Really Happy With 25 ACP Conversion
09-24-2007 | 10:16 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,918
Likes: 1
From: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Really Happy With 25 ACP Conversion
Yesterday ,I tried out the 25 ACP plug I made for my Lyman Mustang. All I can say is OH YEAH, HOORAY, and WHOOPEE! Ninety-five percent cleaner in the breech area, excellent ignition of Triple Seven, With 209's, I had to use a cotton swab to clean out the primer pocket after ten shots or so, and wipe down the breech area or the gun would become difficult to open. Today I shot 30 shots without doing either.
Although I never shoot without swabbing between shots, my usual routine is a damp patch followed by a one or two dry patches between shots. Today, just for the heck of it I tried five shots in a row with just a dry patch between shots. No sign of a crud ring. No loading difficulties. I believe I could probably have continued with that pattern all day.
Although I never shoot without swabbing between shots, my usual routine is a damp patch followed by a one or two dry patches between shots. Today, just for the heck of it I tried five shots in a row with just a dry patch between shots. No sign of a crud ring. No loading difficulties. I believe I could probably have continued with that pattern all day.
09-24-2007 | 11:36 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 0
From: southwest Ohio
RE: Really Happy With 25 ACP Conversion
I don't like all the dirt from regular 209 primers, but I wonder if the VariFlame small rifle/pistol primer conversionkit would accomplish the same thing or if you would still get blow-back past the primer? I can see where the .25ACP would create a tight seal.
09-24-2007 | 11:45 AM
#3
Thread Starter
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,918
Likes: 1
From: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
RE: Really Happy With 25 ACP Conversion
I tried the vari-flames. The Mustang would not ignite the primer. My brother-in-law's Knight Disc would not set them off either. We tried both CCI small rifle and Winchester small pistol primers and never got a pop. Don't know what the problem was. Was thinking it had to do with the shape of the firing pins in those particular guns, but that can't be the case because the Mustang sets off the CCI's just fine with 25 ACP's. Maybe we got a bad batch of vari-flames. Pretty sure we had the primers seated right in them.
09-24-2007 | 12:12 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 0
From: southwest Ohio
RE: Really Happy With 25 ACP Conversion
Hmmmm..........
Maybe I'll hold off on the VariFlames!
I can see a possibleproblem with the Knight using them. On my DISC the firing pin is very large and rather blunt. It might not hit the small primer with enough force, or it might even hit the brass adapter before it could dent the primer.
Maybe I'll hold off on the VariFlames!
I can see a possibleproblem with the Knight using them. On my DISC the firing pin is very large and rather blunt. It might not hit the small primer with enough force, or it might even hit the brass adapter before it could dent the primer.
09-24-2007 | 04:09 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,918
Likes: 1
From: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
RE: Really Happy With 25 ACP Conversion
Forgot to mention blow-back in my original post. In my Mustang with 209s, although you never felt any blow backitwould scorch the underside of the scope. If I put a strip of paper towel across the top of the barrel/breech area, one shot would put a black stripe on the towel 1/8" wide and 2" long and carbonize the paper a little. With the ACP, you have to look close to see a mark on the paper towel.
If you're inclined to give it a try, it's cheap and easy to do yourself.
I bought an extra breech plug for $12.50, and a "I" and "J" drill bit from a local tool supply company for $9.86. The I size bit is a little smaller than 25 ACP diameter and a little larger than the 209 hole in the breech plug. The J size is the perfect diameter for the ACP cartridge.
Found a buddy with a lathe. We drilled out the plug with the I bit to just short of the depth wanted, then ran the J bit in to finish up the final diameter and depth. Easy and cheap if you have access toa lathe. Even if you don't, you could probably locate someone on a local forum (Louisiana Sportsman Hunting Forum in my area) who would do the job for you. I have no idea what a machinist would charge to do a job like this, but it shouldn't be much.
