Filing barrel for breech plug fit?

[Birddog1911]

I tried to remove the breech plug from my Dragoon barrel, and it wouldn't budge. I'm ordering a Rice vice jaws, and plug wrench. In the mean time, I've been wondering. If I take off just a VERY small amount of metal off of the barrel, it should be a little easier to I dex when I put the plug back in. Or, should I just try anti-seize first, and see where that gets me?

 

[nhmoose]

Use anti-seize don't cut the barrel

 

[david w]

Anti-seize

 

[Phil Coffins]

Before you decide on what to do get the plug out. The threads maybe bottoming out too soon or are rough. See why it’s hard to turn then figure out what to do.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I've seen some imports that had the breech plug spot welded in place. Proceed cautiously.

 

[Birddog1911]

The barrel came from MBS, for my French Dragoon kit, not the importer British.

 

[user 34300]

If I pull a plug that took gorilla strength to remove I fix it. There will be some areas of the plug that are making contact with the barrel. IF the barrel is galled I even that up. When working on the barrel the file is held flat an moved carefully to avoid any tilt. IF the plug nose is the problem, I relieve that. I only takes the smallest amount of metal removal. Often the people who fit these things use brute force to get the last fraction of a turn. When doing that something gets galled to some extent, ofthen that his the threads on the nose of the plug. That is what I clean up first. I shoot for a moderate amount of force on a 10" or so crescent wrench, something like 30 foot pounds. Installing and removing the plug will make it fit looser over time.

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

Installing and removing the plug will make it fit looser over time.

So will turning the BP in your hand with a piece of fine emery cloth. Then take some steel wool and put it on an old bore brush, put it in your drill and buff the threads on the inside of the breech. Gets rid of all the burrs. The BP will screw in nicely afterward. Semper Fi.