I am an idiot. Frustrated to the point of wanting to quit.

I know what I did was stupid. I just got so frustrated and sick and tired of never being able to get things to work for me. I’ve tried 3 different powders. Every time I mess with this stupid gun I work my butt off and maybe get it to shoot a handful of times and it goes back to flash and nothing. I can never get the stupid bullet puller to bite into the ball. In desperation the only way I’ve been able to get it unloaded in the past has been to remove the touch hole plug and tediously push as much powder in the hole as I can fit, then try it it again. Well, this time I wallered the touchhole out and even after I tried cleaning up the slot with very small file, I still couldn’t get it to turn. I even strapped the gun down in a lock down rest and tried to get the powder to ignite with a propane pen torch to the point where I quit bc I was afraid of doing irreparable damage to the finish.

Well I decided that touchhole had to come out and my stupid a$$ got to here and I’m just so frustrated I’m ready to just throw this -deleted- gun in a sinkhole. I really enjoy rendezvous and club shoots or I would if I could ever get my rifle to go off more than 5 times.

I realize how stupid I look here. I swear I’m not that clueless. I literally work with my hands and tools every day. Grew up farming and with modern firearms and have always been a born tinkerer. This type of thing is usually right in my wheel house, but I just got frustrated and rage took over.

I’m going to try this one more time. As embarrassing as this is I am coming to the forum. I’m going to try whatever y’all tell me to do, if I can get it to work, then I’ll stick with it. If not, I’m throwing the damn rifle in a sinkhole.

Tomahawk Taxidermy said:

flash and nothing

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A puzzlement without seeing it. You may need a new touch hole liner.

Tomahawk Taxidermy said:

I know what I did was stupid. I just got so frustrated and sick and tired of never being able to get things to work for me. I’ve tried 3 different powders. Every time I mess with this stupid gun I work my butt off and maybe get it to shoot a handful of times and it goes back to flash and nothing. I can never get the stupid bullet puller to bite into the ball. In desperation the only way I’ve been able to get it unloaded in the past has been to remove the touch hole plug and tediously push as much powder in the hole as I can fit, then try it it again. Well, this time I wallered the touchhole out and even after I tried cleaning up the slot with very small file, I still couldn’t get it to turn. I even strapped the gun down in a lock down rest and tried to get the powder to ignite with a propane pen torch to the point where I quit bc I was afraid of doing irreparable damage to the finish.

Well I decided that touchhole had to come out and my stupid a$$ got to here and I’m just so frustrated I’m ready to just throw this -deleted- gun in a sinkhole. I really enjoy rendezvous and club shoots or I would if I could ever get my rifle to go off more than 5 times.

I realize how stupid I look here. I swear I’m not that clueless. I literally work with my hands and tools every day. Grew up farming and with modern firearms and have always been a born tinkerer. This type of thing is usually right in my wheel house, but I just got frustrated and rage took over.

I’m going to try this one more time. As embarrassing as this is I am coming to the forum. I’m going to try whatever y’all tell me to do, if I can get it to work, then I’ll stick with it. If not, I’m throwing the damn rifle in a sinkhole.

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Tell us what brand the barrel is. What powder you are using, for prime and charge. photo of the lock would help for starters
Larry

that looks like a t/c if it is are you familiar with the breech in those barrels .you may need a t/c special breech scraper.

Tomahawk Taxidermy said:

I know what I did was stupid. I just got so frustrated and sick and tired of never being able to get things to work for me. I’ve tried 3 different powders. Every time I mess with this stupid gun I work my butt off and maybe get it to shoot a handful of times and it goes back to flash and nothing. I can never get the stupid bullet puller to bite into the ball. In desperation the only way I’ve been able to get it unloaded in the past has been to remove the touch hole plug and tediously push as much powder in the hole as I can fit, then try it it again. Well, this time I wallered the touchhole out and even after I tried cleaning up the slot with very small file, I still couldn’t get it to turn. I even strapped the gun down in a lock down rest and tried to get the powder to ignite with a propane pen torch to the point where I quit bc I was afraid of doing irreparable damage to the finish.

Well I decided that touchhole had to come out and my stupid a$$ got to here and I’m just so frustrated I’m ready to just throw this -deleted- gun in a sinkhole. I really enjoy rendezvous and club shoots or I would if I could ever get my rifle to go off more than 5 times.

I realize how stupid I look here. I swear I’m not that clueless. I literally work with my hands and tools every day. Grew up farming and with modern firearms and have always been a born tinkerer. This type of thing is usually right in my wheel house, but I just got frustrated and rage took over.

I’m going to try this one more time. As embarrassing as this is I am coming to the forum. I’m going to try whatever y’all tell me to do, if I can get it to work, then I’ll stick with it. If not, I’m throwing the damn rifle in a sinkhole.

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From your photographs it appears you may have an Investarm made (for example Lyman or Cabela’s brand) half stock of some type.

First question, have you been able to unload and clean the gun?

It looks like you have ‘removed’ the touch hole liner. How do the threads in the barrel look? Hopefully in good shape and you will only need a new liner. If the threads are damaged, time to drill and tap for the next larger touch hole liner.

Put the gun away.
Do something else for a while.
Clear your mind and cool down.
Tomorrow, you will be in a much better head-space to work on it.
Guaranteed.

Got several variables with flint, not so much with percussion. My first store-bought F/L was a Hatfield that didn't like a pan full of powder but fired reliably when less was used and not piled against the touch hole. Simple thing - and I'm willing to bet when you get your glitch figgered out, it'll be simple, too. Go slow & cover one possibility at a time. Good Luck !! Have Fun.

If you zoom in on the touch hole it looks like it has some tow or othe fibers stuck inside. I would stick that end of the bucket of water and plunge the manure out of it!

