Gaaah! Help! Can't get stuck ball out

[brewer12345]

I gone shot off this afternoon and the second ball stuck halfway down the barrel I broke the ramrod, tried a CO2 discharger, anchored the ball pulling screw in and pulled until I saw stars with the range rod when I got it home. Poured some ballistol down the barrel to try to grease the skids. It won't budge. I have been trying different things for hours now. Any suggestions?

 

[deermanok]

Might be a bit risky but maybe if you take off the nipple and put maybe 5 grains or so of powder in there. Then touch er' off.
Should be enough to push the ball out.

 

[Flintandsteel]

How in the world did you get a ball stuck on the way down?
If it's that badly fouled after one shot, you have more trouble than a stuck ball.
If it's loaded, DO NOT TOUCH IT OFF! Good way to ring a barrel.
Lots of liquid lube, anchor the rod, and pull on the gun. It went in there, so it will come out.

 

[brewer12345]

I am extremely reluctant to fire it. Ball is halfway down the barrel and there was a large powder charge put in first.

 

[brewer12345]

How in the world did you get a ball stuck on the way down?
If it's that badly fouled after one shot, you have more trouble than a stuck ball.
If it's loaded, DO NOT TOUCH IT OFF! Good way to ring a barrel.
Lots of liquid lube, anchor the rod, and pull on the gun. It went in there, so it will come out.

I wish I knew. Looked exactly like every other time I have loaded round ball. Even a double patch wouldn't stick this bad.

I dumped some ballistol down the barrel and gave it half an hour. Nothing doing. I pulled the range rod until I saw stars. The ball did not budge. Do I pour more oil in and leave it overnight?

 

[Gun Tramp]

Do nothing more until you've gathered and studied the knowledgeable answers that will be offered by members here.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Brewer - if you will take the time to finish your profile and let us know where you are matbe one of us that is local can come to your aid and show you some good ways to pull a stuck ball. I am thinking that you probably got the sprue turned sideways and stuck it that way. That happened to me in my primary education as well. A good solid rod and a good screw will get that ball out. Don't try pulling the rod out, anchor the rod well and pull the gun off the rod. Don't panic, it's not the end of the world.

 

[brewer12345]

Brewer - if you will take the time to finish your profile and let us know where you are matbe one of us that is local can come to your aid and show you some good ways to pull a stuck ball. I am thinking that you probably got the sprue turned sideways and stuck it that way. That happened to me in my primary education as well. A good solid rod and a good screw will get that ball out. Don't try pulling the rod out, anchor the rod well and pull the gun off the rod. Don't panic, it's not the end of the world.

That us exactly what I have been doing. I have stuck a ball before and was able to either use CO2 or a ball puller. Have been anchoring the rod and pulling on the rifle for all I am worth. Doesn't budge.

I am in the south Denver burbs. Should I be going down to the hardware store for a grease gun and zerks tomorrow morning? Seems like that would make a horrendous mess of the barrel.

 

[brewer12345]

OK, I just anchored the rod in a bench vise and pulled as hard as I could. No dice. I am 200+ pounds and in good enough shape that I routinely spend a few hours at a time swinging a splitting axe.

 

[mooman76]

The grease gun is your best bet under current circumstances. Messy but it will clean. You have too much air between breech and ball to use either co2 or pinch of powder under nipple and you can NOT go that route anyway with a powder charge in there. You'll ring the barrel if you set it off.

 

[brewer12345]

At this point I am wondering if I ruined my barrel. 54 TC Greyhawk. Suppose if I have trashed it or can't get the ball out I can look for another New Englander barrel.

 

[Carbon 6]

OK, I just anchored the rod in a bench vise and pulled as hard as I could. No dice. I am 200+ pounds and in good enough shape that I routinely spend a few hours at a time swinging a splitting axe.

Tie the rod to something stout leaving some slack in the line and give it a sharp yank.
Pull straight. This will amplify the pulling force. I always carry a line with me in the field so I don't have to use a shoelace. use a prussic knot.

It's just like a stuck bolt, some times you have to use a little "impact" to break them loose.

 

[Grenadier1758]

One of the problems with ball pullers is that the screw expands the ball adding to the difficulty in pulling it from the barrel.

 

[mooman76]

Don't get ahead of your self. The barrel isn't ruined until it is ruined.

 

[brewer12345]

Don't get ahead of your self. The barrel isn't ruined until it is ruined.

You are right. I will hit the hardware store tomorrow morning for a grease gun. Anyone happen to know what the threads are on a TC? Presume I need that info to get the right zerk.

 

[mooman76]

Remove the nipple and take it with you.

 

[brewer12345]

Remove the nipple and take it with you.

Good idea.

 

[Grenadier1758]

A T/C nipple is 1/4-28.

 

[Carbon 6]

Tie the rod to a tree and save yourself a trip. I do it all the time.

 

[bang]

Get a piece of all thread. Fit the pulling jag to it. Put a washer under a nut on the all thread and draw it out.