Drill Bits for Breech Plugs

[Matthew323]

What quality of drill bit do you purchase to clean out the hard carbon deposits from Blackhorn209 combustion in your rifle's/pistol's breech plug?

Do you just purchase the El Cheapo ones from Harbor Freight, or do you opt for a more expensive cobalt drill bit?

I am going to need to purchase a supply of drill bits for the Lehigh Defense QRBP Breech Plug for my CVA Optima V2 pistol.

Thanks,
Bruce

 

[MrTom]

The drill bit is hand turned so you don't need to spend a bunch. As a rule 209 fouling in the flame channel can be sort of hard but no so bad that you need a $10 dollar titanium bit. I wrap a few rounds of masking tape on my bits on the chuck end to make it a bi easier to grasp and turn.

 

[michiganmuzzy]

What quality of drill bit do you purchase to clean out the hard carbon deposits from Blackhorn209 combustion in your rifle's/pistol's breech plug?

Do you just purchase the El Cheapo ones from Harbor Freight, or do you opt for a more expensive cobalt drill bit?

I am going to need to purchase a supply of drill bits for the Lehigh Defense QRBP Breech Plug for my CVA Optima V2 pistol.

Thanks,
Bruce

I wont use a cobalt for mine. Not even a coated bit. I use the cheapest i can find. Softer is better and less likely to open up the flash hole. But a cheap drill bit is still harder than a breech plug.

 

[52Bore]

Guhring
Precision Twist Drill
There are other good ones.
Don’t he HS drills, get HSS.

 

[CatamountRob]

Just cheap bits, I prefer to hold them in a pin vise to spin them.

 

[sabotloader]

For my Knight Rifles I use a simple 5/32" bit - epoxied into a Stick to get the job done

 

[Muley Hunter]

I use the drill bit and pin vice that comes with the Western BP.

 

[01Foreman400]

 

[Widude]

Now what about a ‘welding tip cleaner’? It comes with any size you want, does fine with carbon in a hole. That’s what I use.

 

[CatamountRob]

Now what about a ‘welding tip cleaner’? It comes with any size you want, does fine with carbon in a hole. That’s what I use.

I use those too if the hole is too small for any drill bit I have.

 

[gle3105]

Like Foreman400 showed. This is a very handy tool to have in the toolbox. Pin Vise.
Been using one for many years. About 12~ $15.

 

[gle3105]

Now what about a ‘welding tip cleaner’? It comes with any size you want, does fine with carbon in a hole. That’s what I use.

They are a go to for the flash hole , but not the flame channel.
The carbon build up in the flame channel feels like your cutting steel.
It’s always an eye opener for those whom clean the flame channel for the first time and see all the residue come out.

 

[Matthew323]

They are a go to for the flash hole , but not the flame channel.
The carbon build up in the flame channel feels like your cutting steel.
It’s always an eye opener for those whom clean the flame channel for the first time and see all the residue come out.

Thanks for the responses. I learn something new here every day. Inlines are a whole 'nother world from flintlocks!!!

 

[Freedom]

But really take it easy as you work slowly!....It is SO easy to break the little drill bits off in your flash hole. It can be quite a nightmare to remove a piece of broken bit.

A welding tip cleaner works well and is part of my field kit.

 

[GM54-120]

Hex head bits and a nutdriver or $14 Wheeler screw driver kit. I use the Wheeler just because i need the screw driver bits anyway. Cost about $20 total.

 

[GM54-120]

But really take it easy as you work slowly!....It is SO easy to break the little drill bits off in your flash hole. It can be quite a nightmare to remove a piece of broken bit.

A welding tip cleaner works well and is part of my field kit.

Why would you ever put a bit in the flash HOLE? All you are doing is wearing it out faster. The hole grows with every shot. Just pick it out with a much softer wire or nipple pick. The flash CHANNEL is the only part you should be cleaning with a drill bit.

 

[Freedom]

Why would you ever put a bit in the flash HOLE? All you are doing is wearing it out faster. The hole grows with every shot. Just pick it out with a much softer wire or nipple pick. The flash CHANNEL is the only part you should be cleaning with a drill bit.

My "terminology" between flash hole/channel is probably a little messed up...but for the record, my DeWalt drill bits won't even scratch the breech plugs on my Diablo, so it's not really an issue.

 

[sabotloader]

Why would you ever put a bit in the flash HOLE? All you are doing is wearing it out faster. The hole grows with every shot. Just pick it out with a much softer wire or nipple pick. The flash CHANNEL is the only part you should be cleaning with a drill bit.

I second your thoughts totally - why probe the flash hole? It erodes fast enough as is. The flash channel is the portion that need to be cleaned and using a drill bit for this aids in the cleaning. And even that should be approached with some caution.

 

[GM54-120]

I do use a torch tip cleaner on the hole BUT ONLY the smooth part of the pick. AND only just enough to knock out anything that got in there from cleaning the channel. Very little effort is needed so pretty much any softer metal removes it with ease.

The torch tip cleaner can also be used as a cheap pin gauge if you have a micrometer. Find the largest tip that fits the brand new hole and measure it. Find one of the tip cleaners that measures no more than .037". When that tip cleaner fits in the hole its shot. You need a new plug or vent liner. Once the hole is getting over .035 you should be getting ready to replace it.

 

[Ninering62]

I wont use a cobalt for mine. Not even a coated bit. I use the cheapest i can find. Softer is better and less likely to open up the flash hole. But a cheap drill bit is still harder than a breech plug.

Yes, exactly. Either torch tip cleaner or them bits for cleaning or boring out carb jets I would think would be great for that application. I've used both in the past on my ML's, but I was not using 209 back then. There was no 209 back then. Great topic & info