Ball stuck in GPR

RobertSubnet · 10-07-2009, 08:29 PM

Well that is what happens when you are in a hurry...I loaded a patch and ball without any powder in my Lyman GPR.

Does anyone have any suggestions on getting the ball out? My plan is to screw a range rod in to the ball and pull for all I'm worth.

I don't suppose the plug at the end of the barrel unscrews? That sure would make this easier!

Thanks!
~Robert

Semisane · 10-07-2009, 08:44 PM

Not a big deal at all Robert. First of all, do not try to remove the breech plug. That will likely lead to grief.

If you're dealing with a caplock, remove the nipple and work as much powder down into it as you can. (Fill the nipple seat and hold it muzzle down while tapping the side of the lock.) You will be able to get five or ten grains of powder behind the ball easily. Then replace the nipple, cap it, point it at the ground and shoot the ball out.

If your dealing with a flintlock do basically the same thing, but you have to remove the barrel to take out the touch hole liner.

Welcome to the honorable society of dry ballers.

cayugad · 10-07-2009, 09:34 PM

I wish I had a nickel for every time I done that.... Semisane is right on. Pack that bolster on a cap lock and shoot it out. If it does not come out the first time, pack it again. BUT BEFORE YOU SHOOT THE SECOND TIME seat the ball back onto the powder sometimes it will move up the barrel off a charge. That of course is an obstructed barrel if you did not push the ball back down.

To give you an idea of how little powder it takes.. I dry balled one once and packed the bolster, shot at a target 25 yards away, the ball hit the target and bounced half way back to me.

RobertSubnet · 10-07-2009, 10:09 PM

Thank you guys I will give that a try. In my case it is a flintlock. This will be my deer rifle when our ML season opens at the end of the month. I was worried I would not be able to get the ball out in time for the season.

Will let you know how it goes.

UncleNorby · 10-08-2009, 04:00 AM

A ball puller should work, as will the method suggested above. A ball puller is a rod attachment with a pointy coarse threaded screw. Insert the rod, screw it into the lead ball a few turns and pull it out. I've done this with maxiballs, so it should work as well with a roundball.

nchawkeye · 10-08-2009, 06:48 AM

I've got 2 flinters...I take my jag and drill and tap for a #10 thread then go to the hardware store and buy a furniture screw...These come in #10 threads on one end and wood screw threads on the other...

I usually screw in the ball puller into the cleaning jag, then take a patch and push it over the screw to protect the bore...Then simply screw the ball puller into the ball and pull it out...

It's easy inless you didn't clean between shots...

As mentioned....You might be able to trickle a little powder into the touch hole and pop it out before trying to pull...

bronko22000 · 10-08-2009, 02:49 PM

shooting it out is the easiest way to go. we've all been there and done that. at least those of us that have been shooting ML for any length of time.

MountainDevil54 · 10-08-2009, 03:01 PM

just hold the rifle with the barrel pointed down and then use the palm of your hand and smack the buttplate. The ball should come rolling down the barrel fairly easy

Nah just pull out the touchhole liner, sprinkle some powder into there, smack it to settle it down, top it off again if you have more room. Reinstall vent liner, prime pan and fire it off at a target.

RobertSubnet · 10-08-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

just hold the rifle with the barrel pointed down and then use the palm of your hand and smack the buttplate. The ball should come rolling down the barrel fairly easy

I shudder to think what my hand would look like if I actually tried that!

nchawkeye · 10-08-2009, 04:18 PM

Some liners are not made to remove...

Have you got it out yet???