Should I convert to 209 primers?
 

I have a Knight wolverine and it seems that I have lost my breach plug and thought this might be a good time to convert to purchase the conversion to 209 primers kit since I have to buy a new breach plug anyways.

I did have a misfire lost year while hunting with 777 that had been in the barrel a couple of weeks. I did some brief research and it looks like some loss accuracy with the 209 primers.

RE: Should I convert to 209 primers?
 

The misfire I will guess was due to the length of time you left the rifle charged with Triple Se7en and not the #11 cap ignition system. Changing the ignition system is again a choice only you can make. 209 primers will give you more fire into the channel and also more headaches expecially if your shooting Triple Se7en.

Did you have hard crud rings when shoot T-7 and #11 ignition? I personally never experienced them. You might very well experience them with T-7 and a 209 ignition system. I guess there are good and bad points for both sides. Check with Knight and make sure you do not have to change out the striker system too. Just a new breech plug and nipple is rather inexpensive to replace.

I have a Wolverine II with the #11 caps ignition. Great shooting, fun to shoot, easy to take care of rifle. Would I change over to the 209? Nope. If it ain't broke, no need to fix it. You of course (and I understand the ease of the 209 ignition) might see this different.

RE: Should I convert to 209 primers?
 

I haven't had the crud rings.

I believe my mis-fire could have been from the taking the gun inside the house after it had been sitting in a cold car for a few days. Moisture maybe? By the way I put a new cap on and got a good shot off 10 minutes later.

RE: Should I convert to 209 primers?
 

If you change over to a 209 ignition you might experience crud rings with your rifle... I also do not have crud rings to speak of with my Wolverine II LK-93 and #11 ignition. This winter I was shooting Pinnacle FFFg powder made by Goex. If you hate swabbing, I shot 12 consecutive rounds of 240 grain Thompson Center Mag Express XTP's and 90 grains of Pinnacle and never had to swab the barrel. The accuracy was real good. Although I did not try them at longer distances.

Also I think you hit your misfire problem right on the head. The change in temperatures is a killer to muzzleloaders. I had one in line fail last year. It had a 209 ignition. Of course the second cap did ignite it off. Also you have to make sure you recheck your load if a 209 fires but fails to ignite the charge. It will move them. The Wolverine on the other hand, I hunted one day in the worst kind of weather. It could not decide if it wanted to rain, sleet, or snow. I was doing a sneak through a cedar marsh. Never kicked up a deer but the rifle fired off perfect with the #11 cap at the end of the day being out in that mess..

RE: Should I convert to 209 primers?
 

Anyone else have an opinion?

RE: Should I convert to 209 primers?
 

Sure, I changed over, and not looked back. Really no big deal. Just a different way to skin that cat.

Alot of posters like to diasect why a person had a misfire, or place blame. But the bottome line is, a 209 will set off anything.

RE: Should I convert to 209 primers?
 

I too changed my old 22" Wolverine over too the 209 several years ago (this was even before the discs, the nipple just holds the primer in it through friction). And yes you WILL also have to change your bolt/striker. The 209 works like anyother centerfire, you must have a "firing pin" poke the starting mixture to ignite the system. The #11 striker is flat and wouldn't fire the 209 for two reason. The first is for the pin ignition I spoke of and the second is it isn't as long as the firing pin type face of the 209 style so it wouldn't even strike it in the first place.

As for the crudring, I think alot of it is internet hype but if real it seems to occur more frequently with pellets vs loose powder. A powder load will give a more complete and consistent burn vs pellets. Something to think about is that a 209 is 5-6 times hotter than a musket cap and fully 11-12 times hotter than a #11 cap! That's a CONSIDERABLE difference and you will need to play with your loads and rifle to look for any differences.

Good luck,
RA

RE: Should I convert to 209 primers?
 

i would my muzzleloader uses them and it is very accurate and reliable under lots of conditions. the perk of 209's are they fire more consistantly in worse conditions than the regular percussion caps.