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te1980
Starting Member
3 Posts |
 Posted - 11/06/2009 : 7:06:57 PM
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| Well, I've got a Minnie stuck about 6 inches above the powder charge. I've tried pulling it but the puller just pulled out of the soft lead and now will not bite into the bullet. Should I seat the ball down to the charge by driving it down with a hammer and a steel rod and then shoot it out or not? I'm thinking that with the ball being that tight in the bore, the pressure might be too high and buldge or split the barrel but I'm fairly new to blackpowder shooting so any help would be great. Thanks |
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Chief Shaway
Moderator
1952 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 8:02:08 PM
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How did it get stuck? What type of weapon is it and how old? With a quality barrel it shouldn't hurt to drive it down and fire it out. Most ML rifle barells are fairly thick.
I've seen double charged rounds go off as well as double loaded charges with no problem. Just make sure that it is seated on the powder charge and you should be fine.
If you do feel worried, tie it to a tire and fix a string to the trigger. |
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te1980
Starting Member
3 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 8:28:37 PM
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| It's a reproduction .577 cal. 1853 Enfield musket. It is only about a year old so it is good steel but it has a round barrel so I'm not sure about the thickness of it. It got stuck because I forgot to swab out the barrel after 3 or 4 shots as I usually do so it was fouled pretty bad. I remembered on the 5th load when the ball jammed up 3/4 of the way down and I got that sick "oh crap" feeling. I have got by with it before, just not this time. I'm shooting .575 Minnie balls and they're a bit snug, but I've never had a problem as long as I swab out every few rounds. |
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hunterX
New Member
77 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 9:14:33 PM
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Dumping an amount of shooters choice lead remover down the bore and letting it stand overnight would loosen it up.
If your gun had a removal breech plug , which I assume it does not , I would then push it out either end with the rod. But letting it soak should free it up enough that you may be able to grab it and pull it out if loose enough.
I would probably try that before risk ruining the barrel ..... but like the man said , if you got it seated against the powder , I would think it would shoot out alright.
If you soak it overnight with the lead remover keep in mind that ruins the chance due to wet powder of shooting it out. |
Let the people know my wisdom
Fill the land with smoke |
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Chief Shaway
Moderator
1952 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 10:46:18 PM
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| Pound it down and shoot it out. No worries. |
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bull300wsm
Senior Member
1301 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 11:48:56 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Chief Shaway
Pound it down and shoot it out. No worries.
+1...if the lead is that soft it will go on down with a little more force....Bull |
Sorrow looks back... Worry looks around... Faith looks up...
"History does not intrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid" Dwight D. Eisenhower
Jesus Christ , Son of God, Creator of the Universe.
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hunter86004
New Member
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2009 : 01:03:03 AM
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Having shot mini balls almost exclusivly for almost 50 years, I would drive it home and shoot it out.
I also have a mold (Lee) that casts mini ball a tad bit tighter than I like and solved the problem by rolling them, with pressure, between two pieces of oak 1x3 to make 'em a bit smaller.
One other thing I learned when I first started shooting minis, was to put lube in the cavity along with the grease groves. I've always used Crisco and have never had to swab the barrel. My bore always looks wet (no sticky fouling) and it's easy to clean with dish soap and hot water. |
What can be seen can be hit. |
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te1980
Starting Member
3 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2009 : 10:56:20 AM
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| Thanks to all of you for the advice! I got it cleared. I seated the ball down and clamped it into a shooting vice and fired it off with a string looped around the trigger. As tight as it was, I wasn't taking any chances on my face being that close to a barrel burst. I had to use a 3/8" steel rod and a 3lb. hammer to seat the ball the rest of the way down so I was concerned with that much pressure. Thanks again. |
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Stuck minnie ball
