plugged barrel

caplock · 11-20-2010, 06:47 AM

I'm trying to resurrect a very abused TC Thunderhawk I found at a pawn shop. First off let me say this gun has been very abused, Barrel has some rust and pits but mane problem is there is an unfired load stuck in the barrel and as of so far I have not been able to remove the nipple either. If I could get nipple out I could get some powder in there and blow it out. I have not tried firing the gun yet but I have soaked overnight with WD-40 and still wont budge, for those who don't know the thunderhawk does not have a removable breech plug. Anyone have any good ideas how to get nipple out? I think I can get load out if I could just get nipple out. thanks.

thom2 · 11-20-2010, 08:00 AM

You might try PB Blaster Penetrating Oil to free the nipple. OR-
Put a screw tip jag on a cleaning rod, put some Super-Glue on the threads and screw it into the bullet, providing it's not a copper jacket.
If it's a sabot bullet the screw may not screw in. Tap on the rod as you screw the jag into the bullet. This will make it dig deeper.
Let it sit for a couple hours and pull out the bullet. I'd use a "T" handle cleaning rod because you may need to hammer the rod upward.

I wouldn't shoot out the load since you don't know what it's loaded with.

cayugad · 11-20-2010, 08:30 AM

After dumping that stuff down the bore you might not have any luck shooting it out. Also that could be dangerous as you really do not know the condition of the bore down there.

If you can get the nipple out, maybe an air compressor can blow the charge and powder out. You might be able to pull the projectile and then wash the powder out of the barrel.

If you have a CO2 discharger, that would be the way to go. Some gun shops have them and charge a couple bucks to blow the load out of the barrels.

caplock · 11-20-2010, 05:29 PM

great news, I got the load out. First I had to get pretty tuff with a couple wrenches, one to hold the barrel and one to get more leverage on my nipple wrench, nipple finally came out. Then used a coat hanger to clean everything out behind the bullet. Looked like 777 powder and a lead conical bullet because it scratched easy with the coat hanger. then I loaded about 20 gr of goex through nipple hole installed new nipple, seated bullet against charge and fired it into the ground. then looked down barrel and it didn't look too bad, now i'll let WD-40 soak in barrel overnight and clean in morning. Now what do you guys think would be the best product to use to clean this barrel up? some kind of bore scrubber? obviously more than the normal soap and water I normally use.

sabotloader · 11-20-2010, 05:38 PM

caplock

JB's bore paste...

I found a video that explains it a bit...

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=1...G_Bore_Pellets

I do not use the pellets or that oil... Use a quality bore oil and I use a tight patch on my cleaning jag.

lemoyne · 11-20-2010, 05:40 PM

Evapo Rust, buy at auto parts, an overnight soak with the barrel full will do a good job. Clean with hot water and soap after soak and cleaning oil well, I recommend synthetic oil.

sqezer · 11-21-2010, 07:01 PM

caplock, I just refinished a model 700 that was all rusty, I took it all apart down to the barrel. I then soaked it in 1- part molasses to 5- parts water. I soaked it for 36 hours and it came out completely rust free. It will make you a believer.

caplock · 11-22-2010, 04:28 PM

Thanks for the info sqezer, I would have never thought molasses would remove rust. Any idea why it works on rust?