Through sheer talent and natural brilliance I managed to break off a cleaning jag, with cleaning patch, in the barrel of a Traditions Woodsman 50 cal. It snapped off at the threaded stem while attached to a range rod. I wasn't even surprised; I just jotted this down on the long list of things I've "accomplished" over my life.
I don't have a ball puller (been meaning to order one) but don't know that I could hit the stem of the thing anyway. I removed the barrel from the stock, thinking I'd remove the breech plug and get at it with a ramrod. In reading the Traditions manual though, I ran across this gem: "Important. Never remove the bolster/drum or breech plug from the barrel. They have been installed at the factory such that they interlock with each other for maximum lockup strength. The removal or alteration of these key parts will compromise the performance of your gun, void your warranty, and can create an unsafe condition".
Here's my question: Warranty issues aside, are the manufacturing and assembly parameters so stringent at Traditions such that I'm going to "compromise the performance" if I just unscrew the dang breech plug and then screw it back in? I assume the thing unscrews. I'm being a smart-aleck but I truly am at a loss. With deer season a week away I've converted my rifle into a club.
I don't have a ball puller (been meaning to order one) but don't know that I could hit the stem of the thing anyway. I removed the barrel from the stock, thinking I'd remove the breech plug and get at it with a ramrod. In reading the Traditions manual though, I ran across this gem: "Important. Never remove the bolster/drum or breech plug from the barrel. They have been installed at the factory such that they interlock with each other for maximum lockup strength. The removal or alteration of these key parts will compromise the performance of your gun, void your warranty, and can create an unsafe condition".
Here's my question: Warranty issues aside, are the manufacturing and assembly parameters so stringent at Traditions such that I'm going to "compromise the performance" if I just unscrew the dang breech plug and then screw it back in? I assume the thing unscrews. I'm being a smart-aleck but I truly am at a loss. With deer season a week away I've converted my rifle into a club.