Pure frustration

[Old Sparky]

So I have this older pedersoli Flintlock it was made in the late 1960s. It's a 32 Caliber Kentucky squirrel rifle. I broke off a cleaning Jag down in the bore. After some thought I finally decided on dribbling some fine black powder in through the touch hole and try to shoot it out. First try was a near success only about 6 in from the end of the barrel. Of course I had to push it back down to try again so I don't make a short start. And unfortunately I pushed it too far down in front of the touch hole. Now I can't do anything regarding shooting it out. It's a plastic cleaning Jag I am considering welding a self-tapping screw to the end of a steel rod to try to extract it. I'm giving up for today I was really hoping for a win on this one I just got done making a new mainspring and I want to shoot it. I'm open for any suggestions. I already tried compressed air that was a no-go.

 

[Hermit Tim]

That is a predicament. You might be on the right track with the welded screw idea though. I don't know anything about Pedersoli's, but how hard would it be to remove the plug if worst comes to worst?

 

[Celt5494]

Can you try wrapping a cleaning patch on a wooden dowel and push it down to meet the jag. Once seated, try the compressed air method again. Just a thought off the top of my head.

 

[leam]

Could you drill and tap for a White Lightening touch hole liner? That might give you enough room to lever it up a little, enough for some powder to go in.

 

[user 34300]

It's a plastic cleaning Jag I am considering welding a self-tapping screw to the end of a steel rod to try to extract it.

That is very likely to damage the bore.

 

[Rancocas]

Plastic cleaning jag? How about, maybe, take a wooden dowel of appropriate caliber and pound a small finishing nail into one end of it. Cut the head off the nail, then use a file to cut a couple of barbs in the exposed nail. Ram it down, and maybe, tap it a bit to get that nail to spear the plastic jag. Once in, the barbs might hold it well enough to pull it out.

 

[Semisane]

I've never done this, But here's what I would try.

Get a 12" length of 1/4" brass or aluminum tubing, and a 3/16" x 36" wood dowel from your local hardware.

With a hacksaw, make a cut about 1-1/2" deep into one end of the tubing to create two "fingers". Use the butt end of a 1/4" drill bit to spread the fingers and form them into parallel fingers that just fit into the bore of the gun.

Epoxy about 6" of the wood dowel into the other end of the tube.

Stick it down the bore and try gently try capturing the jag.

 

[yotyfox]

Your idea should work but I would consider brazing a brass screw to a brass rod, as there is less chance of damaging the barrel.

 

[Grenadier1758]

@Old Sparky, I assume/hope you have a working rod, and it has 8-32 threads for the jag. If you do then head to your local big box or small box hardware store and look for some hanger bolts.

Lowe's has a bag of 10 of these hanger bolts. Half the bolt is a #8 wood screw, and the other end is an 8-32 threaded bolt that should fasten into your working rod. Getting a bag of 10 of these is a lot simpler than welding a wood screw onto a rod. And the bag of 10 costs $1.18. You should be able to get that plastic cleaning jag out.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-8-x-1-in-Zinc-Plated-Hanger-Bolt-10-Count/3010296

 

[45man]

Why would anyone use a plastic jag??? But at least a screw should go in and bite it.
Now about reseating when the ball or jag is down the barrel, no need, to reseat as the tiny amount of powder has little pressure. It will not harm the barrel.

 

[Semisane]

Now about reseating when the ball or jag is down the barrel, no need, to reseat as the tiny amount of powder has little pressure. It will not harm the barrel.

Agree.

 

[SOLANCO]

It's a plastic cleaning Jag I am considering welding a self-tapping screw to the end of a steel rod to try to extract it.

That is very likely to damage the bore.

Drill several small rubber washers to fit over the rod. Chuck it into an electric drill and turn the rod and washers so you can sand them down to fit in the bore. Not only would it protect the bore, it would center the apparatus in the bore.
But the whole thing would be a lot simpler if the breech plug could be removed.

 

[Old Sparky]

Plastic cleaning jag? How about, maybe, take a wooden dowel of appropriate caliber and pound a small finishing nail into one end of it. Cut the head off the nail, then use a file to cut a couple of barbs in the exposed nail. Ram it down, and maybe, tap it a bit to get that nail to spear the plastic jag. Once in, the barbs might hold it well enough to pull it out.

I had thought of something like that but it's really jammed in there pretty good there's a lot of resistance I do believe I used the wrong size Jag and it's very tight

 

[smoothshooter]

@Old Sparky, I assume/hope you have a working rod, and it has 8-32 threads for the jag. If you do then head to your local big box or small box hardware store and look for some hanger bolts.

Lowe's has a bag of 10 of these hanger bolts. Half the bolt is a #8 wood screw, and the other end is an 8-32 threaded bolt that should fasten into your working rod. Getting a bag of 10 of these is a lot simpler than welding a wood screw onto a rod. And the bag of 10 costs $1.18. You should be able to get that plastic cleaning jag out.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-8-x-1-in-Zinc-Plated-Hanger-Bolt-10-Count/3010296

 

[Old Sparky]

Drill several small rubber washers to fit over the rod. Chuck it into an electric drill and turn the rod and washers so you can sand them down to fit in the bore. Not only would it protect the bore, it would center the apparatus in the bore.
But the whole thing would be a lot simpler if the breech plug could be removed.

I was trying to come up with something like that I was thinking maybe some plastic tubing

 

[Old Sparky]

Could you drill and tap for a White Lightening touch hole liner? That might give you enough room to lever it up a little, enough for some powder to go in.

That's a pretty good idea

 

[smoothshooter]

Wrap a few wraps of masking tape around the hangar bolt to keep it from contacting the bore.
Muzzleloaders + plastic jags = Big Trouble eventually.

 

[Old Sparky]

Agree.

I definitely regret it now LOL.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

I don't know for sure, but a Pedersoli that old probably doesn't have a chambered breech. If it were me, and ALL ELSE HAS FAILED, and the breechplug wont come out, I would remove the vent liner, and use a MAPP torch to melt that baby right out of there. Suspend/position the barrel so it will drip out the vent hole without settling on the breechplug face.

Good luck gladiator.

 

[Old Sparky]

Here is my craziest idea.

I don't know for sure, but a Pedersoli that old probably doesn't have a chambered breech. If it were me, and ALL ELSE HAS FAILED, and the breechplug wont come out, I would remove the vent liner, and use a MAPP torch to melt that baby right out of there. Suspend/position the barrel so it will drip out the vent hole without settling on the breechplug face.

Good luck gladiator.

They quit manufacturing a map gas unfortunately cherish what you have left. You don't think that would affect some sort of heat treatment of the barrel? I guess that last resort is a last resort I must admit I hadn't thought of melting it. Wait that's it I just thought of it as I was typing this I could stick something red hot down the barrel like a metal rod and melt it to the rod and pull it out. Even if I only pull it a half an inch it would solve the problem