got me a problem...

[pa woods roamer]

Ok, here goes!! I traded for a custom built .45. It has a Green Mt. barrel and a Siler lock. I shot it after I got it, shot good and went off good. I got it out today and loaded it up and it would not go off! Finally had to pull the ball. Took the lock off and it was all sludge inside the touchhole. I got a flashlight and this is what I found. The builder has the touchhole drilled about 1/4" into the barrel end of the Breechplug, thus leaving about 1/2" of threads screwed into the barrel. Also there is a lip on the Breechplug that is preventing the ramrod from bottoming out leaving a gooey residue. Is there a remedy? Can the barrel be re-breeched and move back and is this gun safe to shoot! Hoping you understand the problem and thanks...

 

[Bookie]

Sounds like you have a "patent breech" and this is normal. If it is, the barrel just didn't get cleaned enough in this area. The ramrod should not bve allowed to enter this powder chamber(hole). Cheers, Bookie

 

[pa woods roamer]

The lip that I was talking about is just on the top of the barrel. There is no lip on the bottom....

 

[tx50cal]

Lots of old builder drilled the touch hole right at the end of the breech plug. They then took a file and kind of opened the area on the front of the plug to act like a funnel. Make sure that you get the pattent breech clean with a .30-36 cal bore brush and lots of flushing. I always look down my bore with a strong flash light to make sure the patent breech is nice and clean. Hope this helps.
Rob

 

[Zonie]

Sounds to me like the touch hole was drilled too far aft.
While this permits the breech plug threads to be exposed directly to the powder gas pressure I don't think it makes the gun unsafe to fire. Just a PITA to clean.
If you can remove the barrel and place the breech into a bucket full of water, then use a patched jag to "pump" the water rapidly into and out of the barrel it will blow away any fouling that's lurking in the area.

Zonie

 

[Stophel]

You should NEVER have to scrub out powder fouling...it is WASHED out with water! Let the water do the work.