My Renegade came already loaded

[tom in nc]

I discovered that the .54 cal rifle I bought a few days ago was loaded. I used the rod from one of my other rifles and a bullet puller to try and remove it. I could not budge it so to lubricate it I sprayed some PB Blaster down the bore. Still no luck. Then, I tried twisting the rod/puller. Crap! I accidentally unscrewed the puller from the rod! I have spent a lot of time trying to screw the rod back onto the puller, without success. Now to plan B. The nipple threads are 1/4-28 so I have grease fittings that will go in the nipple hole. I also went to my favorite hardware store and bought myself a new air blow gun with a rubber tip. Trying to decide which to try first. Air pressure would be quicker and less messy. Guess I'll give that a try. If it works, it will be interesting to see how much force the ball comes out with. I'll point in on a safe direction.

 

[ppg1949]

I’ve used an air compressor to blow out a prb and was astonished at the velocity of the round ball. I fired it into a five gallon bucket with four or five inches of sand in the bottom. Wow, it went completely through the sand out the bottom of the bucket and couple inches into my gravel drive way. Mercy was I surprised. I’m not sure what I expected but it certainly wasn’t that. Good luck and be careful.

 

[tom in nc]

Now I'm confused. I found that air will blow thru the bore now. With my bore light shining in the nipple hole I see a spot of light, see the first pic. The second pic shows how I'm lighting it up. I have no bore scope and cannot get enough light down the bore to clearly see the obstruction. There must be a bullet that my puller is still screwed into. I could not have screwed the puller into the breech plug.
I might have to take my barrel to the local muzzleloader experts and have them remove the breech plug. Obviously if the obstruction has a hole thru it air pressure nor grease will push it out.

 

[azmntman]

 

[Phil Coffins]

Did your ball screw have a collar on it to center itself on the obstruction? If not it is common to twist it off center even to the point of being between the bore and the obstruction. Someone may of tried to remove the ball and drilled threw it then gave up and sold it. Un-breeching is the safest thing to do at this point.

 

[TreeMan]

I’d personally flush all the old powder out, degrease and dry everything in front of the ball and behind it with brake cleaner and dribble some black power in there, 3 or 4f and just shoot it out. Doesn’t take five grains of BP to blow out a ball. I’ve never had a dry ball that I couldn’t shoot out with a dribble of 4f.

 

[tom in nc]

Update: I took the barrel to two different gunsmiths near here. Both assured me that the barrel was not obstructed and that I would only see a "speck" of light if shining thru the nipple hole.
But what the heck did my puller screw into yesterday? A lump of fouling maybe? And where did my puller screw go? It must have fallen out and I missed it.
I put the gun back together and shot it three times before I cleaned and oiled it to put it away for a few days.
The first shot I only loaded 50g of powder and shot from the hip, holding the gun away from my body. For shots two and three I loaded 70g(I will figure out the load it likes next time) and aimed as usual. With 70g and a .530 ball and a .010 patch it shot great.
I'm pleased, it's not a wall-hanger after all. I think it's a keeper, worthy of a restoration, browning.

 

[ETipp]

Glad you got it figured out.

 

[Reds]

Did you ever find the puller?

 

[ZUG]

Did you notice your dog's face in your second picture? He is asking the same question as the rest of us

 

[earlwb]

Someone maybe loaded a ball without the charge and gave up on it and sold it. That might be a bit tricky to determine too. Then of course some guns have a stepped chamber that is smaller tgan the bore thus it could make one think it was loaded. Oh yeah a stepped chamber could catch a bullet puller or jag and get it jammed down inside then too.

Anyway I am glad you solved the problem.

 

[B P Arn]

Did you notice your dog's face in your second picture? He is asking the same question as the rest of us

I love that little dog in the background! It reminds me of mine!

What breed of dog is it?

 

[Mad L]

That old Washoe Medicine Man was right! Demons DO run up and down the barrel and swat at the ball as they come out! Do to inactivity yours must have been hibernating!

 

[tom in nc]

I love that little dog in the background! It reminds me of mine!

What breed of dog is it?

View attachment 225506

He's a 14.5 pound, 3 year old Chiweenie. He was given to me when he was 8 weeks old. He is an inside dweller but loves to go outside. His name is Rip, after the hound dog in my favorite episode of The Twilight Zone tv series, entitled "The Hunt". Rip loves my wife and me. I believe he would fight a grizzly bear to defend her. Yours is a good looking dog too.

 

[B P Arn]

Mine is a 13-year-old, 16-pound Chihuahua/terrier mix. I got her 5 years ago. She was a rescue dog, and had been terribly neglected. She was very cautious around me at first, but now you can rarely get a piece of paper between my leg and that dog! I named her Lily, after the flower.

How about a better picture of Rip, please?

 

[Steve Wagner]

Mystery unsolved ??? Still don't get what your puller screwed into. Scotch mist ? New type of ML-Black Hole. Your car keys might be in there too. Look for keyholing at the range. SW

 

[Eterry]

I'm guessing your gun has a patent breech. You probably screwed the puller into the chamber. I did the same thing 40 years ago.

 

[tom in nc]

Mine is a 13-year-old, 16-pound Chihuahua/terrier mix. I got her 5 years ago. She was a rescue dog, and had been terribly neglected. She was very cautious around me at first, but now you can rarely get a piece of paper between my leg and that dog! I named her Lily, after the flower.

How about a better picture of Rip, please?

With his favorite blanket. He is solid black, rare in Chi weenies, except for a small crescent moon shaped white patch on his chest, and a few white hairs on one right rear toe. We think he is a very handsome boy. We love him dearly and he does us.
Given the life expectancy of a well cared for, and my age I hope he outlives me.

 

[B P Arn]

Tom in nc, that is a beautiful dog. Here are more pictures of Lily.

 

[tom in nc]

She's a beautiful girl. I almost was guilty of assault and battery one day right after Rip came to us. I took him with me to Tractor Supply, and as I was leaving a man approached me and offered me $25 for him.
He learned that I would not have sold him for $25000.