New Member from Alabama

[The Sergeant Major]

Hi, John from NE AL. Retired Soldier and Army contractor. Long-time muzzleloader owner-shooter-hunter. My first rifle was a Thompson Center Arms Hawken .45 Cal, then a Remington in-line in .50 cal, then a Colt .45 single-shot pistol as a departing gift from the Sergeants Major Association, and finally a TC Omega in .50 cal. I have an issue w/ the .45 Cal Hawken that I need some help with. A friend sold me this rifle in the late '80s down at Ft. Stewart, GA. He taught me everything I needed to know about shooting, maintaining, safety & more regarding a black powder rifle. I gifted this rifle to my older brother about 15-20 years ago. He lives 6 mths in Cali, and 6 months in Kodiak where he hunts. Obvious to me, he didn't maintain it properly. Long story short he mailed the rifle back to me a couple weeks ago, asking that I give it to one of my sons. I'm trying to get it all squared away and then I'll teach my son how to operate-maintain it and gift it to him. Problem is, I can't free the nipple from the breech plug. I soaked it in Rem-Oil for a few days. That didn't work. I'm using the small breech plug wrench and I'm practically breaking my wrists. I thought about soaking it in bore cleaner. Any ideas would be welcomed & appreciated.

 

[zerosprk]

Hi John, welcome from northern New Mexico. Thank you for your service to our great nation!

 

[The Sergeant Major]

Thanks I appreciate it.

 

[moose23]

Hi John, and welcome from Beaver County PA. Thank you for your service to our country. As for your question regarding removing the stuck nipple, you may get more answers/suggestions in a different forum, perhaps the general Muzzleloading one, or percussion one. I’m not sure how many members visit this forum for new members. And if you start a thread with a question such as “How do I remove stuck nipple” I think you will get more views, which will get you more advice and suggestions. Guaranteed there’s many guys on here who have been in the same situation you’re in right now. Good luck, and again welcome aboard!

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Welcome from grizz country in Alberta. Help yourself to the coffee and come on in....

 

[frankie]

welcome

 

[nit wit]

Welcome from Maine
Nit Wit

 

[The Sergeant Major]

Hi John, and welcome from Beaver County PA. Thank you for your service to our country. As for your question regarding removing the stuck nipple, you may get more answers/suggestions in a different forum, perhaps the general Muzzleloading one, or percussion one. I’m not sure how many members visit this forum for new members. And if you start a thread with a question such as “How do I remove stuck nipple” I think you will get more views, which will get you more advice and suggestions. Guaranteed there’s many guys on here who have been in the same situation you’re in right now. Good luck, and again welcome aboard!

I'll repost it. Thank you Moose.

 

[The Sergeant Major]

welcome

Thank you Sir

 

[The Sergeant Major]

Welcome from Maine
Nit Wit

Thank you too !

 

[The Sergeant Major]

Welcome from grizz country in Alberta. Help yourself to the coffee and come on in....

Thank you Range Roper ️ I'm good.

 

[gunnyr]

SgtMaj , welcome aboard from Iowa.
Gunnyr

 

[thomas]

Welcome to the forum.
Thomas

 

[Spokes]

Welcome.

 

[toot]

Welcome to the site!

 

[UndeadPoet]

Welcome, from North Carolina, and thank you for your service! Also, I agree with what moose23 said above. You will find all the answers you need here.

‘Poet

 

[Gvilleddie]

Greetings from Guntersville…

 

[Robin Henderson]

Welcome from Middle Tennessee.
As far as the stuck nipple, a 50-50 mix of automatic transmission fluid and acetone gets rave reviews for a soak. I've been using Kano Kroil with pretty good results.

 

[Eterry]

Howdy from North Texas and welcome to the forum. My family traces back to Northern Alabama where the Foxfire books were written. I hope to go there one day.

 

[TC Tommy]

Welcome from Eastern Michigan.