Breech plug removal question.

[Ed C.]

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The OP stated that he wants to learn how to remove the breech plug, nothing wrong with a little knowledge.

It is good to know how to remove a breech plug and the tools necessary to do it correctly. With that knowledge you can go to step 1...deciding weather or not you have the skills and tools to do the job. What is routine for some can be a nightmare for others, You need to know your limitations.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

You need to know your limitations. ~Dirty Harry~

 

[Rob M.]

Yeah ... Dont remove it bud .It ain't worth the trouble . Modern breech plugs are SO f&%#ing tight ! Funny ... In the 18th century ,Johnathan Alder talks about in breeching his gun out in the field ...No tools ! How the he// ? Any who ... The first 50 times was the worst for me !! LOL ! ... When you have to ... Just my version , everyone has their own way ... My machine vice I have plywood jaws on it all the time but with breech plug removal I put in the sheet metal covers I made ... The barrel is put in vice near breech , bottom of breech up ...tighten that sucker a lot !! .. If there isn't a mark to show breech position is perfect , then make one ...hack saw cut works ... I use a large crescent wrench , turned to go counter clock wise , I use a hammer and pop that wrench on the handle in the direction to loosen it , make sure you are hitting down !! Popping it like that you will see it move ... Keep popping it and it goes an 8th or maybe even a 4th the way ...turn it rest by hand ... You got it ... While popping it make sure barrel isn't cing out of vice . If it is even a little ... start all over , get that barrel in that vice and really torgue it down !! Dont ever don't his with out jaw covers unless you just hate your barrel and finish !!! Keep popping that wrench till you see the movement at your mark . Sometimes it is easy ...most the time ...you wonder if it is EVER going to turn !! The modern ones are D@mn tight and if they havent been removed in ten years ... WOOH !!! Removing the breech , Its a pain in the arse to do so only do it ifn ya really have to .... All the best !!

 

[Grenadier1758]

Take careful note of @Rob M.'s picture. The jaws of the vise are clamped so as not to put pressure on the threads of the breech plug while in the vise.

I too have heard of original rifles that the breech plug could be turned out by hand. To be sure you would want enough torque to seal the plug and barrel. Many modern barrels have the breech plug over torqued. I have also seen some original rifles with breech plugs really set into place. We had the right tools to remove the breech plug. The barrel had a very corroded barrel at the breech that needed to be removed and the barrel cleaned up enough to shoot. Judging from all the sight dovetails, this would be the third rebreeching. It took the big wrench with the extra long cheater bar, but it was done.

So, to get back to the original post by @Flintlock Whiskey, he should learn how to properly remove the breech plug and why the plug should be removed. The right tools include a sturdy work bench, a heavy duty vise securely bolted to the work bench, smooth accessory jaws for the vise, a large smooth jaws crescent wrench ( or better one of the specialized tools that match the shape of the breech plug), a cheater bar to add leverage to remove the plug and a fairly heavy machinist's hammer for that initial impact. Get the illustrated parts diagram to know how the breech was assembled and if the touch hole is threaded through the barrel and breech.

After all this, removing the breech plug for deep cleaning of a well maintained rifle after a couple of years is not advised or in the opinion of most of us necessary.

 

[Taevers]

in my experience they are very tight, safest way to get it out without marking the finish is to do this; get hold of the breech tang in a vice (soft jaws) with the barrel vertical, put a piece of timber halfway up the barrel horizontally, put a piece of rope ( natural sizal is best) around the left hand side of the timber as you look at it, wind the rope clockwise around the barrel above the timber and anti clockwise below, now when you put any force on the timber to unscrew the barrel off the breech plug the rope self tightens and grips the barrel without marking, make sure to use a strong piece of timber and rope, I have not had it fail yet.

Got a heck of a bunch of machine shop tools and millwright experience at my disposal, but I’ve got to hand it to you Jor, you get the horse sense award of the week! Take a bow.