Brush stuck in barrel

[str8jct]

A week ago I bought a used Cabela's Hawken .50 cal flintlock that was made in about 2004. After shooting it last weekend I was cleaning it with a brand new brass brush. On the first swipe down the barrel the shaft and bristle part came off the threaded nipple part. I used a small caliber rod to try and bend the bristles over to make it easier to get out. Then I used an aluminum arrow to slide over the brush to try and remove it but the arrow would not go all the way to the breech. I removed the touch hole liner and can see the brush but can't push the arrow down that far. So now I'm stuck.

Does anybody know if the breech plug is threaded? Should I be able to apply a little heat and turn it? Can I drop in some powder and try to 'shoot' it out? I'm up for anything cause right now its just an expensive boat anchor. Thanks for any help.

 

[FRJ]

Surely the breech plug should be threaded. No heat is not necessary, just a gentle tap on a wrench should loosen it right up.Make sure to pad it so as to not mar the finish. DONT try to shoot it out!!!! I doubt if it would work anyhow due to the airspace in a brush. I'd try a worm and just twist it till its tangled in the brush and pull it out. FRJ

 

[nmdd]

You might do a search for this problem, I remember reading a thread about this problem and the guys here used a long piece of tubing(brass?) down the barrel to slip over the brush and pull out....Alvin

 

[jerrywh]

You said the shaft and the bristle part came off the threaded nipple part.. do you mean the brush came in screwed from the ram rod? Try and explain further please.

 

[Et2ss]

The way I read it, the brush basically came apart leaving the threaded portion in the cleaning rod. I have had this happen to me on a few occasions. Just not in a front stuffer

 

[str8jct]

Et2 has it right. The threaded portion was still in the cleaning rod.

I have also tried the search function a couple times and have come up empty.

 

[Vtsmoker]

What nmdd said. Go to the hardware store and get a piece of copper pipe that will fit in the bore. Push it down the bore and the brush will go up inside the pipe. Easy removal. Never remove the breech plug unless it is an absolute LAST resort.

 

[MercerLake]

:v Well since the arrow isn't long enough, I'd pull the arrow out and take a trip to the Auto Parts store. Most Auto Stores carry various lengths of DOM steel tubing for brake lines & such. Get one that will fit down the barrel and large enough to pass over the core of the brush. :v

 

[Ken Rummer]

I made cork-screw type turns on the end of a piece of coat hanger and screwed it around the brush bristles and heaved it out.

 

[Problem Child]

A week ago I bought a used Cabela's Hawken .50 cal flintlock that was made in about 2004. After shooting it last weekend I was cleaning it with a brand new brass brush. On the first swipe down the barrel the shaft and bristle part came off the threaded nipple part. I used a small caliber rod to try and bend the bristles over to make it easier to get out. Then I used an aluminum arrow to slide over the brush to try and remove it but the arrow would not go all the way to the breech. I removed the touch hole liner and can see the brush but can't push the arrow down that far. So now I'm stuck.

Does anybody know if the breech plug is threaded? Should I be able to apply a little heat and turn it? Can I drop in some powder and try to 'shoot' it out? I'm up for anything cause right now its just an expensive boat anchor. Thanks for any help.

My Cabela's Hawken Flinter has a patent breech.I believe it about 11/32" diameter and about 1 1/4" deep.I'm guessing that's what stopped the arrow.It sounds like your brush is in the patent breech so you'll need something that will go in there. :idunno:

 

[Macon Due]

If the 'piece of tubing' idea failed.......what about pouring some Sweets 7.62 down the bore? That disolves copper brushes pretty darn quick so maybe it would work in this case? Then just pull out the remains with a loop of line or thin wire. Then scrub out barrel well. Just wondering if this might work....?
Macon

 

[Stumpkiller]

Some brushes are made of two pieces of wire; cut into lengths and then swaged in a threaded base - avoid these for the reason you found. Others use one piece of wire pushed through a hole in the threaded base and are then twisted. These cost a bit more but are less likely to be a problem.

I hung up a brush in 1982 or so and that was the last time I used one in a m/l. HAd to take off the breech. I like the copper tubing method - I first heard of this from Roundball many years back.

 

[nkbj]

Once had a brush come off all the way down at the bottom of a .40 fast twist barrel. I used a piece of 3/8" brass tubing. Beveled the bore on the end of the brass tube and pushed it right down over the brush.

 

[str8jct]

Those measurement are most helpful. The arrow was long enough but was stopped short for some reason, guess I know why now. I will find some tubing that'l fit. I guess you know this because you've had it out?

Thanks for all the replies. I will report back which method worked.

 

[tom deinek]

" Never remove the breech plug unless it is an absolute LAST resort. "

I've heard this advice for 30 years but no one explains why. I've taken breech plugs off but only after making a witness mark.Never have had a problem.

Would you please expand upon your advice?

 

[Klondike Mike]

I had the same situation with my TC 54 Renegade. I took out the nipple, trickled some Ffffg into the breech, put the nipple back in and fired it out. Worked slicker than owl snot. Never used a brush again though. Mike

 

[silverfox]

Just had to correct the same problem this week. The owner used a steel brush and of course it came off and stuck solid. He tried to shoot it out and it wouldn't move. He claime he tried a tube but got nowhere. A friend of mind made a cork screw and it wrapped around the brush but we still couldn't get it out.
Last resort was to cut 1/4 inch pieces of patch material and with a small pick put them through the drum until they sealed the base of the brush then we blew it out. Had to do this several times to get enough material to seal the breach below the brush.
I persomally like the corkscrew but don't lose it down there also. Our screw is welded on a stainless rod.
Good luck
Fox

 

[Greenjoytj]

Stumpkiller gave the best tip, and needs to be said again as so many stores sell the wrong kind of brush. Never use that type of brush that is swaged to the shank you screw into the rod.
ONLY use the type of brush that has the brush wire passing through a hole in the threaded shank!

The idea of disolveing the bristles with sweets is great.
At the least it will weaken the springyness of the bristles.
Then use the pipe tube over the brush trick.

 

[Prairieofthedog]

GreenJoytg,I'ts funny you mention the different styles of brush attachment.I just bought a brass brush and mop from Thompson Center for my kid.From a muzzleloading company guess how the shafts are attatched to the threaded tip of the shafts.Swaged of coarse LOL!I guess it doesn't matter if you pull a brush off it's shaft in a inline which is TC's main focus these days.

 

[nit wit]

I would try to shoot it out, the barrel won't blow up, 50 gr.powder, tap the butt on the floor then a wad over the powder. Should do the trick or put a patch down and engage the wire,put another patch down to seal the bore and then use a ball discharger, your choice.
Nit WIT