The Accurate Reloading Forums
Black powder barrel with old ball stuck
05 January 2016, 21:22
DickBlack powder barrel with old ball stuck
A friend dropped off a black powder rifle he wanted back in commission. He had left it loaded for about 3 years. Got the nipple off and soaked the powder with oil. Drilled out most of the ball with a sharpened brass rod. Now any suggestions about how to clean out the rest of the lead ball? or maybe it should become a tent stake. Can't get the breech plug loose. Is there hope?
05 January 2016, 21:58
speerchucker30x378Assuming the powder is all out and there is a hole in the ball. Invert it in a vise and take a plumbers torch and heat it slowly until the lead melts out of the barrel. Then oil it up really good so it doesn't rust. Don't overheat it and just heat the area the lead is in.
ASSUMING THERE IS NO POWDER LEFT ! ! !
When I was a kid. I had the stick. I had the rock. And I had the mud puddle. I am as adept with them today, as I was back then. Lets see today's kids say that about their IPods, IPads and XBoxes in 45 years!
Rod Henrickson
05 January 2016, 22:30
dpcdYou should not have drilled the ball; easy and correct way is use a ball puller and remove it, but too late for that now. Do what Speer said.
If there is powder left, you will know fairly quickly.
05 January 2016, 22:30
p dog shooterquote:
ASSUMING THERE IS NO POWDER LEFT ! ! !
I would shoot off a couple of caps in a safe manner before trying this that well make sure all the power is burnt out
05 January 2016, 22:32
dpcdA ball puller is just a wood screw on a ramrod.
Alternative, send it to me and I will fix it.
05 January 2016, 22:55
speerchucker30x378The absolute safest way to remove a bullet or ball stuck in a muzzle loader is to remove the nipple and screw in a zerk fitting. 90% of them are 1/4 x 28. Then attach a grease gun and get to pumping. 100% safe. Works 99% of the time. 99% messy.
Once you drill a hole in the bullet or ball that option is lost !
When I was a kid. I had the stick. I had the rock. And I had the mud puddle. I am as adept with them today, as I was back then. Lets see today's kids say that about their IPods, IPads and XBoxes in 45 years!
Rod Henrickson
05 January 2016, 22:57
DOPPELGANGSTERPlug the hole in the ball, compressed air through the nipple. I'd try freezing it before heating it. Traditional muzzle loading barrels, parts whatever are utter crap material wise. Who knows what will happen to the metal if it gets hot enough to melt the ball.
05 January 2016, 23:46
Wes62Another course of action to consider is to plug the nipple and pour a bit of Kroil down the barrel and also soak the hell out of the breech joint and let sit for a few days before trying that breech plug again. That is going to be your best bet at accessing and properly cleaning out the lead and corrosion, or at least accessing whether you have a good barrel to work with. That breech plug needs to come off! If you mess it up removing it, it is a rather inexpensive replacement.
06 January 2016, 01:51
dpcdToo much drama; you guys do realize that people used these guns every day for many more years than the metallic cartridge has been around.
One more comment; soaking the breech plug won't help; it ain't the threads that are stuck. Like Mauser rifle barrels; the threads are loose; it is the shoulder. Inner and outer, here too.
ML barrels are usually made from 1137, or so. Heating them enough to melt solder won't hurt them. ok, two comments.
Send it to me and I will fix it for free.
06 January 2016, 03:38
Dulltool17I like your cantankerous attitude, dpcd!
Kinda like my approach at work- "I coulda fixed it in the time we spent talking about it!"
My boss calls this a "bias toward action." I usually tell him to can the politically correct bullshit!
Doug Wilhelmi
NRA Life Member
06 January 2016, 03:51
dpcdI keep telling myself not to get involved with these problems, which I could fix in about two minutes. But I can't help it.
I realize that everyone has their opinion and I do respect them.
But, I need to shut up before I get put on someone's "ignore" list. Again.
06 January 2016, 04:14
Wes62Don't believe any mention was made about the threads. The "soak" was mentioned for the purpose of unseizing the mating surfaces between the breech plug and the barrel, whatever they may be. On the other hand, the heating of the barrel (or breech plug), as has been mentioned , is also useful in the process of removing the breech plug.
06 January 2016, 06:03
jeffeossotake a #10 can, fill it 1/2 with brake fluid ...
put the breech end in the can, and pour the barrel full of same
let sit for a week
remove breech plug, drive out bullet, muzzle to plug hole, with a stick (dowel)
06 January 2016, 21:37
John Chalmersquote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
I keep telling myself not to get involved with these problems, which I could fix in about two minutes. But I can't help it.
I realize that everyone has their opinion and I do respect them.
But, I need to shut up before I get put on someone's "ignore" list. Again.
Their loss dpcd..Keep posting, all very interesting to common old garden machinist...
06 January 2016, 21:46
speerchucker30x378quote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
Too much drama; you guys do realize that people used these guns every day for many more years than the metallic cartridge has been around.
One more comment; soaking the breech plug won't help; it ain't the threads that are stuck. Like Mauser rifle barrels; the threads are loose; it is the shoulder. Inner and outer, here too.
ML barrels are usually made from 1137, or so. Heating them enough to melt solder won't hurt them. ok, two comments.
Send it to me and I will fix it for free.
People have attached literally 10s of thousands of scope bases to high powered rifle receivers without the use of screws or dovetails over the years, with no adverse affects or change in heat treatment. Simple lead tin solder.
Box it up and send it to dpcd.
When I was a kid. I had the stick. I had the rock. And I had the mud puddle. I am as adept with them today, as I was back then. Lets see today's kids say that about their IPods, IPads and XBoxes in 45 years!
Rod Henrickson
07 January 2016, 03:32
Dulltool17quote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
I keep telling myself not to get involved with these problems, which I could fix in about two minutes. But I can't help it.
I realize that everyone has their opinion and I do respect them.
But, I need to shut up before I get put on someone's "ignore" list. Again.
Keep posting, friend! As John said!
(Just avoid the Political Forum and you'll endure)
Doug Wilhelmi
NRA Life Member
11 January 2016, 22:36
siceroThe barrel for the nipple is screwed into the breach plug and needs to be removed first. Kenny
A larger screw on a rod to better fit the hole you drilled might get it right out.