Projectile stuck in barrel

HarryOldman

HarryOldman

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2023
Messages
43
Location
Burlington, NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I am new to black powder in general. I inherited a .45 cal side lock. I fired it about 10 times with maxi balls and no issues. I switched to round balls and patches and the first shot was fine. Second shot the percussion cap popped, but no ignition. I tried 4 more caps and no luck. I took off the nipple between attempts and cleaned the best I could. I saw online they make a removal tool, but I spoke to someone that told me not to waste my money on it. Looking for suggestions or someone I could visit to help me remove it.

What are the chances there was enough pressure to produce a squib?
 
Been there, done that... Welcome to the club!

Several possible fixes:

1) remove nipple, trickle a few grains of powder in the channel, reinstall nipple, cap it & try again.
2) ball-puller attachment for a ramrod. This is like an EZ-out for lead balls: coarse thread screw that attaches to ramrod. Tap the crew into the lead ball just toget it started, screw it into the ball, pull ball out. Best to use a solid or heavy-duty ish range rod; metal tips can be pulled or broken off of lesser (wood, plastic) ramrods. Lotsa lube down the bore around the ball can help, but try not to lube the screw into the ball. The goal is decrease friction btw ball & barrel w/o loosening the grip of the threads on the ball.
3) CO2 clearing tool - takes a CO2 cartridge, has tip that fits into the nipple or nipple hole, blast of CO2 to push ball out of muzzle
4) grease gun - find a zerc fitting that matches your nipple threads, attach it, pump grease to push ball out

Don't forget to cuss!
 
Windini said:
Been there, done that... Welcome to the club!

Several possible fixes:

1) remove nipple, trickle a few grains of powder in the channel, reinstall nipple, cap it & try again.
2) ball-puller attachment for a ramrod. This is like an EZ-out for lead balls: coarse thread screw that attaches to ramrod. Tap the crew into the lead ball just toget it started, screw it into the ball, pull ball out. Best to use a solid or heavy-duty ish range rod; metal tips can be pulled or broken off of lesser (wood, plastic) ramrods. Lotsa lube down the bore around the ball can help, but try not to lube the screw into the ball. The goal is decrease friction btw ball & barrel w/o loosening the grip of the threads on the ball.
3) CO2 clearing tool - takes a CO2 cartridge, has tip that fits into the nipple or nipple hole, blast of CO2 to push ball out of muzzle
4) grease gun - find a zerc fitting that matches your nipple threads, attach it, pump grease to push ball out

Don't forget to cuss!
Click to expand...
Thanks. I like the grease gun idea. I'll try 1 & 2 first. Another question I have is about the set trigger. It currently doesn't work. Know anyone with experience fixing something like that in NC?
 
What Windini said . I've done it every way except the grease gun. Most of the modern muzzleloaders have a small patent breech that will allow you to get some powder behind the ball when you remove the nipple. If you go with the Co2 cartridge point it in a safe direction.
 
Last edited:
Make sure the ball is seated, then remove nipple and trickle powder into hole. Replace nipple, cap it and fire. Does not take much powder to blow a dryball out.
 
My first question is- real black powder or something else? Second, there are folks around with the correct stuff to remove a stuck ball- @Mr.Gadget, @Theodore Maynard, @Catfish, me

Next, get real black powder, make sure the gun is clean. What loading methodology did you use? Wiping between shots? How "wet" was the wet patch? Sometimes wiping between shots with super tight patches just pushes all the fouling into the patent breech with the result of stopping up the fire channel.
 
Dave951 said:
My first question is- real black powder or something else? Second, there are folks around with the correct stuff to remove a stuck ball- @Mr.Gadget, @Theodore Maynard, @Catfish, me

Next, get real black powder, make sure the gun is clean. What loading methodology did you use? Wiping between shots? How "wet" was the wet patch? Sometimes wiping between shots with super tight patches just pushes all the fouling into the patent breech with the result of stopping up the fire channel.
Click to expand...
I’ll work on getting it out. I did wipe between shots. I had read to do that. Maybe it was too wet and exactly what you stated happened. I am going to try to get the ball out with an air compressor tomorrow and then a few grains on powder like was suggested.

It wasn’t real black powder. I believe that round was packed with triple seven.

Is it possible the patch I used was just too thick? This was the first time I tried round balls and patches.
 
If the powder was ignited, the ball would have come out, regardless of tight patch. Remember to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction while you’re trying these things. I’ve only dry-balled once, but it yielded to removing the nipple and trickling a little powder in.
 
Red Marley said:
If the powder was ignited, the ball would have come out, regardless of tight patch. Remember to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction while you’re trying these things. I’ve only dry-balled once, but it yielded to removing the nipple and trickling a little powder in.
Click to expand...
That will probably work. I’ll clamp it in a vice pointed into a berm while I try. Never been shot and don’t plan to ever be.
 
HarryOldman said:
I’ll work on getting it out. I did wipe between shots. I had read to do that. Maybe it was too wet and exactly what you stated happened. I am going to try to get the ball out with an air compressor tomorrow and then a few grains on powder like was suggested.

It wasn’t real black powder. I believe that round was packed with triple seven.

Is it possible the patch I used was just too thick? This was the first time I tried round balls and patches.
Click to expand...
Daggone hit it with some compressed air already!! The waiting is giving me an aneurysm 🤣🤣😂🤣🤣
 
For the most part a normal 125 psi compressor will not move that ball. My CO2 system is 1500 to 2000 PSI if I recall and it takes some work on a hard stuck.

Found it easier to just pull it.
 
its a rite of passage for BP shooters
first, try working some fresh powder in there with a nipple pick. you might get it to light.
if that fails, the ball puller thing works fine ive used it a couple times.
im in Charlotte, if you get down this way look me up. I can help
 
You can get an air compressor if you have one around your garage and try spraying down the nipple or pick up one of these portable bike tire inflators that use the generic CO2 cartridges and have a little adapter to fit over your nipple. Something like this: https://rmcoxyoke.com/product/b-i-d-kit-2/

What's always worked for me is the tricks mentioned above. Just remove the nipple, pour a few grains of powder in the drum and replace the nipple and then cap it off and it should go bang. A lot of times failures to set off the charge like this happen to novices who use way too much oil or water while cleaning fouling between shots. A good trick is to tilt your barrel and tap it a few times in the direction of the breech drum where the nipple is located, after dropping the powder down the bore. That helps get powder in that channel which will set off the main charge reliably.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom