]

Richard,when I start drilling my own I will follow your advice,but even with the 100 shots I'm still under .033"! Them Holokromes must be tougher than OEM material.
As far as teflon tape goes-grab "contractor pack" at Lowe's or Home Depot (10 in it) for few bucks and wrap it 3-4 times and you are done! Regular white tape.
I swithed to tape and like it. ;D (being a plumber saves a trip to the store too)
olegburn

[boarhog]

Arthur,
That is exactly what I do. Hand tighten. Snug, but not King Kong tight. I do the same with the breech plug.

[DBinNY]

Art, your loads are very powerful but do not peak out on pressure as fast as a book load with 5744 would. I think your higher velocity loads with slower powder are actually easier on vent liners (that's been my experience with R7 vs 5744). Obviously your bushing system works very well for you in your application.

As for lubing the breech plug, I'm still in the land of the dinosaurs and using the silver anti-seize. Prior to the hunting season I simply foul the bore with final sight checks, reload the gun, shoot a deer, reload the gun, shoot a deer etc. then I clean the gun after the season. I'm just a little skeptical about these simpler approaches when leaving the plug in for an extended period. Now that I installed a third pillar I wouldn't worry about removing the bolt and the plug during the season so I may change my mind!

[Dave W]

May 27, 2010 20:24:18 GMT -5 artjr338wm said:

deadon, Dave W, and borehog,
Am I correct in understanding you by saying you first wrap you vent liners in Teflon tape the same direction as the threads, then apply a little Rem-oil and then install your vent liners hand tight only?

At least that is how I understand you post to read.

Thanks again,
Arthur.

No tape-a couple drops of Rem-Oil on the plug threads or a vent liner. No problems with seized parts. I am pretty diligent about cleaning as soon as I get home or the next day so the only time my gun goes for extended period with the plug in is during the month of December for firearms and ml season. I think RB came up with this but I can't remember.

[deadon]

Art.like Dave said just the rem oil with tefflon. I found a small can at walmart for around 8 bucks. Should last me the rest of my life.

[deadon]

Just to set the record straight, I just looked back at the thread titled Anti Seize dated 2-5-10. It was Tick not littlejoe who told me about Rem oil with teflon . Credit where credit is due ;D Thanks again tick, 240 shots later and no problem!!!!!