Removing the barrel on a hooked breech rifle for cleaning, yes or no??

[TDM]

Thank you, AND it's the real deal, having been one of the last made by Robert Taylor Pritchett before he went bankrupt and was forced to shut up shop forever.

Luckily for him he was very handy with a paintbrush and water colours, and rapidly became Queen Victoria's favourite painter. His works grace the walls of all the royal palaces in England, Scotland and the Isle of Wight.

Even with the wrong bullets and WAG load of 2Fg, it can still make a group like this at 50m - first time out for me, too.

View attachment 183998

Very Nice!

 

[2 shots]

why would you not remove it? thats its purpose. i mark my wedges on top so they go in the same as they came out.

 

[redcarpet]

Take it off.

Bottom part of the barrel that's in stock needs cleaned too. All of that smoke can/does have contamination in it and as it drifts through the air who is to say some doesn't get in the barrel channel?? My barrels aren't that tight fitting. From what I can tell that black stuff gets everywhere.

10 seconds total to remove and replace seems pretty minimal to me.

 

[chorizo]

Take it off.

Bottom part of the barrel that's in stock needs cleaned too. All of that smoke can/does have contamination in it and as it drifts through the air who is to say some doesn't get in the barrel channel?? My barrels aren't that tight fitting. From what I can tell that black stuff gets everywhere.

10 seconds total to remove and replace seems pretty minimal to me.

Also the lock periodically as it too gets filthy

 

[redcarpet]

Take it off.

Bottom part of the barrel that's in stock needs cleaned too. All of that smoke can/does have contamination in it and as it drifts through the air who is to say some doesn't get in the barrel channel?? My barrels aren't that tight fitting. From what I can tell that black stuff gets everywhere

10 seconds total to remove and replace seems pretty minimal to me.

Also the lock periodically as it too gets filthy

All around snail too. Hell even my stock below the nipple is black after a range session.

I am a bit OCD about my guns anyway. Even my modern guns get a wipe down at the end of the day. Not much, just a little coat of oil.

 

[ord sgt]

The hooked barrels are removed from the stock, along with the locks. The breach is placed in a bucket of water and water is drawn into the barrel by my dedicated cleaning rod and some tight patches flushing out all the accumulated fouling.

 

[Black Dog]

I always remove hooked-breech barrels for cleaning. Because I equipped all my T/C rifles with tang-mounted peep sights, I replaced the T/C mid-sights with their "primitive" bases, installed a Marble's or Lyman folding sight adjusted to the peep-sight's zero and flipped it up to confirm the zero when I reassembled the rifle. That practice spans close to 50 years of shooting with at least a half-dozen rifles, and only once did the barrel-removal mode of cleaning require readjustment of the peep sight, and that was very minimal. (Until I got my present, as-yet-untested T/C flintlock Hawken, the peep sights were all of the T/C hunter type; since those originally $25-$30 sights now sell for an outrageous $160-$180 apiece, my flinter wears a Williams Foolproof made for the Hawken, which unlike its Lyman counterpart does not require the removal of wood from the stock.)

 

[Erwan]

For me, it's mixed: I dismantle the pinned barrels only twice a year and the hooked-breech barrels around one time by two months or a bit more...
All the wood and the underside of the barrel are greased with "marine" quality grease insoluble in water...
I've always heard from the old timers that it's bad to disassemble the barrels too often because it's hard to get them back in place, it takes several shots before it settles down. For hunting, I don't know if it matters much but for target shooting, it is quite and even very sensitive...

 

[Clint Meier]

Yes, I remove the barrel from the stock to clean it every single time too! Don't have to be nearly as careful and protective of the stock that way!

 

[gunpa]

I have noticed after reinstalling my barrel it has to be "settled in" with several shots to get back where it was so I only pull them about once or twice a year. I'm saving powder and lead!

 

[Stantheman86]

I own 3 rifles with hooked breeches and I have fired 0 of them so far .

But when I used to own T/C's including my Big Boar in the 90's, I used to take down the barrel to clean because it's easier

 

[toot]

that is why it is a hooked breach. DUH! why do you think it is made to be unattached from the gun?

 

[Reno]

The hooked breech was designed and manufactured to aid in take down for cleaning. The fights on mine are fixed to the barrel. I have never had a problem with accuracy drifting.
It is most important to me that a thorough cleaning be done.

 

[Art Caputo]

I have always removed the barrel for cleaning with my hooked breach rifles. When initially acquired( whether kit or finished), I have made certain that the barrel/breach/recoil plate(stock) was properly fitted(no gaps at the breach), the barrel channel/fore-end tip/nose cap) was properly bedded, and, the barrel keys matched and fitted, applying minimum downward force on the barrel. Never have had an issue with POI, or accuracy changes(1-2MOA) due to barrel removal/replacement. I keep the hooked breach fitment and barrel wedges lightly lubed for minimal wear.

 

[Okie Hog]

i sometimes remove the hooked breech barrel, not always. Decades ago, when i had good eyes there were indications that the rifle sometimes shot to a slightly different point of aim when re-assembled. The most accurate rifle i currently own in a Navy Arms .54 without the hooked breech.

Never got into cleaning the patent breech. i simply clean the flame channel with a bristled pipe cleaner. After loading the powder, the rifle is leaned lock side down and the stock is given a couple whacks with the palm.

 

[vince-m]

Done it for years, renegade shots same every time.....

 

[MSW]

i take my hooked barrels off to clean them (not to sound like a conformist - that's just what works best for me).

 

[Pukatea Bay Boy]

Original Pritchett rifle with hook breech - gets removed to clean every time....

View attachment 183900
View attachment 183901

 

[Pukatea Bay Boy]

Beautiful rifle

 

[Pukatea Bay Boy]

Morena ( good morning).
In the same camp as most of you hooked breeches are nice & easy to dissemble
I've a few pinned rifles & if wet or heavy day on the BP I usually take the bareel out as well.
If you have bang on size punches and go easy on it , it's not too tricky.
I usually if buying a pinned rifle ask if owner would mind .
It can change your mind when you see undenath.
Have a awesome day everyone. Well mostly northern hemisphere folks here. So good evening
Ma te wa ( all the best)
Chris