Cleaning Rod /Patch Stuck in Barrel

Thought I'd post this as an 'Tip' to keep in the back of your mind..I'm sure it has/can happen to others.

I knew this was going to happen from the first time I cleaned my .45 Kentucky Muzzleloader...the fear of getting ram rod stuck in the barrel....sure enough today was the day...stuck at the very bottom....went in smooth, didn't come back out.

I did all the normal stuff....hold gun pull rod...hold rod in vice pull on gun...disassemble the gun, put barrel in vice..pulled like crazy...nada..."done stuck good" as they say.

I took off the nipple and gas port and peered inside, the rear of the breach area was inaccessible to any kind of tool to go at it from the backside.

So I pondered the problem....decided that I might be able to burn the cleaning patch (it was dry) if I soaked it in an accelerant like Kerosene and let it burn away from the jag. So I applied the Kerosene to the bottom of the patch thru the vent hole and let it soak in, applying a little at a time as needed.

After about 15 minutes, before I lit the fire, I decide to give the ram rod one more pull before I twisted it off the jag and removed it. ....sure enough...eureka..I had movement and under steady pressure the patch slowly pulled back out. Saved.

I guess the Kerosene acted as a lubricant and also dissolved some of the crud from the Pyrodex.

Anyway, a little panic at first, thought maybe I had screwed the barrel..but it worked out OK. Ready for some shooting today.

I'm glad things worked out okay for you. I have also encountered the same problem. There is nothing more frustrating.

Would WD40 work?

Was it a dry patch you sent down the barrel?

HA

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Originally Posted by mox72

Would WD40 work?

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I wasn't attempting to lubricate, I was going to try and ignite and burn the patch. I don't know if WD40 would burn as well as Kerosene.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by huntaway

Was it a dry patch you sent down the barrel? HA

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Yea it was a quick 'drying' patch after I had swabed it. It went is easy, I was surprised it got jammed. I use dry patches all the time on my .50 cal break open, so it's just habit....but then again I usually push it straight thru. Won't do it again on this barrel :)

Ah crap....I was looking forward to the story of you lighting the match.....lol

or tamping some powder under the nipple and letting her go! lol

My wet patch is more damp than wet and I have isopropyl alcohol / windex solution. So by the time I get around to pouring powder the barrel is dry and I don't have to use a dry patch.

Glad to hear everything worked out ok.

HA

[QUOTE=MikePal;785975]I wasn't attempting to lubricate, I was going to try and ignite and burn the patch. I don't know if WD40 would burn as well as Kerosene.



I realize that, but it sounds like the kerosene acted as a lubricant as you were able to pull it out without lighting it. So maybe instead it would be better to just try WD40 instead of putting an open flame to your firearm?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mox72

I realize that, but it sounds like the kerosene acted as a lubricant as you were able to pull it out without lighting it. So maybe instead it would be better to just try WD40 instead of putting an open flame to your firearm?

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Hindsight....I wasn't looking for a lubrication, I was looking for an accelerant to burn the patch.

A fire inside a barrel wouldn't cause any damage.....at least a heck of a lot less than a jag/patch permanently stuck in it :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by huntaway

or tamping some powder under the nipple and letting her go! lol

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You'd simple be amazed at how many folks recommend doing just that on various forums/blogs I had read thru trying to come up with a solution.....:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikePal

You'd simple be amazed at how many folks recommend doing just that on various forums/blogs I had read thru trying to come up with a solution.....:)

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Put a broad head on the end and your good to go for bow season. It's called the muzzle bow.

That's a good solution to get it out, has happened to me a few times but it has always been with a dry patch. I used a slide hammer but your idea would have less risk of damage.

Mike,

Remembering back to my younger days. We use to put lighter fluid in a tube and cork it with a tennis ball or potato and light it. Woomph a cannon. lol

I wonder if you were to have lit that patch if not the same thing would have happened?

HA

Quote:

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Originally Posted by huntaway

Remembering back to my younger days. We use to put lighter fluid in a tube and cork it with a tennis ball or potato and light it. Woomph a cannon. lol

I wonder if you were to have lit that patch if not the same thing would have happened?

HA

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Yea the good old potatoes guns etc....we used to use ether...now that stuff is scary !! :)

That's why I choose Kerosene....it's got a low ignition rate...basically just burns slowly (no flash ignition). I use it to start the fire in my firepalce here everyday and it is actually hard to get going using a match. Also the vent hole on the .45 is fairly large and open so the fuel wouldn't be encased.

My only real fear I had was the fire getting to hot and melting the brass jag and having it bond to the barrel steel. But since the barrel was worthless as it was, no harm nor foul if it didn't work.

In the end, lubrication was the key....it'll be the 'go to' plan if it happens again :)