Bought gun with misaligned breech plug- what are the options?

Hi all, I purchased a TC Hawken through an online auction. Bore is great, the gun overall looks great. I looked down the sights though and they were canted. Hmmm. I then noticed the breech plug had scuffs, I assume from being wrenched out. That's when I realized the barrel was overclocked on the plug causing the sight picture to rotate counterclockwise by what feels like 5 degrees - just enough to bug someone.

I prefer not to send it back because I got a good deal. I'm curious what the options are, ie turn it back true? Have a new plug installed (if so who does that work)?

pic attached

Thanks!
Rich

If it was mine I would put good padding in my big vise and put it in it as close to the plug as possible and tighten the vise till you think you'll break it. Then put protection in jaws of an 16-18 inch pipe wrench. Put the wrench on the plug and tighten it with large pliers. Then put the pressure on it and watch for movement. Will take a good bit of pressure. Don't jerk, just steadily increased pressure.
There is a special made wrench you can get.
Works for me on my Hawken and I've had the plug off numerous times.

bang said:

If it was mine I would put good padding in my big vise and put it in it as close to the plug as possible and tighten the vise till you think you'll break it. Then put protection in jaws of an 16-18 inch pipe wrench. Put the wrench on the plug and tighten it with large pliers. Then put the pressure on it and watch for movement. Will take a good bit of pressure. Don't jerk, just steadily increased pressure.
There is a special made wrench you can get.
Works for me on my Hawken and I've had the plug off numerous times.

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Thanks Bang! This was my inclination, but I don't have the experience yet and wanted to check in with you all. I'll follow your advice and update afterward.

I use a 90* scribe to check the seam. It shows line up better than finger. Get the flats lined up regardless of corners. Odds are it will all line up anyway.

bang said:

I use a 90* scribe to check the seam. It shows line up better than finger. Get the flats lined up regardless of corners. Odds are it will all line up anyway.

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Thanks again- this thing doesn’t want to budge. Used some heat to no avail. I’ll let it soak with penetrating oil overnight.

You need to have an inch or two of barrel out past the vice or you’re compressing the breech end of the barrel against the threads making a hard job even harder

If it will not turn it is possible the plug was changed but not fitted but it's so close to correct it makes me think it wasn't replaced. May be best to back it off even remove it. Clean it up apply some anti sieze the reinstall.
Ditto on bubba. I said close as possible but should have added but not on or where vise pressure would have an effect.

You can buy the aftermarket special wrench and move your plug. I understand they are slightly oversized so you can put a little leather in them to act as padding. The same guy makes all sizes and lists them on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Breech-Plu...513170?hash=item41fcd24612:g:N4oAAOSwLxpbiCLJ

Bang, Bubba, and Eric - thank you all for the advice! Eric I saw those online last night, but I ended up getting the plug to move with a crescent wrench- after soaking with liquid wrench overnight and a bit of heat this morning. I should also mention I welded a 4 foot steel bar to the wrench handle and it was still insanely hard to get moving without the barrel spinning in the vice. Switching from 4oz leather to 7oz leather in the vice jaws helped it grip better. I was able to clock the plug straight though. Thanks again.

Also a note for anyone else who ends up in this predicament- I would have used the tool Eric showed above if the plug finish was in good shape, but it was already scuffed up from the prior owner having it off and on.

Don't think it should have been that difficult. But then I'm over 6ft and have near 300 pounds to apply to it.

bang said:

Don't think it should have been that difficult. But then I'm over 6ft and have near 300 pounds to apply to it.

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There’s no replacement for displacement.

bang said:

Don't think it should have been that difficult. But then I'm over 6ft and have near 300 pounds to apply to it.

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I’ve done a lot of work on cars and maybe on a couple occasions have come across a nut or bolt as tough as the BP on that Hawken. I think it was waiting for King Arthur to pull it out.

Next time you need a penetrating oil, mix up a 50/50 batch of acetone and automatic transmission fluid. It is ten times more effective than Liquid Wrench and on a par with Kroil.

bpd303 said:

Next time you need a penetrating oil, mix up a 50/50 batch of acetone and automatic transmission fluid. It is ten times more effective than Liquid Wrench and on a par with Kroil.

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Good to know, thanks for the tip!

A good deal don't amount to much as long as you're dissatisfied or put to a lot of extra trouble!

I’m starting to learn that half way through my life. I did take it out and it shot great, but point taken. When I was younger, and my time was worth less and I had more of it, I didn’t mind these things that needed work. Now I’m realizing it’s worth the money to just have the thing be what you want.