Stuck ball, now with drill bit

[Tom511]

Hi,

I have a problem with my Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken 54 cal.

A ball got stuck, so I glued a drill bit to the end of a wooden dowel, slid the dowel down the barrel and screwed the bit into the ball; this has worked perfectly other times. However, this time the glue didn’t hold, and I ended up pulling out an empty stick, and the ball, now with drill bit, still stuck in the barrel.

After reading on this forum, I then used the Universal Unloader from DGW. The ball moved about 6 in forward and stopped. Apparently the drill bit dug into the inside of the barrel.

I’ve been trying to take the breech plug apart, but no luck. Doesn’t seem to move.

Checked with Pedersoli. New barrel is $740+.

1. Any ideas on how to remove the breech plug? Maybe they aren’t meant be taken apart.
2. Any ideas on what to do next to remove? I've seen some suggestions re: melting the lead, but wouldn't it end up coating the barrel?
3. Haven't had success in finding an alternative replacement barrel. Any suggestions on who to check with?
4. Any recommendations re: gunsmith for this?

Thank you for any suggestions.

 

[S.Kenton]

Shoot both out... remove nipple..dribble about 5-10 grains of powder into the nipple hole, replace the nipple and then cap it and shoot it
On a side note, I’ve never ever heard of anyone gluing a drill bit to a ramrod to pull a ball with. If pulling is needed, then I use a the screw type ball puller are attach it my ramrod. I rarely ever do that though and use the shoot out method.

 

[leadhoarder]

Zerk fitting and grease gun. Pump it out.

 

[SDSmlf]

First rule of hole digging is stop digging and put the shovel down. If it were my gun or someone brought it to me, I would use the grease gun method with the proper sized zerk fitting. If the drill bit somehow got off center (you can confirm with a bore scope) and is digging into the barrel you have got quite the problem, I would confirm the drill bit location first. If it’s digging into the barrel it will damage your bore as you push the ball out with grease or anything else. If the drill was centered in the dowel and the dowel was close to the bore diameter you may be ok. No point causing more damage.

If you find the drill centered in the ball, leave the drill where it is. If you somehow remove it and it has drilled through the ball, the grease gun will not work.

Good luck.

 

[mooman76]

Maybe get a long piece of copper tubing and run it down the bore to get it over the drill bit to keep it from doing any more damage when you force the ball out.

 

[S.Kenton]

Ya, maybe shooting it out wouldn’t be such a good idea.. I wasn’t thinking about a steel drill bit stuck in the ball... grease zeros would be the method I’d use. I’d never use a drill bit again!

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I would not shoot it out unless the ball was seated on the powder. Probably the grease gun method would be least problematic / least risk.

 

[Flintlock]

Zerk fitting doesn't even need to thread into the nipple, just a pointed common ( Plews 05-045) fitting or one like it held against the nipple or remove the nipple if possible will work. Just get someone to pump the grease gun for you. It will use a full tu

 

[2 shots]

dido on moomans idea. you dont want to hang the bit up in the rifling . if you do that the only way out is thru the rear as in remove breech plug.

 

[bang]

Just a thought. Last resort and dead charge. Would heating the area just enough to melt just enough of the lead so it would slide out hurt the barrel?

 

[SDSmlf]

Just a thought. Last resort. Would heating the area just enough to melt just enough of the lead so it would slide out hurt the barrel?

Heat it hot enough to melt the lead and you will discolor and/or damage barrel finish.

 

[Tom511]

These are all excellent ideas. I think my next step is to get a bore scope and see what the situation is with that drill bit.

Not too sure if the grease gun method would work, as I don't think the ball is 'sealing' the barrel anymore. The first time I used a CO2 cartridge, the ball moved 6" and stopped. Tried using CO2 a few more times; air went right past the ball.

 

[Ontario47]

If the muzzle end of the drill has snagged the rifling at a shallow angle it should just follow the rifling as the grease pushes the bullet out (the bullet will also turn with the rifling). If the drill is short enough to turn 45 deg or so it needs to be stabilized with a piece of thin walled pipe slightly smaller than the caliber (hobby shops have a great selection) and longer than the drill. Drop the pipe down the bore so it falls over the end of the drill. If it hits the end of the drill and stops bend a 1/4 inch hook on a coat hanger wire , slide it down to the bullet opposite the drill and turn the wire 1/2 turn tip first , it will wrap around the drill and stop. Pull the wire up and the 1/4 inch tip will wedge the drill away from the side allowing the thin walled pipe to drop in place. Then back to grease gun or CO2 discharger. This can be fixed with a little patience and trial and error.

 

[Caniborrowsomeammo]

Maybe, .......see if Pedersoli can take care of it. You probably aren't the first in that predicament.

 

[LawrenceA]

Melting the lead will not result in lead sticking inside.
I have done this with an air rfle and the result was a stream of lead exiting the barrel.
However you should try to keep rthe barrel as cold as possible and still melt the lead. Yes it will discolor

 

[Britsmoothy]

Just shoot the ball out. Ball on the powder or not. Why do folk get so complicated over a stuck ball. Get as much powder in there as you can and shoot it it out. If it doesn't work first time add more powder.
And stop gluing drill bits to wooden dowl

 

[LawrenceA]

I really cannot see the blunt chamferred end of a drill bit digging into the barrel. Spose anything is possible though

 

[Woody Morgan]

I really cannot see the blunt chamferred end of a drill bit digging into the barrel. Spose anything is possible though

Bingo!

wm

 

[lou puleff]

Try to reseat the ball then squirt some lube down the barrel and try to blow it out again I also doubt the drill bit is digging into the barrel

 

[dlaw4570]

Hi,

I have a problem with my Pedersoli Rocky Mountain Hawken 54 cal.

A ball got stuck, so I glued a drill bit to the end of a wooden dowel, slid the dowel down the barrel and screwed the bit into the ball; this has worked perfectly other times. However, this time the glue didn’t hold, and I ended up pulling out an empty stick, and the ball, now with drill bit, still stuck in the barrel.

After reading on this forum, I then used the Universal Unloader from DGW. The ball moved about 6 in forward and stopped. Apparently the drill bit dug into the inside of the barrel.

I’ve been trying to take the breech plug apart, but no luck. Doesn’t seem to move.

Checked with Pedersoli. New barrel is $740+.

1. Any ideas on how to remove the breech plug? Maybe they aren’t meant be taken apart.
2. Any ideas on what to do next to remove? I've seen some suggestions re: melting the lead, but wouldn't it end up coating the barrel?
3. Haven't had success in finding an alternative replacement barrel. Any suggestions on who to check with?
4. Any recommendations re: gunsmith for this?

Thank you for any suggestions.

I prefer to shoot the stuck ball out but have also removed the nipple and use an air compressor with an air gun attachment, just be darn sure down range is clear when you hit the air! A little lube ahead of the ball couldn't hurt.