Relined barrel proble

[farrokhrt]

Just got back my Thompson Center barrel that was 50 caliber relined to .458 and when I took off the nipple it is filled with what looks like cured epoxy. Then I looked in the breach plug and it’s filled with the same. I managed to pick what I can rich with a small pink from nipple opining but can’t rich in the fire hole from breach. Compressed air from muzzle end and no air coming out of the breach end.
I’m thinking about putting the breach end in acetone overnight but a bit concerned?
Any suggestions beside calling the installer please I would appreciate.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

OOF.... I had this same problem with a smoothbore I purchased. There was a huge glob of it on the breech plug face. Would have made thorough cleaning impossible. Ended up removing the breech plug and digging it out. Might be more of a challenge with a TC breech. Good luck gladiator.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Was work done by Hoyt?

 

[farrokhrt]

OOF.... I had this same problem with a smoothbore I purchased. There was a huge glob of it on the breech plug face. Would have made thorough cleaning impossible. Ended up removing the breech plug and digging it out. Might be more of a challenge with a TC breech. Good luck gladiator.
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Thank you Dusty. I’m not sure if I can get the breach plug off-it has only one flat side and don’t have the proper tool for this. I left a message for the installer and hope he’ll call me back!

 

[farrokhrt]

Was work done by Hoyt?

Yes and it’s what I wanted looks great except for this problem. Thanks

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

Thank you Dusty. I’m not sure if I can get the breach plug off-it has only one flat side and don’t have the proper tool for this. I left a message for the installer and hope he’ll call me back!

I have a wrench for it. What size is your barrel across the flats? I think my wrench is for a 15/16” I can send it to you if you need to use it.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

I just got a barrel back from Hoyt also. The liner is protruding into the drum hole. I’m having to do some careful filing and run a tap back through it.

 

[farrokhrt]

I have a wrench for it. What size is your barrel across the flats? I think my wrench is for a 15/16” I can send it to you if you need to use it.

Thanks so very much for your generous offer. I believe it is 15/16 barrel. I’m thinking about heating the breach as epoxy melts with heat and pop a few caps to push the stuff out. I’ll wait to hopefully hear from the shop until tomorrow. Have a great evening and thanks again

 

[2 shots]

just f.y.i. t/c does not have a flat faced breech plug

 

[Phil Coffins]

He is generous with the epoxy, I won’t use his services anymore.

 

[farrokhrt]

just f.y.i. t/c does not have a flat faced breech plug

Top side of the breach plug on both of my barrels is flat. Other sides are rounded. Thanks

 

[farrokhrt]

He is generous with the epoxy, I won’t use his services anymore.

Apparently so! Thanks

 

[farrokhrt]

Top side of the breach plug on both of my barrels (New Englandr) is flat. Other sides are rounded. Thanks

 

[smoothshooter]

He is generous with the epoxy, I won’t use his services anymore.

That is the first complaint I have seen about B. H. He is kind of the go-to guy for barrel work that other machinists either can’t or won’t do.
Is it possible he is training a helper that did not give Bobby a chance to look at the finished product before it was shipped out?

 

[SDSmlf]

That is the first complaint I have seen about B. H. He is kind of the go-to guy for barrel work that other machinists either can’t or won’t do.
Is it possible he is training a helper that did not give Bobby a chance to look at the finished product before it was shipped out?

I have heard Mr Hoyt is training a niece in the craft, though I have not personally confirmed.

I’ve only removed the Hoyt installed breech plug on a couple of barrels, and what I found appeared to be teflon tape. No evidence of epoxy. Will be following this thread.

 

[Steve Wagner]

This is disturbing news. He has had such a good reputation that I was thinking of sending a barrel to him. Not saying I won't, but I hope he speaks up soon, addresses this problem and lets us know correction is in the works. Communication is key for those dealing with the problem. A competent tradesman that tries to expand to keep up with demand due to a good reputation is only ever as good as his worst employee. Anyone in any kind of production business these days knows how hard it is to find help in the younger generations that actually listen to and follow instructions. I would give Mr. Hoyt the benefit of the doubt here and, by all means, send those barrels back for correction. That is how he will get the message, and maybe some hired help cleaning plugged breeches for free or losing their jobs will heighten their attention to details.
To me, it doesn't make sense to cut off our noses to spite our faces. There aren't too many guys doing this kind of work. Let's hope he gets things back on track. Sounds to me like some wing nut put some unfinished barrels in the "Finished" rack and they got sent out.
SW

 

[SDSmlf]

Obvious question, what did Mr Hoyt have to say when you told him of the problem?

 

[Phil Coffins]

He told me a year and half ago that he alone does the work. He had done a barrel for me that was completely un-except-able. I called and he explained he would redo it and explained why it had happened . When the barrel was returned to me I had to do a considerable amount of machine work to make it right. He seems to be a nice and honest man and I had expected his work to be good based on all the glowing reviews. A fellow shooter here had a barrel from him that he brought to me to rework as his breech was poorly done and trapped fouling and water at cleaning. I also heard of another local but as I didn’t handle it I won’t elaborate. We need this type of service but at this point his work isn’t what I want.

 

[farrokhrt]

This is disturbing news. He has had such a good reputation that I was thinking of sending a barrel to him. Not saying I won't, but I hope he speaks up soon, addresses this problem and lets us know correction is in the works. Communication is key for those dealing with the problem. A competent tradesman that tries to expand to keep up with demand due to a good reputation is only ever as good as his worst employee. Anyone in any kind of production business these days knows how hard it is to find help in the younger generations that actually listen to and follow instructions. I would give Mr. Hoyt the benefit of the doubt here and, by all means, send those barrels back for correction. That is how he will get the message, and maybe some hired help cleaning plugged breeches for free or losing their jobs will heighten their attention to details.
To me, it doesn't make sense to cut off our noses to spite our faces. There aren't too many guys doing this kind of work. Let's hope he gets things back on track. Sounds to me like some wing nut put some unfinished barrels in the "Finished" rack and they got sent out.
SW

I did my research before sending my barrel and I heard nothing bad about the shop so it’s not the end of the world. As a small shop and only phone for communication it’s rather difficult to get answer to phone call. Hopefully someone will return my call. I’ll get it open one way or another. Just surprised that no attention was given to make sure it was functional before shipping it back. Would rather not shipping it back to shop. By the way I didn’t mention shop’s name but was asked by a gentleman and I responded. Thank you

 

[OldSmoky1967]

OOF.... I had this same problem with a smoothbore I purchased. There was a huge glob of it on the breech plug face. Would have made thorough cleaning impossible. Ended up removing the breech plug and digging it out. Might be more of a challenge with a TC breech. Good luck gladiator.
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What was that crud?