It may be your socks OR
Clean Clean Clean is the key to a functioning muzzle loader
Sharp flint
Frizzen /Flint wiped off & free of oil as well as the pan
Touch hole insert a wire a paper clip works to keep it open while loading

A good way to pull a ball is to make up a 1/8" drill on a jag. This will require the use of a drill motor . Drill a hole inn the jag insert drill and quick solder in. The drill will then be used to predrill a hole in the ball before screwing the puller into the ball.

Cause when you screw into the ball the ball expands. Predrill not as much expansion. Like predrill wood to prevent a crack.

Follow me for more useful tips and harassment-

Next topic my recipe for shakushaku

Correct me if I am wrong, but it appears that remnants of the touch hole liner is still in the barrel?

I ASSUME you have tried an easy out? A left-hand drill bit may work if you have one. A Dremel with a small carbide bit will get it out but you must use it only if all else fails, nothing screws things up faster than a Dremel.

After you get it out and a new touch hole liner we can ask about the lock and why it is not working properly.

If you are not using this style of ball puller with a brass collar
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/839/1

You are going to be frustrated.

That's why I shoot cap locks and just admire my handsome but wall hanging flintlock that I have fired a couple of times. I bought enough caps back when things first started looking bad so I wouldn't have to ever depend on a rock to have some fun. YMMV

As above, you are asking for help without providing enough information for us to help. Brand, model, caliber of the gun. Approximate age of the gun. Bore picture? Have you gotten the ball, patch and powder out yet? What powder are you using?

Lots of good folks here to help you out.

ADK Bigfoot

More information needed, BUT there are several things you can do. (1) Verify that the bbl. doesn't have a charge + projectile in it. (2) You need to chase the threads, i.e., rethread that hole. (3) Once you determine the manufacturer, you can look for a new touch hole liner and maybe a new flint: Ox-Yoke, now RMC, , Dixie Gun Works, and Track of the Wolf are places to look. (4) I don't think a Chambers' "White Lightnin'" will fit your touch hole and breech without major machining, which is why I suggested RMC, DGW, or TOW. I hope you are able to solve this problem!

P.S. That bbl. can easily be refinished, especially if you brown it.

Whitworth said:

That's why I shoot cap locks and just admire my handsome but wall hanging flintlock that I have fired a couple of times. I bought enough caps back when things first started looking bad so I wouldn't have to ever depend on a rock to have some fun. YMMVG

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Good to hear you are set and happy. Too bad you have not experienced dependable flintlock rifles. If you had, your reply would never have happened.
Larry

Just a few thoughts:

---When you go to pull a ball with a ball puller, you have to get the puller well into the bullet. It usually takes me two or three tries while having the barrel clamped on a bench and me pushing like nuts and turning the ball puller.

---That barrel appears to be T\C. I'm judging that based upon the hook breach size, and the wedge key.

---The flash hole tap looks like it was done with an Ice pick and hammer. I'd question if it actually seals when the gun is fired. That can be repaired by drilling it out (size escapes me right now) putting a big plug in it, then drill and tap the plug for the new liner.

---If you choose to keep the existing vent liner check to see if the flash hole is drilled out to 1/16".

---For stuck balls, I've read where shooters use a CO2 discharge kit. It's not recommended to use an air compressor as you are "compressing" more oxygen into the barrel and should you have a static charge......BOOM!!. If you choose to do that point the barrel in a safe direction.....like into a concrete or block wall. That being said concrete or block walls will ricochet .....be very cautious of this.

It would help to get a few answers need more info. What make of rifle? What powder are you using for main charge and for priming? Are you getting a flash in the pan but doesn't fire? Is your primer failing to ignite? Are you getting good sparks from the frizzen?

First it appears that you have some sort of debris in the bottom of that barrel, to me it appears as possible remnants of a bore brush ?You need to get the bore cleaned out of obstructions and cleaned well and a breech scraper utilized for that sized breech. That bore needs to be clean from any and all obstructions. Then you need to do what ChuckJonesWagon suggests and redo the flash hole before you even begin to assess any other ignition problems. If you are dumping powder down the bore and it does not ignite with a propane torch you got a serious bore obstruction that needs to be addressed for a number of reasons, first being safety. Try and find some one that has some experience on flintlocks in your area for help and guidance.

Stick that breech end of that barrel in a bucket and pump a cleaning patch up and down it till those touch hole threads and breach area looks squeekey clean.
Looks like alotta gunk in there…

That touch hole looks pretty bad. The threads look stripped or at the very least need to be chased with an appropriate tap to clean them up.

Use a compressor and blow some air through the bore to remove whatever debris is in there. It does appear thst part of the liner is still there.

ChuckJonesWagon said:

Just a few thoughts:

---When you go to pull a ball with a ball puller, you have to get the puller well into the bullet. It usually takes me two or three tries while having the barrel clamped on a bench and me pushing like nuts and turning the ball puller.

---That barrel appears to be T\C. I'm judging that based upon the hook breach size, and the wedge key.

---The flash hole tap looks like it was done with an Ice pick and hammer. I'd question if it actually seals when the gun is fired. That can be repaired by drilling it out (size escapes me right now) putting a big plug in it, then drill and tap the plug for the new liner.

---If you choose to keep the existing vent liner check to see if the flash hole is drilled out to 1/16".

---For stuck balls, I've read where shooters use a CO2 discharge kit. It's not recommended to use an air compressor as you are "compressing" more oxygen into the barrel and should you have a static charge......BOOM!!. If you choose to do that point the barrel in a safe direction.....like into a concrete or block wall. That being said concrete or block walls will ricochet .....be very cautious of this.

Click to expand...

Your not using the right ball puller.

Static electricity does not set off black powder.