The breech plug that comes with your gun won'tbe the only one you ever buy, right? No matter howwell you clean it, the flash hole (I think that's the right name)will eventually burn out enough to need replacement, right? Do the primers that you use affect its life?Are the 209 primers that say "made for muzzleloaders" better thanones made for general reloading of shotshells, or do they just cost more for no reason? Regular Winchester primers costs $2.99 for 100, while the ones that say "made for muzzleloaders" cost 4.99 for 100. Well, even if the breech plugs last a really long time, I think I'd buy a spare. I got the bad habit of losing stuff I really need.

The 209 breech plug in my old Staghorn has withstood at least 2,000 charges up to and including100 grains.The flash hole is a little bigger otherwise it still looks like new. Nogas cutting of the threads-nothing.

I have always used 209 Winchester shotgun primers until this year when I got 209 Winchester M/L primers. At the advice of some good folks on this forum, i will switch over to Remington.

i use the primers for general shotgun reloading. The only difference i can see is the 209 primerfor ML'ers doesnt sit as deep. They also slide out easier. Im going on 4 years with my breech plug and no problems.

I always have a spare breech plug for each of the rifles, but most of the rifles I have, the breech plug has withstood hundred of shots. And there is no erosion of the breech plug metal in mine.

I did read a post where some of the Omega's had breech plug erosion which I found interesting. My old CVA Staghorn Magnum has been shots more then I care to think, it's my loaner/guest shooterrifle as well, and it has the original plug.

The primers you will purchase have different heat flash to them. Some are just hotter then the others. The hotter the primer the more prone with some powders like Triple Se7en, is a chance at a hard crud ring... I use the Winchester W209 and Remington Kleenbore Primers. The Winchester when shooting pellets and Kleenbore when shooting loose powder. So far, so good.

It's been my impression that hot magnum loads of 777 will cause earlier breechplug erosion than most-all other powders -- except possibly Swiss Black FFF. Very-very few shooters use the mighty potent Swiss - so I haven't a clue on how it eats breechplugs. I did try the FFF Swiss fortwo range outings& never had use for it again. Perhaps I should of tried the FF... but I didn't. Now I stick with Schuetzen FFF instead - with one ML of mine.

I have had to replace one in my Omega,according to my records I put less than 10 pounds of powder through it.
The one I am using now seems to be holding up better. Lee

T/C had a run of bad ones. Some are still out there. Folks that don't shoot much will be complaining about them for a few years.