Need ideas

[buckleymarka56]

The other day I get a ball stuck in the barrel of my colonial long rifle.
I tried to get the ball out with a puller, to no avail. Had to take it to my gun smith and leave it there for him to get it out..
Problem is there's a load of powder behind the ball..
I know what happened, a patch got stuck in the barrel, and I thought I blew it out. But I guess not, it was plugging the flash hole I think.

You guys have ideas?

Thanks
Mark

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I've never had a problem pulling a ball with a good screw type ball puller. With that and a corkscrew type of patch puller I can't see why you can't clear the barrel.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Yup keep at it.

 

[Nav]

I might try to light off the charge by pouring FFFF directly into the flash hole, or hitting the flash hole with a torch.

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

Trickle some powder thru the touch hole. Prime it and pull the trigger.
It will shoot out.
This is what I do:

 

[Justin.44]

Well the rifle was left with the gunsmith to pull the ball right? I'm confused about what you need ideas on. He'll have no trouble getting the ball and powder charge out. Next time post here before taking it in for a stuck ball, there's a number of ways to remove it yourself.

 

[morehops52]

I hope you told the gunsmith that you have a live round in there... as in there is powder behind that ball.

 

[buckleymarka56]

I hope you told the gunsmith that you have a live round in there... as in there is powder behind that ball.

Of course I told them

 

[Brokennock]

I'm assuming the gunsmith sent you away with the gun because it had a charge behind the ball, thus your question????
There are countless topic threads that go on for many, many, pages on this subject.

Caplock or flintlock?
If flintlock, is the flash-hole drilled direct or does it have a removable liner?

 

[kyron4]

If a patch is blocking the touch hole try inserting a red hot wire in the touch hole as someone holds the rifle in a safe direction . Should burn through the patch and set off the powder.

 

[olskool]

If a patch is blocking the touch hole try inserting a red hot wire in the touch hole as someone holds the rifle in a safe direction . Should burn through the patch and set off the powder.

a clever idea, just might work. i would try it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[PathfinderNC]

Have you tried reading the literally HUNDREDS or maybe thousands of suggestions posted in this forum about "Removing a stuck ball"?

 

[Notchy Bob]

The ball needs to be seated on the powder before attempting to shoot it out.

For me, there’s a difference between a stuck ball and a failure to fire. The OP didn’t specify where the ball was stuck.

Notchy Bob

 

[Grenadier1758]

I agree with @Notchy Bob. It sounds as if this is more of a failure to fire than a stuck ball. Well, there's several 20 page threads with some helpful and lots of not so helpful information.

The CO2 dischargers should work. But the ball puller should have worked also. The gunsmith should have been able to get it out in less than 5 minutes. Maybe a little longer if he took a break.

 

[wiscoaster]

...
I know what happened, a patch got stuck in the barrel, and I thought I blew it out. But I guess not, it was plugging the flash hole I think.

You guys have ideas?

....

Couldn't he just poke a hole in the patch with a nipple prick, reprime and then shoot?

 

[wiscoaster]

The ball needs to be seated on the powder before attempting to shoot it out.

For me, there’s a difference between a stuck ball and a failure to fire. The OP didn’t specify where the ball was stuck.

Notchy Bob

Good point. Didn't mention if the load was seated all the way down. Did he have a mark on his ramrod?

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Ive not seen a any ball that could withstand 160lb of air pressure.
I fill my pancake compressor and take it to every rondy.
Ive never used it, but others have.

 

[olskool]

if the ball is not seated down all the way and it is fired it will hurt nothing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[ronaldrothb49]

The ball needs to be seated on the powder before attempting to shoot it out.

For me, there’s a difference between a stuck ball and a failure to fire. The OP didn’t specify where the ball was stuck.

Notchy Bob

As usual people giving solutions when they haven't asked any questions to find out where the ball is. Nice to see someone who is actually trying to get the info needed to actually be able to offer the correct solution for the problem.

 

[buckleymarka56]

Good point. Didn't mention if the load was seated all the way down. Did he have a mark on his ramrod?

Yes it was seated all the way down.
I'm not stupid.