Breech plug removal

[Ky-Flinter]

Why would one want to remove the breech plug from a new barrel...on a 'new' build project?

1. To make sure the barrel maker fitted the plug properly (sometimes they don't).
2. Ease of inletting just the barrel into the stock, then inletting with the plug installed.
3. If a liner or drum is used, anything protruding into the bore must be removed/smoothed, so jag/patches don't hang up.
There are likely more reasons.

Why would one want to ever remove the plug, if the barrel was well taken care of?

1. To remove a stuck patch/ball.
There are likely more reasons.

-Ron

[Stonedog]

....and look what FINALLY popped loose today!

I got some of those Olympia vise jaws and it popped free!!!

[ltdann]

when you go to put it back in, make sure you apply a good quality anti seize compound.  I use that copper stuff from the auto parts store.  Make's MUCH easier to take out the next time.

[rich pierce]

Some folks inlet the barrel without the plug then inlet with the plug and tang. Most folks, probably.

[KentSmith]

Don't dress down the plug.  Do as Jerry says and others tell you.  It is supposed to be in tight.  Everyone has been there and dealt with this.

[David R. Pennington]

I made vice inserts from a couple of pieces of scrap 2" copper pipe. Through them in the potbelly stove to aneal, split them lengthwise and hammerred them to shape on the vice. When they get out of shape I aneal them again.

[moleeyes36]

About 10 years ago a friend and I scored on 1600 pounds of unused pure lead roof flashing at a junk yard for 55 cents a pound.  I just take some sheets of that and put in the jaws of my vise when I'm extracting a plug.  Works like a champ.

Mole Eyes

[PPatch]

I'm still learning about BP guns.  Why would one want to remove the breech plug from a new barrel...on a 'new' build project? Why would one want to ever remove the plug, if the barrel was well taken care of?

Removing the breech plug is part of the building process in that you normally inlet the barrel without it. Since you have it off it is a good idea to make sure it was installed correctly and to polish the breech plug face which aids with the removal of all the crud created later on when the gun is fired.

dave

[Dennis Glazener]

....and look what FINALLY popped loose today!

I got some of those Olympia vise jaws and it popped free!!!

Now doesn't it feel good to see it out and know that you can do it again if you need too! When you put it back be sure to align the "witness" marks. You whipped that problem, bring on another one.
Dennis

[oldtravler61]

  Stonedog as everyone has said you can do this.
  You have gotten good advice. As Dennis said on to the next. Oldtravler

[Eric Krewson]

Another thing; depending on where you got the barrel from you may find the breech plug fit to the breech face is not correct. Rice Barrels will be right, Colerain, not so much, a used barrel that has been worked on, you never know.

[hudson]

When Appling the anti seize compound don’t overdo it. I have had it weep out and cause a problem when browning or was it bluing one time, memory isn’t what it used to be.

[rfd]

a few years back i finally acquired the *proper* tools for pulling breech plugs - rice company wrench and octagonal vise pads, an 18" reed corp flat jawed wrench, assorted octagon "sockets".  makes all the difference in the world.  i *always* wanna pull off plugs, particularly new barrels, to anti-seize grease the threads to allow easy future removal and help mitigate the inevitable intrusion of bp residue.

[David R. Pennington]

Regarding anti sieze on breech threads: back when I used to use solvent to clean with, (only use water now) I would think I had a clean barrel then all of a sudden the patches started coming out dark again. I finally realized the solvent was leaching out some of the anti sieze into the bore.

[rfd]

Regarding anti sieze on breech threads: back when I used to use solvent to clean with, (only use water now) I would think I had a clean barrel then all of a sudden the patches started coming out dark again. I finally realized the solvent was leaching out some of the anti sieze into the bore.

i hear ya and been there, too.  but since going to Nikal and painting it on thin with a fine brush to plug and liner threads, don't happen anymore, not ever.  both threaded items come off real easy, too.  Nikal is the way to go, for me.

[Goo]

Has anyone mentioned the obvious yet?  If the barrel is tapered it won't allow the vise jaws to get a good grip on the barrel because they only make good contact on the widest point of the barrel.    You need to compensate with a swivel jaw attachment or insert wedges to get a solid hold on the barrel.

