Help with stuck bullet

[mooman76]

Definitely a good sturdy RR. I wouldn't even attempt it without. It could complicate things if it breaks or the tip comes off.

 

[erhunter]

This may sound stupid and maybe incorrect, but why don't you screw your puller back into the bullet. unscrew your ram rod and try a small powder charge. This may be enough to seal up your hole in the bullet and blast it out. The only thing you'll be out of is the ball puller. Remember try a small powder charge!

 

[FishDFly]

"you screw your puller back into the bullet. unscrew your ram rod and try a small powder charge. This may be enough to seal up your hole in the bullet and blast it out"

Should do wonder to the rifling as things blast out of there.

 

[hawkeye2]

"I tried the charge several times, but the pressure just blows out the barrel. Think my bullet puller went down along the side of the bullet and created an avenue for the gases to get past"

If the steel screw is between the bullet and the barrel it will very likely damage the barrel when it's fired. If the screw has gone between the barrel and bullet all the way to the base it will have left a groove grease (or anything else) will pass through without moving the bullet (see his post quoted above). I would try centering the puller screw exactly in the bullet using a new ball puller with a washer on it, tape, aquarium tubing, fuel line. anything that works. Clean the barrel above the bullet so there is no fouling. Pour some detergent down the barrel and let it soak for a while for a lube. If the barrel is clean and lubed it shouldn't take much to pull the bullet.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Worse comes to worse, get yourself a 1/4 X 28 zerk grease fitting and pump some grease in. It will push out the bullet, but will leave an awful mess to clean up.

That wont work on a conical - they are not tight and sealed with the bore. The OP has already stated that air just blows around the bullet. The rifling will engage but the bore does not seal until it gets some explosive pressure behind it. And besides that - that d%^n grease it leaves a huge mess to clean up- wait until you get the correct puller - it will come right out. Don't be surprised if you push the bullet all the way down the barrel - that's no sweat.

 

[Griz44Mag]

This may sound stupid and maybe incorrect, but why don't you screw your puller back into the bullet. unscrew your ram rod and try a small powder charge. This may be enough to seal up your hole in the bullet and blast it out. The only thing you'll be out of is the ball puller. Remember try a small powder charge!

NO NO NO NO -

 

[Cosmo]

Here is a pic of the bullet puller and bullet.

I tried the charge several times, but the pressure just blows out the barrel. Think my bullet puller went down along the side of the bullet and created an avenue for the gases to get past

The puller you have pictured is a complete, absolute, unequivocal, without equal piece of garbage. You will never get the bullet out using one of those. I know from experience. The recommended puller from TOTW will work, but it won't be easy. Just follow the instructions Appalachian Hunter gave you.

And welcome to The Dry Hole Club...your membership card is in the mail.

 

[Mad Professor]

The puller you have pictured is a complete, absolute, unequivocal, without equal piece of garbage. You will never get the bullet out using one of those. I know from experience. The recommended puller from TOTW will work, but it won't be easy. Just follow the instructions Appalachian Hunter gave you.

And welcome to The Dry Hole Club...your membership card is in the mail.

Those TOTW bullet pullers work great, they stay centered You do need to put pressure down on the rod to get the screw started, or you'll strip the lead. Think of it like getting a wood screw started into a wood board. But the "screw" is now 30" long. And you need the screw to hit the center mark. A nice T-handle for your rod will be an asset.

You can make T-handles that double as short starters from a broom handle and some hardware to fit your ramrod. I use brass but stainless hardware is good too. Goes in possibles bag. My camera is down, later I'll post a picture.

 

[Billy Boy]

Everyone who has scraped a flint or popped a cap has been in this same place. Don’t feel bad. Many good suggestions here. The collared puller from Track is the best. Worked for me the one time in my life , ages ago, when it happened to me ......
wink.....

 

[Packrat]

Yeah, its in there. The bullet remover was gripping the lead, but would not stay in. Lead was in the threads of the bullet remover. Unfortunately, the bullet has pushed way down the barrel from me trying to get the bullet puller started.....

gonna try using an air compressor inserted through the nipple first Since I cant find the Co2 bullet remover Tool. If that fails, I Have on order drill bits that have 10/32 male threads. Thinking that I could drill a pilot hole in the bullet so that the bullet puller has an easier start. May also help to reduce the amount of expansion the bullet has to do as the puller is screwed in.....oh, will generously lube the barrel as well

if there are any other suggestions, or if what i am proposing sounds insane, let me know...

thanks everyone!

Also helps to use some lubricant, allow it to soak a bit than try again. I also , with a strong metal rod, tie a heavy rope, / string and than tie to tree, post, ect and just pull for all i'm worth

 

[Rifleman1776]

Centering the proper screw is essential. Follow advice given so far and you will be OK.

