Need some help

[vern castle]

While cleaning my rifle the loading jag and two cleaning patches came off. They are now lodged in the barrel back by the touch hole. I have tried to reattach to no avail. How can I get this out?

I feel foolish for asking but I need help.

Thanks,

vern

 

[F.G. Ford]

Grind up some black powder, about a thimblefull, and then trickle it in the touch hole.(if you have a touch hole liner, unscrew it and pour the powder in the barrel, replace the liner)
Then shoot it into a barrel of water to retreive your hardware.
Fine powder will pass through the touch hole, but you will have to get enough in.
Don't feel too bad, most of us has this type of experience.
Best Regards
Old Ford

 

[rafterob]

It doesn't take a lot of powder, usually 3 grains will do it. A lot of people strip off their jags with a stuck patch in a panic. If you get a stuck patch in the future, first try pouring a little water or oil down the barel and let it soak in for a minute. Then firmly pull it out without jerking, a ramrod puller is a good thing to have to give some traction on that rod. This usually does the trick. If you don't have one, I highly recommend a good range rod and jags with steel and not brass threaded shafts.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

as said you'll have to shoot it out w/a little fine powder.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Vern: Are you saying that JUST the two patches are lodged back by the touch hole? Or did your jag separate from your rod with the patches and now the patches AND the jag are lodged back by the touch hole?

If its only patches, buy a patch pulling jag. They come in two shapes, a single rod that looks like a cork screw for wine bottles, and a double wire version, that has two wire twisted around each other to provide two different points to grab the patches to pull them out. Check Track of the Wolf, or some other supplier closer to you. You will need to know the screw thread size for your rod when ordering, but that is about all, and tell them the caliber of your gun, but the tool is a handy thing to keep in your range box.

If it is the jag and the patches together, shooting it out is about all you can do, now.

You probably will have to remove-- and replace-- that touch hole liner, to get the powder behind the wads, from what you have described. Most liners are filed flush, and no longer have a screwslot in them to use to take them out. You will have to use an " Easy-out " screw( reverse threads) to take out the liner. IN the process, the liner is usually damaged, so that it must be replaced.

 

OR, pull the breech plug. :shocked2:

 

[paulvallandigham]

I would hate to think anyone would have to pull a breechplub in order to remove some patches, but, You are right. It certainly has been done when a Jag got really stuck in the barrel. That is the reason I asked him to clarify the problem. Is it just patches that are stuck, or patches and the JAG?

 

[J.D.]

I have to wonder if the liner is protruding into the bore, if two patches are stuck down there.

I suggest removing the liner and measuring its length compared to the thickness of the barrel.

If the liner does protrude into the bore, the plug can be removed, once the length of the liner is reduced, and gently file the liner inside the bore to conform to the periphery of the bore. Viola, no more stuck patches.

Use fine files with a layer of masking tape on the end to prevent scaring the bore with the end of the file...and file carefully.

 

[rich pierce]

you can gouge your rifling shooting out a jag.

 

[Black Hand]

It seems that you all are taking the difficult approach. If he lost patches down the barrel while using a cleaning jag, why not use a worm to remove them?

You can easily make a worm by twisting a piece of coathanger into a spiral and twisting it onto the end of your ramrod. I like to sharpen the end of the worm so it resembles an old-fashioned corkscrew. Send it down the barrel, twist to catch the patches and remove. You may need to repeat a couple of times to get the patches out....

 

[longcruise]

The way I read the question, he had lost the jag and the patches. I would try the shoot out first and go breech plug as last option.

 

[Black Hand]

Sorry, you are correct.

Was it the jag that unscrewed or was the jag the ramrod end?

Ultimately, you can either try to screw the jag back on (screw jag) or try to jam something in the hole tightly enough (ramrod end), add water and slowly back it out. I used a threaded shotgun rod that happened to screw into the "rod end hole" tightly enough that I could get it out.

 

[renovato]

Uh guys, critical reading skills here. He said jag AND two patches. :blah:

Vern, I've had this happen a few times over the years. I've never had a jag stick in my flinter but there are 3 things that I've tried that worked for me in a cap gun.

First off, if you have a CO2 ball discharger, you might try it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it's by far the easiest method.

Secondly, as the fellers suggested, working some powder into the hole and shooting it out works great.

I tried fitting a grease zerk last time and pumping it out with a grease gun. It worked like a charm, but the cleanup was a big hassle and makes this method the least desirable in my opinion.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Unscrew the vent liner, and use 160lbs of compress air.

 

Paul,

You speak as if there is some experience there. :wink: See that's why you should shoot cap guns like me. Just a dribble in the drum, cap and clean up the mess. Not that I would really know much about these issues. :haha:

Jay

 

[paulvallandigham]

Jay: As some would say, " Ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies!" :rotf:

I have experience there, but most of it has been helping others with THEIR Guns, and not my own.

I do like those CO2 gadgets, but they are difficult to use on a flintlock. A grease gun zerk sounds like the best idea, but you will usually have to remove that vent liner to use that.

My best Tracking buddy was a custom Black Powder Gun maker, and smith, and when he needed an extra pair of hands, a strong back, and weak mind, he never hesitated to call me! :blah: He always told me to wear my old clothes if he really wanted help in his shop, but his calls were just an excuse for us to get together, solve a current problem( He usually knew what to do), and talk with me about guns, and tracking. He had grown up tracking deer; I had grown up tracking people, and small game.

 

[vern castle]

I would like to thank everyone for their suggestions.

I did use my ball puller and fortunately it came right out.

Thanks again I appreciate your help.

I remain embarrassed.

Vern

 

[Chilidog]

No need to be embarassed. We've all made similiar mistakes in the past. Or will...

Glad your problem is fixed.