Removing the clean out plug

[Trooper]

My wife and I have two TC Hawken 50 cal rifles and I’m thinking about removing the clean out plug on the snail . I took a small flat blade and attempted to remove the plug but I stopped and thought better to ask you guys about that plug as it seems very tight. I don’t want to mar the slot on that plug. I would like to run a pipe cleaner through the flash channel. Any ideas about removing that plug? Or is it really necessary?
Cheers

 

[Stony Broke]

I have always removed the plugs as it makes cleaning that area a lot more efficient. When replacing the plug, I always just coat it good with bore butter and never have a problem removing the plug afterward. If your are tight, take a screwdriver and grind the blade to fit the screw perfectly. Place the barrel in a vise where you can put a lot of pressure downward on the screwdriver.

 

[Trooper]

I’ve tried that with no results. I’m toying with the idea of heating the snail up with a small propane torch then trying a screwdriver again. Maybe some liquid wrench to loosen things up?

 

[Sam squanch]

Don’t. Just flush with hot water and a pipe cleaner. I’ve ruined a few trying to get them out.

 

[bubba.50]

Your best bet is just to pretend that screw isn’t even there and go on about your business.

 

[Trooper]

Yes I think that’s probably the best route to take. I’m not
Going to ruin these rifles. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[deermanok]

One of my rifles has a stuck screw. I buggered up the slot trying to get it out.
I remove the nipple when cleaning and use pipe cleaners to get into the flash channel. Works just as good doing it that way.

 

[FlinterNick]

You need special tools to remove a breech plug, and a god barrel vise.

I have a barrel vise / jib that I use for my round and octagon barrels, this will keep them from marring up.

I take mine out maybe once a year, but I don’t recommend doing it often, there’s just no reason to.

 

[Trooper]

FlinterNick I’m referring to the small clean out plug on the right side of the snail.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I’ve had my TC Hawken for 40 years and never pulled that screw. I remove the nipple and then the barrel from the stock. I then put the breech end in a warm soapy water and pump water in and out of the nipple hole with a ramrod with a cleaning patch on the jag. I’ve rarely had a hang fire or failure to fire with that rifle. Leave the screw be.

 

[Trooper]

Thanks Jake, that’s what I’ll do.

 

[Grenadier1758]

By now @Trooper, you may have found other threads on the Forum with the subject "clean out screw" and have discovered that the little screw is not a "clean out screw" but a plug installed after the manufacturing process to create the flash channel from the nipple seat to the powder chamber. In fact that T/C "clean out screw caused T/C so many breech plug replacements under their life time warranty that the breech plug was redesigned to eliminate that screw and a plug was created on the other side of the breech.

Here's a link to the previous discussion:

TC Renegade unknown plug? | The Muzzleloading Forum

 

[SmokepoleSam]

Back out the nipple a little bit if you still want to remove the screw, sometimes the screw is a little too long and binds on the nipple. I remove the screw occasionally but as was mentioned you don't have to, just remember to grease the threads if you do.

 

[Trooper]

Thank you grenadier 1758 for that link. Now I’m educated

 

[jcs266]

As said above in your particular case here with these rifles maybe it's not crucial to remove those since they may be stuck and you'll "create" a problem for yourself in dealing with them. It's up to you.

For those starting with a new gun or a gun that's not stuck like that it's a good idea to keep the screw lubed and use it at least occasionally for deep-cleaning now and then. I personally remove it every time (and lube the threads afterwards before I replace it) as I like that extra bit of "flow" when I vigorously pump hot soapy water through there.