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stuck ball 50 cal kentucky

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kaintuck said:
Or, just remove drum first, then breach, propane torch it to melt the lead, then re-assemble..... :hatsoff:

If you're gonna remove the breechplug, wouldn't it be smarter to just push out the patched ball with a ramrod? No need to go to all that fuss to melt the ball. :rotf:
 
That is against Man Law. Whenever you can use a torch, you do so! Jeez!!!

:cursing:

Besides, a hollowed-out ball will be harder to push or pull out and may not melt... Aarrrgh!


I love this thread so much -- I've asked it to be my Valentine.
 
kaintuck said:
Or, just remove drum first, then breach, propane torch it to melt the lead, then re-assemble..... :hatsoff:
Not so easy.
The act of cross drilling the breech plug then installing that drum under torque can and usually does more than a little damage to the breech plug threads.
Not a bad thing if it's all left alone.
But by the time you start turning those damaged breech plug threads back out of the barrel you end up ripping up the threads in the barrel.

It's just plain not a good idea to de-breech those Spanish barrels using this type of breech.
 
If you pierced the ball through you've removed the majority of easy fixes. Considering the cost of the Traditions Kentucky rifle, and considering their customer service, it might behoove you to send them the barrel and let them fix it. It may cost less than a new barrel which might be required should you mess it up further. I'm also sure they've fixed this problem more times than most people, and they have the tools for it. The nice thing about Traditions is; they're still in business, and they will talk to you when you call them. Take the bite, chalk it up to experience, and let the pros fix it. Next time though, remove the nipple, put in some fff, and clear it that way, even works better than CO2.
 
I would do as some have said and melt it out. Barrel steel is normalized at 1000 to 1200 degrees F. in a reducing atmosphere so no scale is produced.
I have hand lapped quite a few rifled barrels and on occasion had to heat up a barrel to remove a stuck lead lapping slug and it will not hurt the barrel steel in the least to bring it up to the temperature needed to melt lead.
Keep the flame moving over the area that you think has the ball in it with the muzzle pointed down and drops of molten lead will begin to drop out when hot enough. Actually it will probably come loose before totally melting. Mike D.
 
Alden said:
That is against Man Law. Whenever you can use a torch, you do so! Jeez!!!

:cursing:

Besides, a hollowed-out ball will be harder to push or pull out and may not melt... Aarrrgh!


I love this thread so much -- I've asked it to be my Valentine.
You Sir have GOT to be on some heavy duty meds!!!! :grin:
 
M.D. said:
Keep the flame moving over the area that you think has the ball in it with the muzzle pointed down...Mike D.

Presuming you are going to do this regardless of doubting the bullet is there anymore... Don't forget to take the barrel out of the stock first -- wood will char outside but is actually a pretty good insulater. LOL Oh, by the way, what kind of finish, if any, is there on the metal where you'll directly apply the flame jet to the breech?

I LOVE this. Can we video tape it?

And Mr. Kenton, thanks for your own contribution. I am high on life (as well as some decaf, a little Diet Pepsi, and cool filtered water I need some more of as I'm a little thirsty).

Now THIS is a reality show...
 
thanks NO way am i going to attempt to remove the breech. i will send it back to Traditions if the C02 does not work
 
If popping a cap does in fact blow a patch out of the barrel, then you have a hole through the ball. The Co2 won't work in that case. Have you looked down the bore yet?
 
Track Of the Wolf sells excellent screw type Ball pullers. They are tapered and hold the Ball extremely well. They also have a bore guide built in...
 
No, men, wait!

What happened to the gas torch being applied to the barrel and melting it (if it is still there)!?

 
Ok, if this as a dumb idea, or I missed it above, speak up, and I will step away from the keyboard... :wink:

Would a small brass bore brush work into the hole in the ball? Maybe a .17 or .22, and use a non-metal hammer to tap the RR and push the brush down into the lead?? Maybe grab the lead like it does a bore? :idunno:
 
M.D. said:
I would do as some have said and melt it out. Barrel steel is normalized at 1000 to 1200 degrees F. in a reducing atmosphere so no scale is produced.
I have hand lapped quite a few rifled barrels and on occasion had to heat up a barrel to remove a stuck lead lapping slug and it will not hurt the barrel steel in the least to bring it up to the temperature needed to melt lead.
Keep the flame moving over the area that you think has the ball in it with the muzzle pointed down and drops of molten lead will begin to drop out when hot enough. Actually it will probably come loose before totally melting. Mike D.
This will no doubt work fine. However, it is possible that the heat may discolor the barrel.
 
Rusty, they're not 100% sure the bullet is still there but there seems to be a path from the muzzle through touchole now. If someone could figure out what happened and knew the diameter os a hole for certain (like the diamter of the effective "drill" or screw), then your idea could work.

One more episode in this dramedy!

:wink:
 
It won't hurt rust bluing or browning in the least if only taken to lead melting temperature.
Why can't a cleaning rod with a cloth patch on a jag be introduced into the barrel and the obstruction location found precisely?
Really, a stuck ball is not a big deal,happens frequently and is easily remedied by several of the above approaches.
If it has been pushed into the ignition chamber than it will probably have to be melted out.
And yes, the barrel must be removed from the stock! Mike D.
 
Hello Newman.

If I were confused, which I'm not, it'd be because of all the answers to an unclear question. I am entertained. But at no-one's expense in particular; folk are posting of their own free will for all. Some posts are better, some funnier, than others but the whole premise has a firm comical element.

Like you ignoring the salient point and humor in a stuck ball apparently disappearing, and to troll me yet.

Com'on, smile. They're obvious classics! This is kinda like a cross between CSA: Muzzleloading and Seinfeld.
 
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