I've had to melt lap slugs out of barrels that became stuck for one reason or another and it's no big deal. Barrel steel is normalized ( annealed) at the factory when button rifled to relieve stress. The temperatures for this range from 900 F. to 1200 F. degrees and lead will melt out at under 500 F. so there is no change to barrel steel when melting lead out of it at temperature below normalizing levels.
What you do with your gun is your business. But a person just starting out with shooting a black powder gun and getting himself in this much of a problem does not need the advice of put a torch in each hand and melt it out. The fact that he has already been given the good advice of pulling the plug, which has been stated is easy is much better. It also has the byproduct of being able to see what is going wrong with a bird's eye view. Also think it is just stupid to recommend torching your gun, as that would take on fact that a knowledgeable person was going to be the worker. I and other mechanics could give a short cut hint for doing a job, but if you do not learn the basics first then you will be over your head. After all don't you think your not a newbie?
Yes, and along with loads of the best advice available, also a fairly considerable amount of derisive negativity; it would be no wonder if he's abandoned the thread.
Yeah, other than lead melting temp being closer to 600 degrees by my thermometer I think you have a point. I’d be concerned about the finish if any and or anything attached to the barrel with solder and I really don’t think I’d recommend it to someone who’s had some difficulty with an antique rifle, especially since it’s his first go round and he couldn’t get a minie out with 60 grains of Pyrodex. I think there are other factors at play here and getting it into the hands of a competent smith seems like a prudent course of action.
Never advised not to remove the breech plug just said I've melted a number of stuck slugs out with no issue of barrel steel change or even barrel finish alteration. I am a schooled gunsmith and actually have done what I say a number of times and know it to work very well.
Yes, pure lead melts at 621.5 F, thank you. Don't know why I was thinking 500F. Any way it's not hot enough to ruin barrel steel or good bluing.
That makes sense to learn as much as you can about any of these endeavors first but they all have an element of nuance that must be learned by actually doing it at some point and learning from trial and error the best method for personally employing ones strengths and avoiding their weaknesses.
I was kidding, the marshmallow part didn’t give you a clue?
I am thinking he has a hole through the bullet from trying to use a puller? This would make it harder to shoot out or pull out. This is no longer a job for a novice it appears.@Eterry, that’s my theory, too. The minie is covering the vent.
OP, I will clear the bore for you and pin gauge for an exact measurement free of charge. Just take care of shipping.
For the sake of our firearms we have to know our limitations. To lure a novice into waters over his head is not really helpful. Unless he knows the risks he is taking and is willing to chalk up a ruined gun to a learning experience.
That's a neat idea. Never thought of that. Should work.
Once you've established beyond doubt that there is no powder charge that can be ignited there is no safer or easier way to remove a stuck slug than melting it out using a propane torch or two. You can't get a barrel hot enough with a hand held propane torch to harm it.
Bravo and a great pat on the back for him doing the right thing. I hope he’s not too put off by some of the ideas and comments. I wish him well and hope he’ll have a successful muzzleloader experience from now on.
This is what I was responding to, not the advice on melting out a slug, which BTW, I would not do. "That makes sense to learn as much as you can about any of these endeavors first but they all have an element of nuance that must be learned by actually doing it at some point and learning from trial and error the best method for personally employing ones strengths and avoiding their weaknesses." The part about trial and error....just saying a novice may not realize the magnitude of the error involved when being advised to do certain fixes. Anyway, all water under the bridge now as the OP has resolved his problem.
What the what???? All the people that took their time and intuition to try and help the OP with solid advise and he abandons his thread and doesn't alert others to the successful removal of the projectile? The nerve of some people. We now know all we need to know about the user.....guys, don't waste your time.
