silentstalker said:
So, I have a CVA Kodiak Magnum made in 04/05 time frame. I would like to try some blackhorn 209. Does anyone know if its safe in that vintage rifle, and if so, is there a newer style breech plug for the BH 209 in the CVA Kodiak?
Lastly, is the W209 primer hot enough to ignite the BH 209 powder consistently or do you need to shoot a magnum primer?
Any experience or advice would be very much appreciated.
Depending on who responds to your question you will get varied answers. I personally tried the W209 and it failed to ignite the BH powder. So immediately the group said that was my problem. So I switched to a CCI and STS primer and that helped a lot. I would think if it ignites your rifle can handle the powder. As for a newer style breech plug... not that I know of. But Ron can help you out. He's a magician when it comes to making plugs work with this powder. Amazing talent.
silentstalker said:
I just looked at that thread. Here is a pic of my current BP in the gun. Not sure based on those other pictures what I need to do with mine? Maybe you or Ron can comment? I sent Ron a PM too.
Silent Stalker,
Back in 2009, I shot that exact rifle and several others while at Western Powders Ballistic Lab outdoor range. They had a slew of new OEM breech plugs for it, and it shot ok with CCI 209M primers for a few shots. The biggest concern I had with the rifle, was the extreme amount of barrel whip, due in large part to the stock flex at the opening for the drop block. This allowed the barrel to rock in the stock, as evidenced by the rubbing pattern at the breech end of the barrel from the stock. Bedding that rifle would have helped a ton, IMO.
The biggest problem with shooting Blackhorn 209 in that rifle, is not the rifle, but rather the breech plug design. This breech plug was designed before Blackhorn 209 was available, and uses a small 3mm diameter flame channel. That is the biggest problem, even more so than the small flash hole. The small diameter flame channel will start filling in with primer fouling/carbon in relatively few shots. This leads to delayed/hang fires after only a few shots in most rifles. Just by merely opening up the flame channel to 5/32", it will perform reliably. Another route that is taken by some is to just open up the flash hole itself to 0.035", and although it works, would not be my first choice.
Ron L provides a service of opening up the flame channel in those breech plugs to 5/32", and tapping them for a vent liner. This would be my first choice, and then you can merely change a vent liner if/when you wear one out. This method will make your rifle totally reliable in instantly igniting Blackhorn 209, the others above are just a Band Aid fix to get by for a short period. You will not regret getting your breech plug, or better yet a brand new breech plug customized for shooting Blackhorn 209. The initial up front cost is minimal, and will actually save you from having to replace complete breech plugs down the road. You can experiment with vent liners with different diameter flash holes if you so choose.
I have several custom breech plugs (approximately 50) for several rifles (15 plus a Pistol) set up this same way, and IMO, it don't get any better for shooting Blackhorn 209. 100% reliability when igniting Blackhorn 209 is priceless. Some OEM breech plugs just need a little help to make them that way.