Breech Plug

[George C]

Since the removal of a breech plug involves the risk of bending or marring of the barrel, the amateur
should not attempt to remove the breech plug itself.

I believe this can be accomplished without bending or marring of the barrel.

 

[2grouse]

If you ever put heat to a barrel, you better be sure there’s no powder in there.

 

[Black Hand]

Since the removal of a breech plug involves the risk of bending or marring of the barrel, the amateur
should not attempt to remove the breech plug itself.

I believe this can be accomplished without bending or marring of the barrel.

Removing the breechplug to remove a stuck ball is equivalent to disassembling a motor in order to replace the plugs and wires...

 

[bob308]

well yes and no on that one. if the guy that brings the barrel to you says I forgot the powder and tried to pull it. I have no problem shooting it out. I have even shot out stuck ram rods.

bt I had a 63 Springfield come in something was stuck in the barrel. I pulled the plug. found 2 loads a file a piece wire.

 

[nwtradegun]

if you need parts.. https://www.deercreekproducts.net/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

 

[necchi]

I believe this can be accomplished without bending or marring of the barrel.

Your right. I have two of those T/C breech plug tools you mentioned earlier.
In 35yrs I have used one once, and only to send the rusted barrel to another member here to use at his forge to make tomahawks.
Do you have a 24"-36" crescent wrench and a 6-8" padded jaw vice mounted to a nearly immovable bench?
Point is folks here are trying to impress upon you that removing a factory breech plug by the typical Traditional Muzzle loading gun owner is not necessary at all.
All things needing to be done to the internal breech area of a T/C rifle can be done without removing the breech plug. And as noted in my previous quote from the handbook about "amateur",, it's a complete amateur misconception that he needs to remove the breech plug for common service of his rifle.
It's up to you to accept the collective experienced knowledge of the forum or not.
If not, knock yourself out,, have fun pulling the plug.

 

[M. De Land]

"Dry ball" means there is no powder behind it.
I wouldn't even pull a ball with powder behind it unless I first killed it with water.

 

[Black Hand]

I wouldn't even pull a ball with powder behind it unless I first killed it with water.

A ball can be safely pulled without wetting the powder. Done it dozens of times.
The powder doesn't go off by magic...

 

[eggwelder]

i love these discussions...... op: op:

 

[George C]

I have a friend that is a machinist he also holds federal tool and die papers. He gets all my metal projects. I am a wood butcher not a machinist, I know when it is out of my league and when it is not. He has built tools to remove things in diesel fuel injectors that once were installed supposedly couldn't be taken out, the company he worked for wanted to recycle the parts because they were high dollar to make so they gave him the project to see if they could be removed they now recycle that part for a large saving to the company. They hold the patent on the tool he made. I am sure removing a breech plug would be no problem for him if I needed one removed which I do not.

 

[necchi]

Whatever man.
Knock yourself out,, we only do trad ml's here.

 

[M. De Land]

Like I said, I won't do it without wetting the powder if I can't shoot it out safely.
Call me over cautious , I don't care!

 

[mooman76]

I don't think anyone is really arguing that you can't remove the breech plug with enough time and effort. It's getting it back together properly that is the real problem. It obviously isn't a impossible task as some people have done it but the real question is, is it worth it?

 

[azmntman]

You mean plug? I agree, it can be done but what it would cost me to get it done (and I would screw it up) is more than a barrel on evil bay and likely even deercreek :idunno:

 

[mooman76]

You are correct, I did mean breech plug rather than lock. I have the flue so maybe I shouldn't be responding right now.

 

[azmntman]

:metoo:

:td:

 

[Walker357]

I thought that was why they were called muzzleloaders. No hole in the back to put anything in or have anything come out. :hmm:

 

[jrdavis]

Of all of the sidelock guns on the market, the CVA and Traditions are probably the guns that rank as the worst ones to try to remove the breech plug.

The breech plug is not only screwed into the rear of the barrel but, after this is done, a cross-hole is drilled and threaded and either a drum on a percussion gun or a plug on a flintlock is firmly screwed into it.

This results in needing to remove the drum or plug before any attempt is made to actually remove the breech plug.

You can see my drawing of this type of breech in the upper right hand of this picture.

The only reason for removing a breech plug IMO is to rebore and rifle the barrel or to get a stuck ball with a hole thru its center out of the bore.

(There are several good ways to get a "dry ball" out of a barrel that do not require removing the breech plug).

Anyway, it is best to consider the breech plug on all muzzleloaders as a fixed part of the barrel that is not meant to be removed.

The problem is when you reinstall the drum the hole won’t line up in the barrel that being said if you have a really long drill bit you can redrill itor putbin a new one and drill it

 

[Okie Hog]

Removing the breechplug to remove a stuck ball is equivalent to disassembling a motor in order to replace the plugs and wires...

This^^^

Just before deer season an acquaintance came to borrow a conventional muzzleloader. Asked him what happened to his nice TC rifle. He had removed the breech plug to remove a dry ball. He got the breech plug cross threaded, the barrel is junk.

Told the guy that my extra gun was already loaned out. Don't want him touching my gun.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Like I said, I won't do it without wetting the powder if I can't shoot it out safely.
Call me over cautious , I don't care!

Many ml ranges have a place where a sturdily handled ramrod can be held while in the rifle pointing a safe direction. This allows a strong pull on the rifle to remove a stuck ball. Quick, safe, simple.