Basically when the breech plug is mounted, it meets the barrel fine on the outside, but inside there's a gap of about 1/16". It's sealed and safe for shooting, but if you don't go about it right, that gap will grab a cleaning patch and jam it, the jag and the rod in place. Lots of elbow grease, cussing, and more cussing to get it free. Worst case, your rod might leave the jag and patch behind if you apply too much force trying to free it.
When you know about it and take precautions, it is no problem. Some folks have never encountered the problem because they started out with the right cleaning gear.
Bottom line, here's the way around those troubles:
You need a long jag rather than a short one, not the variety that's simply a short brass button, but the one that has a smaller diameter brass shaft between it and the rod. If you don't know what I'm talking about speak up and I'll post either a pic or a link.
You also don't want oversize cleaning patches. I make my own, and the right size isn't much bigger than the standard 32-36cal shooting patch- roughly no bigger than about 3/4".
You don't want to run a dry patch all the way to the bottom of the patent breech. Pushing a dry patch down most bores, it will usually stop or slow down, then require a little extra umph to go deeper and reach the bottom of the breech. You don't want to take the extra step in the Crockett bore with a dry patch.
Someone a couple of years back posted a series of photos showing how he had removed the breech plug and fitted a spacer or filler into the gap. I seriously considered it, but have done just fine with the smaller cleaning patches and long jag.
Other little things worth knowing about the Crockett:
There's not a lot of room around the nipple for a standard nipple wrench to fit. Some folks have found alternatives, but I don't remember what those are. Some have thinned their nipple wrenches. Guess I was lucky because my nipple wrench will work when I angle it just right.
The key that holds on the barrel of some rifles tends to be long and sharp on the end. And it sits right about where your hand rides when you're shooting the Crockett. Ouch! I filed mine slightly shorter and rounded the edges, then reblued with touchup blue. Problem solved.
The rear sight has sharp corners, and this rides right under your hand when you are carrying the Crockett. The time of year when I'm carrying mine, I usually wear gloves so it's not a problem. Others have reshaped theirs and reblued with touchup blue.
Please, please don't let this stuff scare you off on your new purchase!!! They all have solutions, and when you apply them you have a dandy little rifle on your hands. You won't regret the purchase, but the little details are worth paying attention to.
