A few months ago, while I was waiting for a local source of Blackhorn 209, I decided to do
some ignition testing on an MK-85. Early reports were that #11 ignition systems were not
potent enough to ignite Blackhorn 209. I decided to see for myself so I tried to put together
the best #11 ignition system I could, in preperation for shooting Blackhorn 209.
Below are the results of a test I did with an MK-85 firing off various #11 caps and musket
caps in to cleaning patches. I also tried to measure the relative force of the cap and nipple
combinations.
I placed the MK-85 in an MTM Gun Maintenance Center as horizonatal as I could.
I placed several inches of masking tape on my range rod/cleaning rod and marked
a starting point flush with the muzzle. I then placed a patch on the rod and
seated it against the breech plug. I fired three of each cap I tested. I
wanted to see how much of a burn mark each cap and each nipple combo would
create as well as what the effects were on the caps and how far it would push
out the rod. I eyeballed the distance the rod moved from the muzzle with a
steel ruler that had marks down to 1/100th of an inch.
I wasn't trying to be overly scientific but the results were interesting. I
doubt I got the same fold on each patch as it went in to the barrel, therefore
the patch resistance may not have been identical on each test.
I started with Knight's Red Hot #11 nipple.
Here are the measurements of the distance the ram rod moved in the barrel.
CCI #11 - .04, .11, .10
CCI #11 Mag - .25, .28, .22
Rem #11 - .42, .51, .41
DN #11 (1075+) - .10, .20, .15
Next I used Knight's Red Hot Musket cap nipple.
DN #2 Musket - .22, .40, .35
Here is a picture of the burnt patches using the Red Hat nipples.
I cleaned the bore with one patch with Hoppe's #9 and then
ran two dry patches.
Next I used Thompson Center's Flame Thrower #11 nipple.
Here are the measurements of the distance the ram rod moved in the barrel.
CCI #11 - .43, .46, .41
CCI #11 Mag - 1.19, .23, .53
Rem #11 - .42, .53, .50
DN #11 (1075+) - 1.37, .26, .45
Next I used TC's Flame Thrower Musket nipple.
DN #2 Musket - 1.20, .48, .83
Here is a picture of the burnt patches using the Flame Thrower nipples.
One thing I noticed is that the #11 caps used on the Red Hot nipple
blew apart more than the #11 caps used on the Flame Thrower nipple.
To me, it seems that there is more backpressure with the Red Hot
nipples with their one hole versus the Flame Throwers three holes.
Note: DN is Dynamit Nobel and the Rem #11 were the "40% hotter"
ones.
Although several patches had a few less fibers in the burn area,
none of them burned a nice hole in the patch.
When I did obtain some Blackhorn 209, I could not get this rifle to ignite
without considerable hang fire. I recommend following the manufacturers
warnings on the bottle. This powder is best ignited with full strength 209
shotgun primers.
I have two other patches of interest. The left patch is from snapping a cap
on an NEF Huntsman with the .25 ACP breech plug using a CCI small rifle primer.
This rifle will shoot BlackHorn 209 with a slight delay. The delay is slight
but long enough that you can hear the hammer strike the firing pin. The
factory 209 carriers worked with Blackhorn 209. Unfortunately, I did not
take a picture of that burnt patch.
The right patch is from snapping a cap on a .45 cal Wolverine 209 with a
Winchester 209 primer in a Red FPJ. This rifle shoots Blackhorn 209 really
well.
I realize that I could install a 209 conversion in the MK-85 and that should
make it work like the Wolverine but I am satisfied with how well the MK-85
shoots Triple Seven with #11 caps.
some ignition testing on an MK-85. Early reports were that #11 ignition systems were not
potent enough to ignite Blackhorn 209. I decided to see for myself so I tried to put together
the best #11 ignition system I could, in preperation for shooting Blackhorn 209.
Below are the results of a test I did with an MK-85 firing off various #11 caps and musket
caps in to cleaning patches. I also tried to measure the relative force of the cap and nipple
combinations.
I placed the MK-85 in an MTM Gun Maintenance Center as horizonatal as I could.
I placed several inches of masking tape on my range rod/cleaning rod and marked
a starting point flush with the muzzle. I then placed a patch on the rod and
seated it against the breech plug. I fired three of each cap I tested. I
wanted to see how much of a burn mark each cap and each nipple combo would
create as well as what the effects were on the caps and how far it would push
out the rod. I eyeballed the distance the rod moved from the muzzle with a
steel ruler that had marks down to 1/100th of an inch.
I wasn't trying to be overly scientific but the results were interesting. I
doubt I got the same fold on each patch as it went in to the barrel, therefore
the patch resistance may not have been identical on each test.
I started with Knight's Red Hot #11 nipple.
Here are the measurements of the distance the ram rod moved in the barrel.
CCI #11 - .04, .11, .10
CCI #11 Mag - .25, .28, .22
Rem #11 - .42, .51, .41
DN #11 (1075+) - .10, .20, .15
Next I used Knight's Red Hot Musket cap nipple.
DN #2 Musket - .22, .40, .35
Here is a picture of the burnt patches using the Red Hat nipples.
I cleaned the bore with one patch with Hoppe's #9 and then
ran two dry patches.
Next I used Thompson Center's Flame Thrower #11 nipple.
Here are the measurements of the distance the ram rod moved in the barrel.
CCI #11 - .43, .46, .41
CCI #11 Mag - 1.19, .23, .53
Rem #11 - .42, .53, .50
DN #11 (1075+) - 1.37, .26, .45
Next I used TC's Flame Thrower Musket nipple.
DN #2 Musket - 1.20, .48, .83
Here is a picture of the burnt patches using the Flame Thrower nipples.
One thing I noticed is that the #11 caps used on the Red Hot nipple
blew apart more than the #11 caps used on the Flame Thrower nipple.
To me, it seems that there is more backpressure with the Red Hot
nipples with their one hole versus the Flame Throwers three holes.
Note: DN is Dynamit Nobel and the Rem #11 were the "40% hotter"
ones.
Although several patches had a few less fibers in the burn area,
none of them burned a nice hole in the patch.
When I did obtain some Blackhorn 209, I could not get this rifle to ignite
without considerable hang fire. I recommend following the manufacturers
warnings on the bottle. This powder is best ignited with full strength 209
shotgun primers.
I have two other patches of interest. The left patch is from snapping a cap
on an NEF Huntsman with the .25 ACP breech plug using a CCI small rifle primer.
This rifle will shoot BlackHorn 209 with a slight delay. The delay is slight
but long enough that you can hear the hammer strike the firing pin. The
factory 209 carriers worked with Blackhorn 209. Unfortunately, I did not
take a picture of that burnt patch.
The right patch is from snapping a cap on a .45 cal Wolverine 209 with a
Winchester 209 primer in a Red FPJ. This rifle shoots Blackhorn 209 really
well.
I realize that I could install a 209 conversion in the MK-85 and that should
make it work like the Wolverine but I am satisfied with how well the MK-85
shoots Triple Seven with #11 caps.