Stuck ball in a Thompson Center Hawken flint

[deerstalkert]

 

[Stony Broke]

I always carried a co2 tool in my shooting kit to the matches, until it finally just got worn out. I never used it myself, but a lot of other guys borrowed it once they all knew I had one. I even had one guy give me a 20.00 bill once to bump up my supply of co2 cartridges for the guys.....and wouldn't let me turn it down !

 

[Idaho Ron]

Removing the breech plug can be very difficult. I would do that as a last resort only. The grease gun method would be my second to last choice.

I havevto ask. What are guys like you afraid of? Why does the thought of pushing it out with grease seem like the last or should I say second to the last choice?

 

[Flintandsteel]

I don’t want all that grease in any barrel. Water, ball puller, shoot it out, etc. many, many ways to do it WITHOUT filling the barrel up with grease, and the clean up,afterwards.

 

[William Lincoln]

Ball puller usually worked fine. In the field, your ramrod needs to have the end
capable of screwing on. The grease zerk method works messy but reliable.

 

[Thomas51502]

Thank all of you for the replies. I did search all of the forums and could not find if it was safe to fill the channel with blackpowder. Sorry if I annoyed some of you with the question. I did end up ordering a co2 discharger since a lot of you recommend it. But for removing the ball I took the liner out dribbled 5 grains in (like most of you recommend) and replaced. Loaded it up and stood off to the side and pulled a rope attached to the trigger (I know some will laugh, but id rather be safe then sorry). Thank all of you for the timely responses and suggestions they definitely wont be over looked when this happens in the future

 

[ohio ramrod]

Removing breech plugs is a last resort in my book, Co2 dischargers are the way to go (if it works-I bought one from Log cabin years ago and it always leaked. It would blow patches or "unstuck" loads to unload but never a stuck load.)

 

[SDSmlf]

Removing the breech plug can be very difficult. I would do that as a last resort only. The grease gun method would be my second to last choice.

I don’t want all that grease in any barrel. Water, ball puller, shoot it out, etc. many, many ways to do it WITHOUT filling the barrel up with grease, and the clean up,afterwards.

If all else seems to failed and you have a removable nipple or touchhole liner, the grease gun is a quick, easy and relatively clean method to get a stuck projectile out of your barrel. I have witnessed it used first hand a couple times and the cleanup was quite honestly, about the same as the cleanup after a day at the range, something you will likely want to do anyway after getting your stuck bullet out. You just have to catch the grease as it comes out, one extra simple step.

 

[Jim]

How many breech plugs have you removed from traditional muzzleloaders?

MANY!!

I presently own seven muzzle loaders . . . .

All are repros, save two . . . .

(1) Amoskeag “Special Model” 1861 (original)
(1) M1861 Springfield (original)
(3) TC Hawkins . . .(one of which is a Renegade)
(1) Johnathan Browning Mountain Rifle
(1) Armi Jager “Remington” Zouave Rifle

I have REMOVED and REPLACED ALL of their breech plugs . . .some, MANY times!

If one wants to get their smokepoles REALLY clean, it‘s the only way to go!
(Those patent breech plugs cannot be reached THOROUGHLY by using the “hot, soapy water, pump-action“ method.)

Can you tell I’m a “white glove” fanatic?

 

[deerstalkert]

MANY!!

I presently own seven muzzle loaders . . . .

All are repros, save two . . . .

(1) Amoskeag “Special Model” 1861 (original)
(1) M1861 Springfield (original)
(3) TC Hawkins . . .(one of which is a Renegade)
(1) Johnathan Browning Mountain Rifle
(1) Armi Jager “Remington” Zouave Rifle

I have REMOVED and REPLACED ALL of their breech plugs . . .some, MANY times!

If one wants to get their smokepoles REALLY clean, it‘s the only way to go!
(Those patent breech plugs cannot be reached THOROUGHLY by using the “hot, soapy water, pump-action“ method.)

Can you tell I’m a “white glove” fanatic?

lemme guess, you have a bore scope too?
i always thought i cleaned stuff well. that bore scope showed me my failing.
think i will send it back!

 

[Jim]

lemme guess, you have a bore scope too?
i always thought i cleaned stuff well. that bore scope showed me my failing.

Yes . . . .I have a borescope too.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Not again.
SHOOT THE BLOODY THING OUT......dear Lord

 

[excess650]

Hi all, got a patch stuck under a load in my .45 T/C hawken. (.440 lead ball under T/C pre lubed pillow ticking, 70 gr 3F Schutzen) I already tried shooting it out, pulling it out, and inertial removal. So far nothing. Im from PA and the season starts on Monday so im in a rush. My question is: I removed the touch hole liner. If I dribble some BP into there and re-screw the liner back in. Will it be safe to shoot? Or should I take the loss and buy a co2 remover? My problem is where i’m from real black powder is almost impossible to find and I only have 3F and I couldnt fit any into the touchhole without unscrewing it. Thank all of you in advance.

Remove the vent liner, add as much powder as will fit, install the liner and SHOOT IT OUT!!!

 

[leadhoarder]

 

[2 shots]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[Idaho Ron]

I don’t want all that grease in any barrel. Water, ball puller, shoot it out, etc. many, many ways to do it WITHOUT filling the barrel up with grease, and the clean up,afterwards.

Did you ever see my video? It's not messy at all. It's literally no harder than cleaning a gun after a range shoot.
But if you would rather do other stuff

 

[Grenadier1758]

Not again.
SHOOT THE BLOODY THING OUT......dear Lord

Oh yes, again!

 

[SDSmlf]

Not again.
SHOOT THE BLOODY THING OUT......dear Lord

Oh yes, again!

I am a little surprised that some are suggesting to the OP to shoot out a load that is blocked by a single preluded patch under the powder.

Hi all, got a patch stuck under a load in my .45 T/C hawken. (.440 lead ball under T/C pre lubed pillow ticking, 70 gr 3F Schutzen) I already tried shooting it out, pulling it out, and inertial removal. So far nothing.

Wonder what will happen if that 70 grain ‘main’ charge of 3F ignites sometime after the suggested kicker charge starts the main charge down the bore but before it exits the bore as pointed out by @Art Caputo in the second post of this thread? First damaged barrel I ever saw was caused by a normal load of powder under a patched roundball that was only seated with a short starter. Barrel was ‘saved’ with a rebore.

I have an idea. Take your most precious muzzleloader, drop 10 grains or so of powder down the bore, followed by a patch. Then load your normal hunting load and light it up. Try maybe a dozen times and report back. Just doesn’t seem safe to me, but I’d love to learn what happens. Maybe I’m just a Nervous Nellie?

 

[deerstalkert]

if the "main charge" and ball are already moving down the bore, propelled by the "kicker charge, and then the main charge ignites , you already have a drop in pressure with the load expanding the combustion chamber. nothing untoward should happen.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

If the ball is away from the breech its better to use an air compressor. We have one at every rondy.
The CO2 ones are a one shot ordeal. 125lbs or better sends it down range, so made sure you have a back stop.