If you're inclined to give it a try, it's cheap and easy to do yourself.
I bought an extra breech plug for $12.50, and a "I" and "J" drill bit from a local tool supply company for $9.86. The I size bit is a little smaller than 25 ACP diameter and a little larger than the 209 hole in the breech plug. The J size is the perfect diameter for the ACP cartridge.
Found a buddy with a lathe. We drilled out the plug with the I bit to just short of the depth wanted, then ran the J bit in to finish up the final diameter and depth. Easy and cheap if you have access toa lathe. Even if you don't, you could probably locate someone on a local forum (Louisiana Sportsman Hunting Forum in my area) who would do the job for you. I have no idea what a machinist would charge to do a job like this, but it shouldn't be much.
09-25-2007 | 09:12 AM
#7
Thread Starter
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,918
Likes: 1
From: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
RE: Really Happy With 25 ACP Conversion
That's what I figured, John. At the range I had a ten ounce plastic bottle of soapy water that I dropped the fired brass in, and just left them in there. The next day I shook the bottle real well (amazing how black the water got) dumped the brass out on a sheet of newspaper to dry in the sun for an hour, then put them in the vibrator cleaner. No problems.
09-25-2007 | 01:17 PM
#8
Fork Horn
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
RE: Really Happy With 25 ACP Conversion
ORIGINAL: Semisane
Forgot to mention blow-back in my original post. In my Mustang with 209s, although you never felt any blow backitwould scorch the underside of the scope. If I put a strip of paper towel across the top of the barrel/breech area, one shot would put a black stripe on the towel 1/8" wide and 2" long and carbonize the paper a little. With the ACP, you have to look close to see a mark on the paper towel.
If you're inclined to give it a try, it's cheap and easy to do yourself.
I bought an extra breech plug for $12.50, and a "I" and "J" drill bit from a local tool supply company for $9.86. The I size bit is a little smaller than 25 ACP diameter and a little larger than the 209 hole in the breech plug. The J size is the perfect diameter for the ACP cartridge.
Found a buddy with a lathe. We drilled out the plug with the I bit to just short of the depth wanted, then ran the J bit in to finish up the final diameter and depth. Easy and cheap if you have access toa lathe. Even if you don't, you could probably locate someone on a local forum (Louisiana Sportsman Hunting Forum in my area) who would do the job for you. I have no idea what a machinist would charge to do a job like this, but it shouldn't be much.
Forgot to mention blow-back in my original post. In my Mustang with 209s, although you never felt any blow backitwould scorch the underside of the scope. If I put a strip of paper towel across the top of the barrel/breech area, one shot would put a black stripe on the towel 1/8" wide and 2" long and carbonize the paper a little. With the ACP, you have to look close to see a mark on the paper towel.
If you're inclined to give it a try, it's cheap and easy to do yourself.
I bought an extra breech plug for $12.50, and a "I" and "J" drill bit from a local tool supply company for $9.86. The I size bit is a little smaller than 25 ACP diameter and a little larger than the 209 hole in the breech plug. The J size is the perfect diameter for the ACP cartridge.
Found a buddy with a lathe. We drilled out the plug with the I bit to just short of the depth wanted, then ran the J bit in to finish up the final diameter and depth. Easy and cheap if you have access toa lathe. Even if you don't, you could probably locate someone on a local forum (Louisiana Sportsman Hunting Forum in my area) who would do the job for you. I have no idea what a machinist would charge to do a job like this, but it shouldn't be much.
How did you determine what depth to drill the hole?
09-25-2007 | 02:03 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,918
Likes: 1
From: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
RE: Really Happy With 25 ACP Conversion
You can do it by trial and error (drill a little - install the plug - drill a little more), but I measured the original plug with a 209 primer in place and used that measurement to set the depth of the 25 ACP case.
First, here's what the final product should look like. (More pictures follow in next two comments.)
First, here's what the final product should look like. (More pictures follow in next two comments.)