How to safely unload OLD smoothbore

[bluesman]

Need to unload my 200 year old M1807 54 cal. Springfield. I would estimate the round has been in there well over 100 years, but it is impossible to tell.

I have a nice brass range rod and a std. 50 call screw ball puller. My inclination would be to put some lube down the barrel to loosen things and let it soak a few days? I would use some liquid wrench or wd 40, but they are both potentially flammable. I have never pulled a ball before. Safety first here.

help

 

[tiger13]

You sound like you got the right idea, But you may not even have to let it sit all that long, how does the bore look? is it rusted? pitted? if it looks pretty good, give it an hour or so then use your screw and you may want to clamp the rod with the screw in a vise and pull the gun GENTLY to get things started you do not want to pull the screw out of the ball. If the bore has heavy rust, you may want to use a wire brush to clear away some of the rust before trying to pull the ball, to help make the job easier, and allow time for the penetrating oils to work. Others will chime in here soon.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

If there is a wad on top (often is in a smoothbore) it is probably paper and it would be best to pull it dry rather than trying to soak. Next may be shot and it can be poured out. Then likely another wad which can be pulled dry and last may be powder. If it pours out, you are home free. If it doesn't, soak it with water then wipe it out after soaking and pouring.

 

[Many Klatch]

I find that having several different sizes of ball puller screws is a big help when pulling lead ball. The smallest one may work but will probably pull out. The next bigger one works well in the hole the first one left and usually does the job. The final and biggest one will do the trick if you can pull hard enough on the ramrod.

If you are pulling wads out then a bigger screw may be the ticket.

One trick I have seen done is rig it so that you can hook your ramrod in the rafters and then you can pull down with your weight instead of having to put one foot on the vice and try that way. That may be required if you have a lead ball that has had time to rust itself in place.

Finally if all else fails you may have to unscrew the breech and push the load out. My only experience with an old military gun was with an original ACW Springfield. I was surprised how easy the breechplug came out. Your gun may be the opposite of that however.

Many Klatch

 

[Billnpatti]

While the load may be shot, it is not likely. Most likely, it is a ball. The first thing I would do is to remove the nipple and pour in some penetrating oil. This will deactivate the powder and make it much safer to work with. secondly, it will work around the ball and help loosen it. Next, I would make sure that my bore is clean by scrubbing it with a good bore cleaner and a brass brush, followed by some dry patches. then swab the bore with an oily patch. This will give the ball a smooth path out of the bore. Screw the puller into the ball and hang the handle in the crotch of a tree and pull back steadily. Do not yank or the puller will likely come out of the ball. Another idea is to buy or borrow one of the CO2 dischargers and blow the ball out. If you cannot find a CO@ discharger or this does not work, go to an auto parts store and get a zerk fitting with the same threads as your nipple. Replace the nipple with the zerk fitting and use a grease gun to pump grease into the zerk fitting to force the ball out. Once the ball is out, just clean up the grease with a solvent. In any case, I wouldn't remove the breach plug unless all else fails. If you don't know what you are doing, you can mess up an old and valuable rifle trying to remove a breach plug.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I recomend soaking the charge with a mixture of 1 part alcohol, 1 part peroxide, one part murphy's oil soap. This old standby really does loosen up any fouling and stuck components. The peroxide's bubbling action penetrates, the alcohol disolves, and the Murphy's oil soap "lubes " In my personal opinion removing the breech plug would be a last resort. :idunno:

 

[Alden]

My answer is usually to give it to an enlisted man.
Sorry!
:rotf:

 

[Shine]

Why? to show an officer how to use it.