Got a ball stuck.

[dheisner]

Hey Folks,

I had little accident while hunting and filled my .58 Mississippi rifle full of mud. I dug out as much mud as I could, but I can't seem to get the ball puller to screw into the Miniball that is stuck in there. I keep getting mud and a thread or two full of lead.

How can I safely get the ball out without screwing the gun up.... or blowing myself up? I thought about buying one of those CO2 powered ball extractors, but I am afraid that I may have screwed a hole all the way through the Miniball so that the air will pass through the hole in the bullet instead of pushing it out. I also thought about trying to rig up some kind of fittings to push it out using a water hose hooked up to the musket nipple hole.

This is the one and only muzzleloader I have ever had and so even though I have been hunting with BP for years, I don't know much about any of the tricks of the trade.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

BP Newbie (sort of)

 

[captaincaveman]

I have no ideaw what to do :shocked2: , but good luck buddy

Josh

 

use water to FLUSH out the mud ball, then manufacture a puller with a long coarse screw. Soak the whole mess with PB Blaster and fasten the rod in the vise, and pull with a steady pressure. Good luck :v Spelling.

 

[Rebel]

Get as grease zirk and screw it into the vent hole then take a grease gun and pump it out.

 

[john4645]

Get as grease zirk and screw it into the vent hole then take a grease gun and pump it out.

WHAT? :hmm:

 

[Rebel]

This has been discussed before here for stuck balls, jags etc. If you have a standard 1/4x28 vent linner or nipple, take it out, screw in the grease zirk and then take a grease gun and start pumping grease in until the ball or whatever, comes out the muzzle. Then clean the grease out of the bore.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Get as grease zirk and screw it into the vent hole then take a grease gun and pump it out.

WHAT? :hmm:

Common procedure, in this case, unscrew the percussion nipple, screw in grease zerk, attach GG nozzle to zerk, stroke handle, grease pressure will force the load out the muzzle. And then, have fun cleaning. :grin:

 

[kjmillig]

I would try the CO2 first. Be sure to remove your vent liner or nipple and soak the powder charge in water. If you're only getting one or two threads of lead, you're not getting really screwed into the miniball. Depending on the lead purity (softness), it could take a LOT of pressure to really dig in. Use a long range rod for this. Once in, then clamp the rod into a bench vice and pull like there's no tomorrow.
IF your breech plug will screw out, it's then an easy task to push the whole mess out the breech end. My breech plug will come out without too much work.
Don't worry...there's 2 kinds of muzzleloading shooters: those that have had a ball stuck, and those that will.
Let us know what happens. :winking:

 

[Slamfire]

I use my soap and water cleanin' solution, after soakon' the breech and powder charge out of the barrel. Makes pullin' the ball/conical/minie a whole lot easier. :winking:

 

[Bill Bryan]

I doubt that you cut a hole completely throught the miniball. Just clean the crud out and put a few grains of black powder under the nipple. Then shoot it out.

 

[guncobbler]

Couldn't you just pump water with your grease gun? Might make the cleaning job a little easier. Just have to ensure that your grease gun doesn't leak the water while you are pumping. GC

 

[Poor Boy]

I can't believe some of the stupid replies,that people get when they want to know something important.......CO2 is the best and safest. Just make sure the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction...................OLSON

 

[Birddog6]

You are not screwing the ball puller in far enough to make it hole to the bullet.

Easiest thing to do :

1: Wash out the mud & crud. Dry it wellwht dry patches.

2: Take a VERY oily patch & lube the barrel. I would just squirt some on in the bore & then swab the H out of it.

3: A: Take a air compressor, 125# plus pressure & a nozzle with a Rubber tip, remove nipple/vent & blast it out. Be SURE you have it pointed in a safe direction as it is gonna really come out of there plus you will have powder behind it going everywhere. I take my hose to the yard & blow mine into the ground.

B: Buy a CO2 discharger & use that to remove it & again make sure it is pointed in a safe direction..

 

[dheisner]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll work on it this weekend and let you all know how it goes.