BP Rifle help
Guy that I work with broke off cleaning brush and every attempt to remove it has failed . Rifle is a Traditions Hawkin .I pulled the barrel off and was wondering if the touch hole was screwed in and held the breech plug in place ? If we get the breech plug out he can just push the broken brush through . Thanks SxS
Have guns,will travel
Have guns,will travel
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I had the exact same thing happen years ago. No, the breech plug is not locked in place, nor does the touch hole typically go into it. However, repeated firings, plus the heat, grit and grime that is impossible to get out leaves them locked solid. That's OK because the factory didn't intend for them to be removed.
Now, there's two ways to get it out. First, try the little twisted part on a metal coat hanger (where they wrap the wire back on itself) and see if you can "screw" it over the brush.
If you can't get a hold of it this way, another way (especially if it was a plastic bristled brush) is to actually put the gun back together and spend an hour or so removing the bolster screw and filling that small cavity up with powder (4f preferred) and then capping the gun and firing (replacing the screw between firings).
If the brush is plastic, the heat will singe it over time to allow fairly easy extraction if it doesn't fly out with the force of the shot. If it is bronze, it will take longer, but at least mine slowly worked it's way down the barrel until we could get it out.
You likely won't be able to put in more than 5 grains or so in at a time, but it'll work...
One last thing, after this happened to me twice (one with plastic and once with bronze) I started using an Outers shotgun rod that is at least twice as big around as the Hoppes and most other rifle rods. I use the 28 gauge (I think) brush on it and cotton patches and it has worked great for years with no more problems...0 -
If it5 is a cap lock, take the nipple out and take a paper clip that has been straightened. As banbihunter stated pour some 4F powder into where the nipple goes the take the paper clip and work the powder bck into the barrel. It is better if you have a touch hole pick! If you do not have 4F take 2 or 3 F and slowly grind some down with a motor and pedestal or even a rolling pin till it is a finer grade but be CAREFUL in this process. See where the brush is stuck at. If it is not near the bottom of the barrel then take a ram rod and push it down within a 1/4 inch of the bottom. Closer it is to the bottom. the less powder you need to build up the pressure to shoot it out. If it is a Flintlock do the same except poke the powder in thorugh the touch hole. When you shoot it out either shoot at the ground or if you want to save the brush or any part of make sure you have a good backstop. I shot a pianowire brush out of a 12 GA DB BP and I wanted to save my adaptor. I shot it into my dogs house, dog not in it, and it worked. My dog looked at me like I was crazy but that is a different story! As to getting the breech plug out, the last one I did , I had to heat the breach plug and barrel cherry red! Still like to never got it to screw out. Also you can yse thos CO2 bullet removers if there is no air getting past the brush. If the brush is stuck part of the way in the barrel. 1 inch or farther from the bottom, poke about 30 grains of powder in it before you push the brush back down the barrel. It will come out in one shot that way. I have shot several brushes, cleaning jags, patched balls (kids forgot to put powder first) and any thing else you can imanage out of barrels by poking powder into the barrrel through the nipple or touch hole! The joys of being a 4-H BP shooting coach!
God protect me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies...0 -
You have probably tried this, but I might try using a patch remover to see if I could twist the brush and back it out. Little widget with two sort of twisted prongs. Good Luck!
My heros have always killed cowboys.0 -
Be careful putting metal things down the barrel. The barrels on muzzleloaders are typically made of soft steel and can easily scratch. A scratch in the bore can screw up accuracy.
Rafter-S0
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