NEW TC HAWKEN PROBLEM

[wapiti22]

So, picked up a good condition TC Hawken, 50 cal. at the local Fun show last weekend. It was missing the lock which should have been my first clue. Seller "didn't know anything about it" but the deal was too good to walk away from.

Got it home and stuck a cleaning rod down the barrel. Didn't go near as far as it should so I guessed there was a ball in there. Boy, was I right. Not a ball, but a conical and not one conical but 2 conicals, with a load of powder between each. It's taken me the better part of a weeks to get it cleaned out. I finally got the barrel all scrubbed out and will take it to the range to see how she shoots. I happened to have a spare lock on my bench so that worked out.

 

[Grenadier1758]

@wapiti22, shame on you. You have identified the obstruction in the bore and removed the two conical bullets. The barrel is cleaned and a replacement lock is installed, the barrel is scrubbed and you are ready to go to the range. We haven't had the opportunity to fill 7 to 10 pages of wisdom on what to do.

Good for you. Go to the range and let us know how the rifle performs.

 

[2 shots]

you removed not one but two bullets . wheres the novel.

 

[towgunner11h]

We could always speculate on what he COULD have tried!

 

[wapiti22]

I tried compressed air, high pressure grease gun and finally the old bullet puller screw on a cleaning rod and a big hammer.

 

[WP_375]

Sounds like you've got it handled. Unfortunately checking with the ramrod to see if a ML is already loaded seems to elude a lot of ML owners and they love to sell it instead of rectifying it!

 

[Grenadier1758]

I tried compressed air, high pressure grease gun and finally the old bullet puller screw on a cleaning rod and a big hammer.

I will have to admit that I was surprised to see that the use of a high pressure grease gun did not force the two loads out. Still, it goes to demonstrate that a good ball puller on a sturdy working rod and not forcing things by using a bigger hammer worked for you.

 

[Idaho Ron]

I will have to admit that I was surprised to see that the use of a high pressure grease gun did not force the two loads out. Still, it goes to demonstrate that a good ball puller on a sturdy working rod and not forcing things by using a bigger hammer worked for you.

I'm not buying that the Grease gun didn't take it out. They can build over 5000 PSI. That far exceeds a rod with a ball puller.

 

[deerstalkert]

 

[Big Bob]

I use para cord around a range rod handle that had be pinned to the rod and tie it to the bumper of my F 250 and pull the gun. Never fails me! Ball, conical or stuck patch come right out. Wear gloves.

 

[Critter Getter]

I'm not buying that the Grease gun didn't take it out. They can build over 5000 PSI. That far exceeds a rod with a ball puller.

I have a used Investarms that I bought that had a stuck old load in it. It had been in there long enough that the powder was even hard as a rock and had to come out in pieces. The grease zerk and grease gun trick didn’t budge it a bit. The powder and bullet came out by pulling it but by bit! Greg

 

[Idaho Ron]

I have a used Investarms that I bought that had a stuck old load in it. It had been in there long enough that the powder was even hard as a rock and had to come out in pieces. The grease zerk and grease gun trick didn’t budge it a bit. The powder and bullet came out by pulling it but by bit! Greg

Sorry I am having a hard time believing that. The grease gun must not have been pressuring up like mine.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I use para cord around a range rod handle that had be pinned to the rod and tie it to the bumper of my F 250 and pull the gun. Never fails me! Ball, conical or stuck patch come right out. Wear gloves.

How often do you have to do this?

 

[Big Bob]

Not often. More often done as a demonstration when I was giving Hunter Education classes.

 

[bang]

Read an article long ago about someone cutting down an old tree. Somewhere in the Carolinas. They hit something metal. Upon removing it was a very old ml. When they put it through xray it had 7 loads in it. They figured it was one of several rifles a trapper left on the trail in case of an attack and the trapper got in a running fight but didn't realize the rifle wasn't firing and continued loading then got a fresh rifle hidden in the hollow of the tree. The tree did have a scar on it like it had a hollow at one time.

 

[renegadehunter]

How often do you have to do this?

I think you read this the way I also took it at first glance...as if he was pulling it by driving the pickup.
I believe he is just anchoring the ramrod to the bumper for a stationary object and then pulling on the rifle to get the load out.
As I'm sure someone with your experience is very aware of, anchoring the ramrod somehow and then pulling on the rifle is a much easier way to pull a projectile. It just read like he was using the power of a F250 to remove it.
I want my next ramrod to have the pin that thing would have to have.

 

[Big Bob]

This is funny. NO, I don't drive the F250 at all. It is parked and I attach the para cord to either the front or rear CHROME bumper, it's a 1997 7.3 International Diesel, so they still had them then. I pull on the gun as the barrel is still attached to it and it's easier to hold onto. Wear gloves as the sights are sharp. You could also use a tree trunk, but there are none where I held classes, so I always used the truck bumper. I don't remember the name of the range rod I use, but it is old and is indestructable. The handle is round with some grooves cut in. Handle is plastic and has a small pin (brad) through the handle and the rod. It is old, probably 25 years old and I don't remember where I bought it. If you have a indestructable rod that is unpinned just pin it yourself with a small brass or steel nail after you drill a tiny hole through it. If the handle will slide off, use some 2 part epoxy to re-attach it. If not , just pin it. You should also pin your ram rod that goes in the thimbles under the barrel-both ends. The ends will probably pull off, so epoxy them back on and pin them. There is also a bronze tool that has a small pair of tabs that hold both handles to the tool. The tool spreads open. It is meant to go over a ram rod and you place the tool in a tree that has a fork in it and you pull the gun. The tool holds the ram rod and you just pull the whole gun. I think Track of The Wolf has them , also Buffalo arms and Dixie Gun Works, Possibles Shoppe. A must to keep in your possibles bag. Good luck and don't dry load your smoke pole!

Edit: Ramrod pulling tool --Smiling Fox Forge has them, they are called a Ramrod Puller. Worth every penny when you are in the woods with a stuck ramrod.

 

[Big Bob]

Idaho Ron,
I used an air powered 15 gallon barrel of grease a long time ago just to try out the set up-without a stuck ball, with 2 lay down compressors! Was that fun! Messy, but fun!

 

[Travis186]

I guess I've never had a ball stuck so bad that the typical screw in jag couldn't pull it. Some of these methods seem very interesting.

 

[Idaho Ron]

Idaho Ron,
I used an air powered 15 gallon barrel of grease a long time ago just to try out the set up-without a stuck ball, with 2 lay down compressors! Was that fun! Messy, but fun!

In my video I used an over sized bullet and wad. I used a hammer to pound it down. The grease gun pushed it right out. I guess I need to do it again. This time use two part epoxy for lube and glue it in.