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Well now I got a stuck ball....

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Salty_Possum

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So I don't know where my brain was, but here is the story. I placed a .440 ball over some pillow ticking at the muzzle of my .45 caplock to try to see how much pillow ticking I would need to make a pattern in order to cut some pre-cut patches. Well I tapped the ball in gently, then it got stuck down the barrel, now it's all the way down the barrel, patched and seated, and I can't get it out. I attached a ball puller to my range rod but my efforts were to no avail (and now to add insult to injury my ball puller it stuck in my range rod).

I'm glad I got the newbie excuse, but it was still pretty dumb. Anyone have suggestions on how to get the ball out?
 
I'm assuming the rod is not stuck in the barrel along with the ball.

Take it to the range. Remove the nipple, trickle some powder into the breech, replace nipple, cap and fire. Should work as long as you haven't drilled a hole clean thru the ball.
 
Actually, if some extra time is taken working the powder down behind the ball or down thru the flame channel that connects the nipple with the breech there will be enough to shoot the ball out even with a hole drilled thru it.

If shooting the ball out isn't practical, a CO2 ball discharger can be bought and used to blow the ball out.

It's too late now but in the future if a ball puller is going to be used to remove a patched ball, first pour about a teaspoon of water down the bore. Keep the muzzle pointed up so the water has time to soak thru the patch.
Then, use the ball puller to pull the ball.

The water will make the process MUCH easier.
 
You could also try using an air compressor (although you'll need to make some sort of adapter to fit over the nipple). If trying this, pour either water or some WD-40 - or similar - down the barrel, like Zonie said. Give it time to soak the patch.
 
Take your nipple off, shoot a little lube or such in the bore, and use your new CO2 tool to shoot the ball in a safe direction. Yeah, I too went through that. Then be sure to clean the rifle well to get the petroleum oil out and barricade the bore. :stir:
 
Well I've dry loaded once maybe twice . I will admit I've never dry loaded when I never intended to shoot. That is a brain blip.
 
Zonie said:
Actually, if some extra time is taken working the powder down behind the ball or down thru the flame channel that connects the nipple with the breech there will be enough to shoot the ball out even with a hole drilled thru it.

If shooting the ball out isn't practical, a CO2 ball discharger can be bought and used to blow the ball out.

It's too late now but in the future if a ball puller is going to be used to remove a patched ball, first pour about a teaspoon of water down the bore. Keep the muzzle pointed up so the water has time to soak thru the patch.
Then, use the ball puller to pull the ball.

The water will make the process MUCH easier.

Not that I have firsthand experience at this (NOT>> :grin: ) but to add to what El Zonie said, when attempting to pull the ball catch the end of the ram rod in a vice and then pull the gun, not the rod. Shwoop* she'll pop right out.
 
Rifleman1776 said:
Or you could have just picked up some patches from the range after you shot.
Or you could cut at the muzzle.
Hate to be unkind but you should have seen this one coming. :doh:

Yeah not one of my best moments :idunno:
 
Mick C said:
Ditto, for the CO2 unloader. Never leave home without it :)

I take it this is what the Doctor ordered?

CO2 Load Discharger kit

New to guns, new to muzzleloaders. Probably won't use a ball puller in the future if (God forbid) I load a dry ball at the range. I'd rather use one of these or the remove nipple - insert powder - replace nipple - fire - method.
 
If your rod is stuck too, try the lube method, add some water let it soak. If your rod is made where you can tie a rope to the end tie it to something and pull the rifle. If you shoot it out with air be sure you dont point it at a wall or anything, it may have enough force to put a hole in it or bounce back, good luck. {And congratulations, you just graduated to full muzzle loader} Just consider this a practice for next time.
 
Salty Possum said:
Mick C said:
Ditto, for the CO2 unloader. Never leave home without it :)

I take it this is what the Doctor ordered?

CO2 Load Discharger kit

New to guns, new to muzzleloaders. Probably won't use a ball puller in the future if (God forbid) I load a dry ball at the range. I'd rather use one of these or the remove nipple - insert powder - replace nipple - fire - method.

...after having made sure that the ball is back in the breech, of course. You really do NOT want to fire that gun with an airgap 'twixt powder and ball.

At the very least you will ring/bulge that barrel, at the wust an ME could be excavating bits of it from your rapidly-cooling forehead.

tac
 
If you want to go the cheap way then screw that ball puller back in, take out the nipple and go to the best auto parts place around and get a zerk (grease) fitting the same thread and push it out with a grease gun. Might take half a tube put it will come out. Lots of swabing left to do though.
 
The CO2 discharger is a great idea but be sure to do it outside because the ball can go a pretty good distance and have enough energy to do some damage. If you can get to a location outdoors where shooting the ball out with a bit of powder is safe, that is the way I usually remove a dry ball. Another way of getting the ball out is to go to an auto parts store and buying a zerk (grease) fitting with the same thread size as your nipple. Remove your nipple and replace it with the zerk fitting and use a grease gun to push out the ball. Once the ball is out, then you just have to clean out the grease from your bore.

Oops, I just noticed that Lucky Buckeye said the same thing. Sorry.
 
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