Something in the Barrel

[Bill-52]

Any advice on removing something (debris? a live load?) from from the barrel of a c1830-1840, .50 caliber, rifled percussion longrifle?

In checking a new acquisition, a smaller bore cleaning rod bottomed out roughly 3/8" in front of the nipple/drum area (towards the muzzle) with a soft "thunk" (not a metallic "click"). 

I'm inclined to get a worm, smaller than .50 caliber, and see what starts to come out.  However, given my novice status in collecting longrifles, I thought it best to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise here.

By way of background, I've been collecting Civil War naval firearms for 40+ years.  While I've always checked each new acquisition, I've never had to deal with this issue until now.

Thanks, Bill

[SCLoyalist]

You might start by putting some moose milk, oil, WD40 or BP solvent down bore to see if anything like a wad of paper or insect artifact started dissolving.  Next would be a CO2 discharger to try to blow it out, and check for a total blockage between nipple and muzzle.  Dunno what I'd try next, but maybe would depend on what I thought I'd learned from the first two attempts.   Good luck.

[keweenaw]

If it is a load and you don't have a CO2 discharger, a screw type ball puller on the end of a loading rod will work just fine to drag it out. 

[steg49]

First I would take the barrel out of the stock to protect the wood while I worked on the barrel, next I would see if the drum and nipple could be removed.  the distance from the drum 3/8 of an inch is very close (I would expect a load to be about 1 inch or more in front of the drum) and if the drum comes out you could see the obstruction.  Oils like Kroil or penetrating oils will help remove rusted frozen parts.  I've been lucky with my old aquisitions only had a shotgun loaded but had to ream and use oil and water several times before it all came out, the powder was rock hard.

[JTR]

What snyder said.
If it's only 3/8" long, it's likely just dirt and junk.
John

[Bill-52]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I don't have a CO2 discharger so will try the penetrating oil.  The nipple/drum is heavily pitted but might free up with a several applications.  If that doesn't work, I'll try a ball puller and/or worm.

Nice to know its not likely a live load.....

Thanks again.

[Acer Saccharum]

I try not to stand in front of the cleaning rod when pulling old loads, and have the barrel aimed in a safe direction. Like, man, you don't want to have the gun go off, and the cleaning rod goes up thru the ceiling.....

Sometimes the old powder can be a bit techy for friction. It usually burns pretty good.

[LynnC]

If the nipple can be easily removed, you might try compressed air after a good soaking.  3/8" of crud or ? ought to be easily blown out.

Be careful and good luck.....................Lynn

[Bill-52]

Re being careful where the gun is pointed, I completely agree.  While its likely debris, treat it as if its powder.  

One development: WD40 in the barrel eventually leaks out the nipple.  Good news or bad??

[Acer Saccharum]

WD coming out the nipple is a good sign. Probably a wad of hard patching or cloth in the breech.

[Dphariss]

It could be wad of hardened grease or a greased rag.
This can be good or bad.
Could be something some kid put in there and it stuck???
A worm used for pulling patches may pull it up or breakup or otherwise dislodge it.

Dan

[holzwurm]

The Schuetzen I just acquired was also plugged. I Soaked the nipple in a penetrating "Blaster" oil till I was able to remove the nipple with just a touch of torque. The nipple and breech  were packed with something that looked like hardened crisco (maybe lard  ). I pulled the breech and cleaned everything out and put it back together.

BTW - since I had the breech off I cleaned the bore well too. I was surprised to find the bore looked brand new.

[Bill-52]

Got it!

Two days of penetrating oil down the barrel and and what I pulled out with a patch pulling worm was a piece of cloth, roughly 3/8" wide, 10 " long and knotted in the middle.  A makeshift cleaning patch??

Many thanks for all the good advice!

Bill

[Dphariss]

People used to put greased rags in the bore. Or some kid put it in there.

I gave up trying to figure why things were done to old guns years ago.
If you are lucky it did not rot a cavity in the breech.
Dan

[Stophel]

I had somebody bring me an Enfield rifle that came from Afghanistan.  Restocked in some coarse Afghan wood.  By the way, the lock was EXCEPTIONALLY well made, and on the bottom of the barrel, inside the wood, was the most incredible blueing you could imagine.

Anyway, I pulled out a lead slug about an inch and a half long, roughly cylindrical...and I mean roughly, that appeared to have been made with a coarse stone mould that was not centered one side to the other. Behind that was some remnants of powder and paper.