Stuck ball in a Thompson Center Hawken flint

[flconch53]

Then you know they can be a bugger

 

[M. De Land]

Seconded. "Just" removing the breechplug isn't "just". Not meant to be removed, get the CO2 discharger or a proper nozzle for your air compressor.

I don't really have any qualms about removing a breech plug but this can usually only be accomplished well in the shop with some specialized tools if one does not want to muck up things. Also there are breech plugs easily removed and other styles that are a real job and require a specialized tool precisely fit to the tang root. We are in the main talking about dry balls in the field or at the range.
I hate to admit it but I have personally dry balled many times while gabbing with folks at match shoots over the years and have gotten so adept at removing them with a good range rod and screw in ball remover that it barely takes longer than to load.
I can say though that I have never dry balled while alone or hunting so I'm beginning to get the notion there is some connection between gabbing and dry balling.

 

[M. De Land]

I don't really have any qualms about removing a breech plug but this can usually only be accomplished well in the shop with some specialized tools if one does not want to muck up things. Also there are breech plugs easily removed and other styles that are a real job and require a specialized tool precisely fit to the tang root. We are in the main talking about dry balls in the field or at the range.
I hate to admit it but I have personally dry balled many times while gabbing with folks at match shoots over the years and have gotten so adept at removing them with a good range rod and screw in ball remover that it barely takes longer than to load.
I can say though that I have never dry balled while alone or hunting so I'm beginning to get the notion there is some connection between gabbing and dry balling.

There is one more method I have used when all else fails, mainly developed from hand lapping of barrel bores and that is to melt lead out when the lap slugs get stuck. This of course can only be used when one is sure of a dry ball with no charge behind. Lead melts at about 650 F and a simple propane hand torch or two can be used to heat the barrel enough to melt out the stuck ball. I often use two hand torches to melt out a lap slug as the barrel mass is so large it takes more flame to get up to the 650 F required to melt the lead.
The heat required to melt lead will not effect the barrel steel strength as barrel steel is always annealed/ normalized any way at between 900 and 1200 degrees. I have never found this heat range (650 F) to remove a good browning or bluing job either.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Is 83 responses to “a Stuck Ball” thread a new record?

 

[deerstalkert]

Is 83 responses to “a Stuck Ball” thread a new record?

i seem to remember one that went 11 or more pages!

 

[French Colonial]

i seem to remember one that went 11 or more pages!

Yes, and the OP got the ball out on about page two, did not stop the comments though....

 

[Bill Bryan]

Dribbling a little powder into the touch hole should work. I always make sure the touch hole liner is at least 1/16" with a hand drill. Turn the gun on it's side and push a little powder in. Take it slow and be patient. Once you've got as much in as you can make sure the ball is seated as far down the barrel as possible. It should shoot out with no trouble. Bill

 

[nhmoose]

Took 2.25 YEARS to do it

 

[Archer 756]

Any GOOD gun smith can remove stuck ball without removing breach. I charge $150 to drill out any stucked ball and NO damage to rifle.
D

 

[Archer 756]

Any GOOD gun smith can remove stuck ball without removing breach. I charge $150 to drill out any stucked ball and NO damage to rifle.
D

 

[SciAggie]

I hate to admit it but I have personally dry balled many times while gabbing with folks at match shoots over the years and have gotten so adept at removing them with a good range rod and screw in ball remover that it barely takes longer than to load.
I can say though that I have never dry balled while alone or hunting so I'm beginning to get the notion there is some connection between gabbing and dry balling.

I haven’t dry balled in the field either. I went to the first organized shoot in 20 years a few days ago. I also hate to admit it but I dry balled twice in three days. Like you, I just used my screw in ball remover and pulled it out. If a fellow maintains his bore condition it isn’t a big deal.
It is annoying when you go to pick the vent and realize your tickling the bottom of the ball…

 

[flconch53]

Yeah I like to feel that crunch when the touch hole pick hits dry black powder

 

[nhmoose]

The ball has been out since 12/24/2021

 

[Steve Wagner]

Put your lips tightly over the touch hole and blow as hard as you can. At the same time, hold the rifle vertically by the stock w both hands and slam the muzzle straight down into a concrete slab. Helps to have some rap music playing bc timing is everything w this method. When the ball comes out call your dentist. If it doesn't come out try hip hop. If it still doesn't come out, forget the dentist and order some dentures. This won't work but it might put this thread out of its misery. SW

 

[Steve Wagner]

I haven’t dry balled in the field either. I went to the first organized shoot in 20 years a few days ago. I also hate to admit it but I dry balled twice in three days. Like you, I just used my screw in ball remover and pulled it out. If a fellow maintains his bore condition it isn’t a big deal.
It is annoying when you go to pick the vent and realize your tickling the bottom of the ball…

Well..I guess some muzzleloaders just like to have their b___s tickled. SW