Crockett rifle

[BGRooster1]

So, nobody knows how long the chamber is ? Guess it is time to call Traditions and hear what they have to say.

 

[BrownBear]

Haven't gone digging, but a couple or three years back there was a thread about mods to the breech including photos. I don't recall who posted it or precisely when, but a search of the site would likely turn it up. I seem to recall it included lots of measurements. It's kind of a paper tiger for me, since using smaller diameter cleaning patches is a viable work-around.

 

[BGRooster1]

BrownBear , I'll do a search and see what I find ,Thanks

 

[BGRooster1]

Found an article on the internet by Junior Doughty called "cleaning a muzzleloader 1010". He says the chamber is about ,.230" X 1 1/2" and he uses a .22 caliber brass brush to clean the chamber.

 

[hanshi]

Don't worry about it; it's long enough.

 

[jdkerstetter]

Found an article on the internet by Junior Doughty called "cleaning a muzzleloader 1010". He says the chamber is about ,.230" X 1 1/2" and he uses a .22 caliber brass brush to clean the chamber.

Weren't some here saying the chamber was oversized?

Undersized is fine and historicly not that uncommon on percussion guns with patent breeches. As long as you know it's there it really isn't a handicap. You just need the proper breech face scraper to clean it. The only complaint about that set up is that it usually results in a longer flash channel if not set up properly.

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[BrownBear]

Found an article on the internet by Junior Doughty called "cleaning a muzzleloader 1010". He says the chamber is about ,.230" X 1 1/2" and he uses a .22 caliber brass brush to clean the chamber.

I'm not so sure about that. Maybe he's talking about the back of it, and recommending a smaller brush ala Lyman GPRs. The front of the chamber is much wider than the .320 bore, hence the hanging of oversize patches.

You have to watch for cleaning patches hanging on the the rear of the barrel as the jag tries to exit the chamber and run back up into the bore. There's quite a step. I've found that a patch no more than 3x bore diameter is doesn't tend to hang like a larger one, but I also have my cleaning rod marked. I stop just as the jag reaches the back of the barrel, and don't even risk going into the chamber unless I slip up.

 

[BGRooster1]

Sounds like someone was smoking something they shouldn't have been when designing this .lol

BrownBear I could not find the posts you mentioned.I can't seem to go back more than 2 years.Even after setting the search for the largest parameters.

 

[jdkerstetter]

I don't have any for comparison but I would bet that Traditions used one of their existing breeches on this rifle that had the inside diameter drilled out for use on their .45's or some other caliber.

Saves the engineering of a new one and stocking multiple parts.

Anyone? J.D.

 

[BrownBear]

BrownBear I could not find the posts you mentioned.I can't seem to go back more than 2 years.Even after setting the search for the largest parameters.

I'm in the thick of some things right now, but when I get the chance I'll go looking.

Come to think of it, a neighbor pulled the breech on his Crockett some time back and was showing it to me. I didn't think to take pics, but I'll check and see if he did.

 

[hanshi]

I don't know if my experience has been unique or what, but I've NEVER had ANY problem of any kind with any of the many patent breech rifles I've owned or still own. This includes the little Crockett. Mine shoots accurately and reliably and is easy to clean and keep clean despite the patent breech. This also goes for the ones I've owned in flint persuasion.

I don't particularly like the patent breech and never choose it over the flat variety. Still, I must confess that I've also NEVER had a problem with them, either.

 

[Zonie]

Sounds like we need to get someone who owns a Crockett to cut their breech in half so we will know what's going on inside.

First off, it makes no sense to intentionally incorporate a powder chamber that is larger in diameter than the bore.

Noting someones post above that said they were, or knew someone that did use a .22 cleaning brush to clean the powder chamber leads me to think that it is actually smaller than .320.

I am guessing but I've always believed the problem with getting cleaning patches stuck down at the breech plug face was due to poor breaching.
Poor tolerancing and assembly is not an unknown thing with some of the Spanish made guns.

If the face of the breech plug doesn't snug up right against the shoulder where the bore ends it will leave a gap. This can happen with any breached barrel if some part of the breech plug bottoms out on the rear of the barrel before the face of the breech plug reaches the bore.

When this happens, the small gap can serve as a place for the cleaning patch to catch and then act like it is stuck until some blue words are spoken loudly at the barrel.

So, who's going to volunteer their Crockett for the saw? :hmm: :grin:

 

[Ed Wingenroth]

An X-Ray would a lot easier (if avaiable)....

 

[jdkerstetter]

A "properly" set up patent breech is quite an advantage as is demonstrated by the Hawken percussion patent breech.

The problem is when some company or builder uses a breech plug with the reduced chamber of the Nock type patent breech but then screws a drum into the side of it where the flint vent would go. This creates a long and restricted ignition path that is prone to slow igintion and fouling.

If you have been smart or lucky in your purchases or cleaned you gun properly and religously you may not have run into this problem.

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[BrownBear]

Sounds like we need to get someone who owns a Crockett to cut their breech in half so we will know what's going on inside.

First off, it makes no sense to intentionally incorporate a powder chamber that is larger in diameter than the bore.

Noting someones post above that said they were, or knew someone that did use a .22 cleaning brush to clean the powder chamber leads me to think that it is actually smaller than .320.

I am guessing but I've always believed the problem with getting cleaning patches stuck down at the breech plug face was due to poor breaching.
Poor tolerancing and assembly is not an unknown thing with some of the Spanish made guns.

If the face of the breech plug doesn't snug up right against the shoulder where the bore ends it will leave a gap. This can happen with any breached barrel if some part of the breech plug bottoms out on the rear of the barrel before the face of the breech plug reaches the bore.

When this happens, the small gap can serve as a place for the cleaning patch to catch and then act like it is stuck until some blue words are spoken loudly at the barrel.

So, who's going to volunteer their Crockett for the saw? :hmm: :grin:

You triggered something in my memory gland, and I finally tracked down the friend who had pulled the plug on his Crockett. When screwed down tight, the barrel is not set back all the way against the face of the breech, and it's a gap there that's causing the trouble. His recollection is that it's a gap close to the thickness of an SAE flat washer, and it's his intention someday to turn one to fit as a "spacer."

Doesn't sound like a big gap, but it's sure a patch grabber. Seems like a design or manufacturing flaw, and it's consistent in all the Crocketts I've seen around here.

 

[whitenumber5]

This thread's startled me enough to get me to de-lurk! I have one and enjoy it, but the possibility of an oversized chamber is interesting. If I were to accidently load ball before powder, how would I get the thing out?

I haven't yet, but now that I'm worried about it, it's probably even more just a matter of time.

Bill

 

[ebiggs1]

Poor tolerancing and assembly is not an unknown thing with some of the Spanish made guns.

If the outside of the gun is not any better than the one Cabela's had, I can only imagine what the parts that you can't see look like.

 

[BrownBear]

Been there done that. :redface:

In my case a the CO2 discharger popped it right out.

 

[hanshi]

I don't know; maybe I just don't get around enough. In MY Crockett the breech end chamber is easily seen with a good bore light and it is small, well under .32 caliber. It's easy to clean with a small brush or mop and has never, ever snagged a patch or caused a misfire in all the years I've owned and shot it. I can't speak for others but this has been MY experience with one.

 

[Rat Trapper]

Hanshi,

You got one of the good ones! There seem to be plenty that are not so good.