Removing breech plug...

[E.Boyd]

Got a new Rice barrel 38" C early american..... Breech plug will not budge?  Suggestions?

[Spalding]

Rice breech plug wrench. $40 well spent. Sure beats a crescent wrench.

Bob

[rich pierce]

Whike typing the removal tool appeared above!

I clamp in a vise just in front of the breechplug. I bought a breechplug removal tool which is half inch steel with a V-shaped cutout in it that slides on and fits many breechplug tapers. It has a stub end on it for applying a pipe. It’s pretty handy. But I also resort to a very heavy duty monkey wrench that I bop with a 3 pound hammer. Lefty loosey of course. If I still have problems I heat the breech end of the barrel with a propane torch till it’s turning straw color. Then put the wrench and 3 pound hammer. 🔨 f course having a vise that won’t slip or mar is critical.

[Jim Kibler]

You will need a good-sized strong vise as well.  A little 3-4" bench vise likely isn't enough.

[Long Ears]

Buy the aluminum jaw inserts Rice sells when you buy the wrench. I've never had a problem since. A big well anchored vice like Jim says also. Bob

[oldtravler61]

  I've dealt with the over tight breech plugs from several makers. The very first thing I do is make up a 50/50 solution of acetone and ATF ( automatic transmission fluid )
 I then take the barrel and set it in a bucket or what have you till the solution is a bit above the breech plug wear it meets the barrel. Then I pour a little down the bore. Let it sit overnight. Then I clamp in vice and
 use my 12 inch wrench an out they come easy... Very rarely do I have to use a cheater bar to add leverage. Never messed up a barrel yet in twenty some years.  Why they torque them so much is beyond me..

[Long Ears]

You know when I started this disease I wasted a ton of money buying smooth jawed Ford Wrenches, made my own that wouldn't fit the taper plug, screwed up the edges of a couple plugs. Just spend the money on good tools now. We should start a list for guys of what we think they absolutely need. The cost of the parts is just a sucker punch. The beating afterwards is what costs. Then again I've had a blast taking this beating. Bob

[bptactical]

Being cheap can be a very expensive thing

[mikeyfirelock]

Do you have a heat gun ?   (You can use a torch, but minimally, )  warm the breech and try it .   Warm means warm…(or too hot to touch….NOT  blazing hot.)
Pad the vice and whatever tool you apply the torque with.  Let cool gradually.
BTDT
mikeyfirelock.     

[Leatherbark]

This might be a little crude, but if the barrel hasn't been finished and still needs draw filed, try peening the unexposed flats first where the breech threads are with a small sledge or the flat end of a ball peen hammer. Just a couple of good hard licks on each flat against the anvil. Try to hit good and square and not hit the edges of the flats.  Unscrew the breech plug and file the boogers off the flats.  Hopefully, you will just have to pound on 5 of the flats. Object is to microscopically displace thread metal.

Bob

[Steeltrap]

  I've dealt with the over tight breech plugs from several makers. The very first thing I do is make up a 50/50 solution of acetone and ATF ( automatic transmission fluid )
 I then take the barrel and set it in a bucket or what have you till the solution is a bit above the breech plug wear it meets the barrel. Then I pour a little down the bore. Let it sit overnight. Then I clamp in vice and
 use my 12 inch wrench an out they come easy... Very rarely do I have to use a cheater bar to add leverage. Never messed up a barrel yet in twenty some years.  Why they torque them so much is beyond me..

Now that’s interesting. I guess that says something about how critical the bore “seal” is from the factory. Must be enough of a gap to allow that concoction to seep into the joint and get it free. Great tip!!

[E.Boyd]

Thanks... Mates .. Ill check on the tool...

[smylee grouch]

I made a wrench with two pieces of 1&1\2" steel bar 18 inches long. Drilled 4   5\16 inch holes towards the ends with about a two inch gap between hole 2 and 3. Clamp the beech plug in that gap with 4    5\16 inch bolts and barrel in vice forward of breech threads. Give one of the " handles " a wack with a hammer and the jar will break it free.

[mgbruch]

I made a tool similar to the one pictured.  Made it out of a mild steel bar; 1/4" thick, 1 1/2" wide, and two feet long.  Works great.

[Bob Roller]

You will need a good-sized strong vise as well.  A little 3-4" bench vise likely isn't enough.

This man speaks the truth.No light weight hobby shop vises will do the job.Also there are still
a few Bill Large barrels that have a left hand thread and as I remember,NO way to ID them
by external examination.They were both 5/8X18 and 3/4X16.
Bob Roller

[JLayne]

The tool depicted will help. However, I also found that sometimes the problem is that the barrel will turn in the vice as you try to loosen the plug. Rice also makes a set of vice jaws that form an octagon shape in the center when closed and prevent that from happening. Well worth the investment since those plugs seem to be installed with superhuman force.

Jay

[JLayne]

https://ricebarrels.com/product/barrel-vise-jaws/

[Bob Roller]

The tool depicted will help. However, I also found that sometimes the problem is that the barrel will turn in the vice as you try to loosen the plug. Rice also makes a set of vice jaws that form an octagon shape in the center when closed and prevent that from happening. Well worth the investment since those plugs seem to be installed with superhuman force.

Jay

You will still need a heavy vise.If the barrel rolls in the vise you now have it is much too light for any breech plug removal or installation.
Bob Roller

[sdilts]

I know the older Rice barrels had the breech plugs really tight, but the last few that I've used have given me no trouble at all. The plugs pop right out without a whole lot of effort.

[JasonR]

Those octagonal vise jaws are a wonder for holding. Next...leverage/torque is all you need in form of steel pipe over end of tool or vice grip to "extend" handle. Easy peasy. Works everytime for me.

[Bob Roller]

The torque is what pulls the vise up by the roots/bolts.Many years ago I had a fine 58 caliber CW Springfield that needed only pliers to remove and it did not leak,The bullet moved easier than the plug and that's a good thing. .I shot the old service load of 65 grains of 1fg DuPont and the full weight hollow base bullet as made by a Lyman mould.
Bob Roller

[Steeltrap]

I know the discussion is about removing a plug, but how tight should the new plug be installed?

[rich pierce]

I know the discussion is about removing a plug, but how tight should the new plug be installed?

Not that tight! If the face of the threaded plug butts up against the shoulder in the threaded barrel, and the tang is tight up against the breech, it is good. Ideally no Herculean strength is needed. I’m no engineer but I’ve heard that strained threads are weaker and so there’s no advantage to making them so tight.

[acorn20]

OK, we've got the breech plug out.  When reinstalling the plug, I've heard fellows stating that they apply a very light coating of lithium grease.  Does anyone else do this and is it necessary. 

[smylee grouch]

Graphite grease, never seize, good lithium grease.