obstruction near breech

[Don B]

I have recently purchased my first muzzleloader, an Austin&Halleck .50 1:28 percussion Mountain Rifle. It has not been fired yet.

When running a dry patch on a jag down the barrel, I can feel an obstruction near the breech. If I push past it, the jag/patch gets stuck. Based on its depth into the barrel, I'm guessing there's some part of the ignition mechanism that extends into the barrel.

I know nothing about the inner workings of the percussion ignition system, and have no experience with other guns to know if mine is typical or not. So I've not yet started to take anything apart yet.

What do you think might be going on and how can I fix it? The rifle was bought as A&H was closing operations, so return to them is not an option.

Thanks.
Don

 

[Goldhunter]

Kind of sounds like the drum is a bit long and protruding into the powder chamber/(barrel). If that is what's happening, you should be able to screw the drum out and lightly file it to reduce the overall length. It's probably nothing more than one thread or so that is catching the jag and patch.

If I am wrong, someone more knowledgable will correct me but thats' what it sounds like.

 

[scott adair]

Don,

This sounds suspiciously like the problem I'm having with a TC Seneca right now.

Scott
[url] http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/201993[/url]/

 

[Goldhunter]

If he hasn't fired it yet, could it still have a carbon ring in there?

 

[Don B]

The obstruction is not continuous around the diameter of the barrel. When I feel around with a bare jag, the breech area is smooth everywhere except directly over the drum. When I pass the jag over the drum entry point, it feels as if something is protruding into the barrel.

Don

 

[Bountyhunter]

That is a clue.

Pull the drum and then run the jag down. You can shorten the drum a bit if need be.

 

[Don B]

I expected the drum to be threaded, but it isn't. I can spin it in the barrel, but it doesn't back out. How are drums fixed into barrels? Pressed? Swaged? Now I have an obstructed barrel AND a drum that won't hold it's position!

Don

 

[Rebel]

The drum is supposed to be threaded, if it isn't i wou say have a problem with quality control.

 

[Mad Professor]

Figure out whats the problem with the drum before you try shooting it. If the threads are bad the drum could come shooting out when fired.

 

[Zonie]

I expected the drum to be threaded, but it isn't. I can spin it in the barrel, but it doesn't back out. How are drums fixed into barrels? Pressed? Swaged? Now I have an obstructed barrel AND a drum that won't hold it's position!

Don

Unfortunatly it sounds like you have a serious problem.
I don't know if you can get ahold of the A&H people but that is the first thing you should try to do. They may be going out of business, but they don't have a right to sell a weapon that can be dangerous to the shooter and those around him.
IMO, the least they should do is to offer to replace the barrel/drum.

Assuming they won't replace the barrel/drum, your only option IMO is to remove the drum and determine exactly what is going on there.

Based on your description of the drum, it is a side mounted style and it should be threaded into the barrel. In other words, it should unscrew.

You might try using some Vise Grips with a thick pad of material on them to keep from marring the drum, then try pulling outward while you "unscrew" the drum. It should come out.

I suspect that when you get the drum out you will find the threads in the barrel, on the drum, or both have been stripped. If this is the case, it may be possible to replace the drum with one that is available from one of the major suppliers like Track of the Wolf.
These come in 2 diameters and with 4 different thread sizes. Hopefully, the existing threads are not larger than 3/8 of an inch as that is the maximum size available.

We can help you fix this problem on the Builders Bench, but first try to work out a solution with A&H as fitting a drum isn't exactly the kind of thing a non builder should start with.

zonie

 

[renovato]

I have an Austin & Halleck also. If the drum isn't protruding into the bore a bit, then it's probably a burr on the barrel itself at the inside of the hole, left from the threading operation.

I don't know what to tell you about yours spinning on the barrel though. It should be threaded and screw right out. Are you turning it enough times? It sounds like the threads are stripped out. If so, that's a dangerous situation.

A/H mentioned that they aren't real big on returns because of them closing, but that they would take care of problems if possible. Try contacting them and letting them know of your situation as Zonie suggested.

 

[MSW]

sounds as though Zonie may well have 'got it in one.'

hopefully you can get the drum out and replace it with the next larger thread size. good luck!

 

[Don B]

Thank you all for your well-considered advice. I will contact A&H and hope that, despite the fact that they're no longer in the business, they consider the fact that they sold me a rifle that is not shootable.

Don