Got a jag stuck

[Tom Bri]

Hope someone can help me. I have a Hawken Trade Rifle, and I got a screw jag and a patch stuck in the bore, all the way down. (Yes, I did something dumb). I have tried to get it out but can't. The breech plug also is so tight I can't unscrew it.

The Lyman manual suggests feeding a little powder into the nipple channel and trying to blow out the obstruction, but that sounds iffy to me. I will try it as a last resort but would rather not. I suppose the tiny amount of powder I could get in there wouldn't do any harm, but I am leery of the operation anyway.

So, has anyone had to try this? Or, what else can I try to get that thing out?

Thanks!

Tom

 

[SASS#23149]

Is it still attached to the ramrod..

or can it be reatttached? if so just pour some water down the bore to wet the patch and it will come right out.
don't ask me how I know that.

I have dribbled powder in to dislodge a ball,but not sure it's a good idea for a jag and patch,but not sure on that one.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I used an CO2 stuck ball discharger once at the range. Lost the jag too. Oh well.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

Remove the cone pour powder in the hole the the chamber put the cone back on cap and shoot it out just like it was a stuck ball...won't hurt a thing. The jags brass ain't it?
Go for it.

 

[Duncaninfrance]

Not sure about this cos I don't own one but if you take the barrel off and put the 'breech' end in boiling water that might expand the metal sufficiently for you to get it out providing the ramrod is still attached.
Now - say after me......aw what's the point, you already know!!
Good luck
Duncan

 

[Chawbaccer]

I've shot a couple out myself with a bit of powder. I seen somebody on here I think that changed the nipple for a zerk and pumped it out with grease.

 

[arcticap]

A little bit of powder under the nipple and pointed in a safe direction when expelled, watch out for ricochets. Or use a CO2 ball discharger.
There are other ways too, but these are the easiest ways by far IMO.

 

[Tom Bri]

Thanks. The dumb thing I did was turn the rod counter-clockwise, unscrewing the jag. I tried to get it screwed back on but I think the cloth blocked it.

Lyman has not responded to my request for suggestions. I guess I will just have to try blowing it out with BP through the nipple channel.

By the way, it sorta makes me happier to hear I am not the only one to admit doing something like this.....

It is a really sweet shooter, and I am hoping to take a deer this fall.

 

[mothernatureson]

stuck jag

Remove the nipple, and trickle in as much 3f or 4f as you can(actually 2f will work) set her off, you may lose the jag. I've had jags, balls, ramrods stuck does not hurt a thing. Point it down, cause you dont want to hit the neighbor's cat. good luck

 

[Duncaninfrance]

Point it down, cause you dont want to hit the neighbor's cat

Oh I don't know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Duncan

 

[sundance44s]

Sundance44s

Mothernatureson is right on .. if you have a nipple wrench and some powder and a cap .. you don`t have a problem .. fireing things out this way works well ..most of us have loaded a ball with no powder under it before ..although not every one will admit it ..haha . but it happens ..and this will move things from the rear. Just think ..from now on ya won`t have to tell anyone when it happens ....

 

[Tom Bri]

heard back from Lyman

Just got multiple e-mails from Lyman. Basically they say DON'T DO IT!:


On 9/5/06, Customer Service Dept <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Sir,

Breechplugs on Lyman muzzeloaders are not removeable. We suggest you try soaking the barrel with a penetrating oil then trying to blow the obstruction out with CO2 or compressed air. We do not know what manual you are seeing the suggestion of putting powder behind through the nipple hole.
If you are not successful you can send us the barrel for removable.

Lyman custoemr service

......--------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Customer Service Dept" <[email protected]>
Reply-To:
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 08:29:37 -0400

The reference in the yellow book also refers to a projectile that has been seated all the way into the barrel. Any thing in the barrel that is not all the way down is dangerous to try to remove with the method referred to in the yellow book.

Lyman customer service
----- Original Message -----
From: Customer Service Dept
To: Tom Bri
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: Lyman


Dear Sir,

That info refers to a lead projectile. A piece of stuck brass will build up a lot more pressure and may cause the barrel to bulge or rupture. In any case we do not recommend that you go down that road. If our other suggestions do not work for you then please send the barrel to us without powder in it.

Lyman customer service
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Bri
To: Customer Service Dept
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 12:44 AM
Subject: Re: Lyman

 

[sundance44s]

Sundance44s

Sounds like Laymans law .... wonder how much powder they think ya can get in that tiny hole .. The co2 thing will probally work ..for $29.99 save ya a trip on the little brown trucks .

 

[Smokin_Gun]

What do you think they's a done say in the War of Northern Aggression?:banghead:

 

[Flintlock Tom]

I've tried both, powder and CO2, both work fine, however: the CO2 is far more elegant, controlled and doesn't upset other shooters in the neighborhood...especially at rendezvous.

Special thanks to Rumpshot for bailing me out...twice!

 

[Krzysztof]

Yeah I once put a ball down my 0.45 Le Page percussion pistol and then saw my powder flask laughing at me. Didn't want to unscrew the breech except as last resort so when I got home I cut a 2 foot length of plastic tubing, about 0.25 inches outside diameter but with an inside diameter which fitted neatly on the nipple. I then took an old tire pump, the kind you pump with your foot. I took the hose off and slipped the other end of the plastic tube over the metal pipe sticking out of the pump. Laid the Le Page on the ground and started pumping. After three pumps there was a "plop" noise: out came ball and patch and rolled along the garage floor. Should work on the jag but you may need to pump fast to overcome pressure loss around the sides. Safer than powder and cheaper than a CO2 gadget

 

[1911 guy]

Is the jag all the way down?

If the jag is all the way down, you may have to send it in or try the CO2 doo-hickey. If you've got room for a SMALL amount of powder (5 or 10 grains) you could charge it from the nipple and then seat the jag down on it.

I don't see how the jag would cause any pressure problems a ball wouldn't, the jag is surrounded by a patch so friction would be the same as a ball. The slightly harder brass wouldn't obturate as much as a lead ball so you'd get more gas blow-by. Pressure should actually be less, especially with a SMALL (did I already mention that?) charge.

 

[Tom Bri]

Got it out

OK, I shot the jag out today. Did it with the FFFG pyrodex worked in behind the jag through the cleanout plug. I trickled a little in and reseated the jag then capped and touched it off. It came about 3/4 down the barrel. I trickled a bit more in again, reseated again and it shot right out.

Thanks all. Sorry Lyman. I had to try something and the local gunsmith told me he didn't have a CO2 set to blow it out.


Lost the jag though. I shot it into the dirt in front of me but it disappeared somewhere.

Had a lot of fun then getting ready for deer season. Shot and shot, maybe my longest session with it ever. It shoots dead on with the factory sights and setting. I have never adjusted the sights.

Funny thing, I went out to the back 40 of my Dad's farm for my shooting session. Loaded and fired it at a burnt stump. Two deer came charging out of the corn right towards me! A doe and a half-grown. They veered off maybe 50 ft away back into the corn while I stood watching. Look out big brother! I'll be back soon.

 

[sundance44s]

Sundance44s

Tom now ya can write Lyman back and tell`em ya done it the pilgrim way ... improvised !!!!!!! no fuss no muss and no little brown trucks involved .