 

[bang]

Push come to shove get a piece of thin walled metal tubing that will fit loosely in the bore. Get a threaded drill bit. Put nut on it. Slide tube and bit in to bore. Use 1/4 drive to turn the bit in to the projectile use heavy pressure and try to snag the projectile. Use a female threaded rod to grab the bit and pull it out. Even if you drill through it it will weaken the sides. Make a hook to put through it a pull it. Might even try a tight brush or patch through it to pull.

 

[Jimbrynn]

Well, let me just say this is the most helpful forum I have ever been on! Big thanks for this great advice and brain storming session. So, I think my previous method of loading powder down the nipple and firing must have removed the bullet without me realizing it. each time I was standing on my deck pointing the gun down at the grass 10 feet away.....

But, this Is what I did to make sure. I ran a bunch of warm water down the barrel and used a brass brush to get out as much residue as I could, and flushed the barrel again. I ran the barrel scope down the barrel and this is what I saw. But, not knowing what the inside of a TC barrel looks like, I am assuming the bullet is gone? Let me know if these pics are not clear. Also, after it was done I ran a breech scraper down the barrel (you will see a slight golden color on the bottom of the breech.....thoughts

 

[hawkeye2]

Far better safe than sorry! You erred on the safe side and learned a lot. A good way of checking to see if your gun is clear and to end a range session is to snap a cap with the gun at your shoulder pointed down range and then snap another cap pointing the gun at some grass or a leaf looking for movement.

 

[Zonie]

Well, let me just say this is the most helpful forum I have ever been on! Big thanks for this great advice and brain storming session. So, I think my previous method of loading powder down the nipple and firing must have removed the bullet without me realizing it. each time I was standing on my deck pointing the gun down at the grass 10 feet away.....

But, this Is what I did to make sure. I ran a bunch of warm water down the barrel and used a brass brush to get out as much residue as I could, and flushed the barrel again. I ran the barrel scope down the barrel and this is what I saw. But, not knowing what the inside of a TC barrel looks like, I am assuming the bullet is gone? Let me know if these pics are not clear. Also, after it was done I ran a breech scraper down the barrel (you will see a slight golden color on the bottom of the breech.....thoughts

Yup.
You are looking at the face of the breech plug. The cavity in the middle is the powder chamber that the flame channel from the nipple goes into.

You done good.

 

[Peter72]

A personal favourite method of checking if the bore is empty. Put range rod in, and you know that yours is definitely empty, then score the rod with a knife, file etc at the muzzle.
You now have an indicator to show if its empty, or not.

 

[hunter thompson]

I do not favor the second bullet ideal could lead to further problems, when your new ball puller arrives I would put DAWN dish washing liquid down the bore now while waiting for the puller, this would help dissolve any fowling from past attempted removals and second act as a lubricant, once the puller is inserted be sure it is very firmly seated into the bullet (sometimes shooters do not get the puller far enough into the bullet) Then take a piece of 1/4 inch rope tie one end to the rod and the other end to something that will not move (like a fence post) hold the rifle level at your waist take the slack out of the rope and put reward pressure on the rifle (lean back do not jerk the rifle) you should feel the bullet move when this happens keep the pressure steady and move back, the bullet should exit the barrel firmly attached to the puller.

Thats a good idea the dawn,,never thought of that..used oil.s before

 

[hunter thompson]

Use a heavey metal range rod..soak with oil or dawn like i just read here...TAP the ball puller in with a hammer,,turn it a 1/4 with pliers as you tap screw it all the way through..if its on the side of the ball id get a corser threat puller..i guess...but ANYWHO use a vise to pull it out walking backwards tugging along..Nothings better than the feeling of when it comes out..

 

[beyu]

The Ball Puller from Track Of The Wolf that was shown earlier ABSOLUTELY works.
How do I know? I've gotten a charge WITH ball stuck in my Charleville THREE different times for different reasons I would rather not mention...

But I got the ball out every time using that Ball Puller.

I just took the barrel out of the stock and mounted put it in my shop vise with blocks of wood on each side to prevent scratches. Screwed the Ball Puller in to the stuck ball using my Range Rod and pulled with slow and gradual force and out it came.

 

[mooman76]

Well, let me just say this is the most helpful forum I have ever been on! Big thanks for this great advice and brain storming session. So, I think my previous method of loading powder down the nipple and firing must have removed the bullet without me realizing it. each time I was standing on my deck pointing the gun down at the grass 10 feet away.....

But, this Is what I did to make sure. I ran a bunch of warm water down the barrel and used a brass brush to get out as much residue as I could, and flushed the barrel again. I ran the barrel scope down the barrel and this is what I saw. But, not knowing what the inside of a TC barrel looks like, I am assuming the bullet is gone? Let me know if these pics are not clear. Also, after it was done I ran a breech scraper down the barrel (you will see a slight golden color on the bottom of the breech.....thoughts

It happened to me once. I've done it before so I thought I would know for sure when the ball came out but I didn't. I just kept putting more powder under the nipple. I was starting to get worried because I stopped to shoot before work and didn't want to leave the gun half loaded but I finally figured it out. Decided to call it a day after that and just headed into work.