[rfd]

i use rice company octagon magnetic barrel vise pads, they work just fine, but i do tape the barrel.

[Mike Brooks]

Has anyone mentioned the obvious yet?  If the barrel is tapered it won't allow the vise jaws to get a good grip on the barrel because they only make good contact on the widest point of the barrel.    You need to compensate with a swivel jaw attachment or insert wedges to get a solid hold on the barrel.

I don't have much trouble with the barrel taper.

[P.W.Berkuta]

I made up this barrel clamp in about 1/2 hour and it has never failed me if a 12" piece of gas pipe will not do it then I get a longer one. The square aluminum spacers under the washers are only there as spacers because those grade 8 bolts were the only ones I had at the time and I am too lazy to get shorter bolts.

[Bob Roller]

Why would one want to remove the breech plug from a new barrel...on a 'new' build project?

1. To make sure the barrel maker fitted the plug properly (sometimes they don't).
2. Ease of inletting just the barrel into the stock, then inletting with the plug installed.
3. If a liner or drum is used, anything protruding into the bore must be removed/smoothed, so jag/patches don't hang up.
There are likely more reasons.

Why would one want to ever remove the plug, if the barrel was well taken care of?

1. To remove a stuck patch/ball.
There are likely more reasons.

-Ron

Just WHY should a breech plug be so tight it takes special tools and a long lever to
undo a 3/4x16 or even smaller thread? Some production muzzle loaders in the
1970's had cast "patent"breeches that were over tightened and a fracture lid was created
thru the last thread that caused several very bad incidents with injuries.

Bob Roller

[Bob Roller]

Why would one want to remove the breech plug from a new barrel...on a 'new' build project?

1. To make sure the barrel maker fitted the plug properly (sometimes they don't).
2. Ease of inletting just the barrel into the stock, then inletting with the plug installed.
3. If a liner or drum is used, anything protruding into the bore must be removed/smoothed, so jag/patches don't hang up.
There are likely more reasons.

Why would one want to ever remove the plug, if the barrel was well taken care of?

1. To remove a stuck patch/ball.
There are likely more reasons.

-Ron

Just WHY should a breech plug be so tight it takes special tools and a long lever to
undo a 3/4x16 or even smaller thread? Some production muzzle loaders in the
1970's had cast "patent"breeches that were over tightened and a fracture lid was created
thru the last thread that caused several very bad incidents with injuries.

Bob Roller

TYPO CORRECTION: It was a fracture LINE,not a lid.

[Mike Brooks]

I've been wondering what a grade 8 bolt looks like, now I know. They sorta resemble most other bolts from a casual glance don't they?
 A fella can find out just about everything here.

[P.W.Berkuta]

I've been wondering what a grade 8 bolt looks like, now I know. They sorta resemble most other bolts from a casual glance don't they?
 A fella can find out just about everything here.

The marking on the head will tell you what grade it is but you have to look it up in machinist handbook or other reference source . These were purchased from ACE Hardware - the washers are also high strength to go along with the bolts .

[Mike Brooks]

I got lots of machinist handbooks layn' around....

[Bob Roller]

Why would one want to remove the breech plug from a new barrel...on a 'new' build project?

1. To make sure the barrel maker fitted the plug properly (sometimes they don't).
2. Ease of inletting just the barrel into the stock, then inletting with the plug installed.
3. If a liner or drum is used, anything protruding into the bore must be removed/smoothed, so jag/patches don't hang up.
There are likely more reasons.

Why would one want to ever remove the plug, if the barrel was well taken care of?

1. To remove a stuck patch/ball.
There are likely more reasons.

-Ron

Just WHY should a breech plug be so tight it takes special tools and a long lever to
undo a 3/4x16 or even smaller thread? Some production muzzle loaders in the
1970's had cast "patent"breeches that were over tightened and a fracture lid was created
thru the last thread that caused several very bad incidents with injuries.

Bob Roller

TYPO CORRECTION: It was a fracture LINE,not a lid.

So far NO answer to my question as to why such radical methods are needed to
remove a short,threaded bolt or plug.

Bob Roller