TC breech plug with smokeless H&R?

[sf9753]

Has anyone tried using a TC standard (209x50) breech plug in a 45/70 H&R Handy Rifle smokeless conversion? The plugs are stainless steel, presumably pretty tough, and appear on casual inspection to have threads about the same length as a Savage plug. Before going with the Savage plug or a modified grade 8 bolt, I wondered if I could go this way. With a closed breech on a break action, I presume that the critical issues are proper fitting to the barrel and "headspace" of the plug against the breech. If those are true, shouldn't one of these be strong enough?

Once again, as a newbie I hope this question hasn't been asked many times over. I got nothing when I searched on it.

Thanks.

[edge]

I have never seen the plug, but in a centerfire action the breechplug mainly needs to prevent blowback and the pressure is secondary...as long as it is headspaced properly.

edge.

[rangeball]

Check it for face thickness. When I bored out the flash hole on a buddies CVA plug I was very surprised at how thin the face was. Might be wise to drill and tap it for a vent to get more meat between the charge and primer.

[sf9753]

Thanks, guys.

FWIW, here's a link to the image:

www.eabco.com/store/products/TC_Encore_Omega_Replacement_Breech_Plug-969-0.html

[dannoboone]

Feb 16, 2011 15:30:46 GMT -5 rangeball said:

Might be wise to drill and tap it for a vent to get more meat between the charge and primer.

+1. I once used a similar one from PR Bullet which incorporated
a .25acp case (configured for a small rifle magnum primer) in a
4140 chrome molley Douglas barrel. Had it loaded with easy to
ignite 5744. A couple of shots went ok, but then it hang fired,
almost like shooting a flintlock. The hole in that BP is a long
distance for any primer to ignite smokeless powder. I had been
toying with the idea of opening it up and tooling for a vent liner,
but never got around to it.