Well last night I was getting ready for Saturday's first day of the PA early ML season. I am planning on taking my 45 percussion. I found out that an empty 45-70 case holds exactly 80 gr of Pyrodex P (my load). So I filled 3 up in case I needed them. Then I thought I'd swab out the bore to remove any excess bore butter prior to loading it up. And just my luck, the jag with the dry patch got stuck in the breech and I could not pull it out. I took it over to my buddy's house next door to help me. I held the rifle and he pulled on the rod (a 3 piece aluminum rod). The damn rod actually pulled apart. Not stripped but broke. In the process I pulled my back and I'm now on some good stuff to ease the pain. Anyway, I went back over to the house, got my pan charger (FFFFg), nipple wrench, and cap and we went out to the 'pit' at 8:30 last night. Two attempts to fire the jag out were unseccessful. Finally on the third try, after putting about 20 gr of FFFFg into the snail and tapping it working it into the breech, it came out.
Then to add insult to injury, literally, when I got home and started to clean the rifle, a patch somehow slipped off the jag and stayed in the barrel. No problem I thought, I got my worm out and just could not grab the patch. So I put my brush on the rod and tried that, figuring the bristles would grab it and pull it out. NOPE. Now what?? Went to my box of cleaning supplies, grabbed a 35 cal rilfe brush and put it down the bore and spun it a few times, finally grabbinng the patch. It was rolled up in a ball at the bottom of the breech.
All in all, it was not a good night. Old man Murphy was hanging around with me all night it seemed.
I can't wait to get up to the camp on Sunday to just relax.

Well first off never dry patch a dirty barrel, second if you pour hot water or some good cleaning fluid in on top of a stuck patch and jag it will normally come out with little problem. Several brands sell a little screw on out fit that looks like a cut off spring called a patch retriever by some, which when screwed on the ramrod will retrieve a lost patch with out any difficulty. Hope your back gets better quick. Lee

bronko,

My bro in law dryballed a prb with a bore button under it. I pulled the patch and ball, but couldn't get the bore button. I put the breech end into some hot water and proceeded with my normal cleaning routine and the force of the water, as I pulled up on the cleaning rod, drew the bore button out. Might be worth a try.

Good luck with that.

Lemoyne, The barrel was clean - I was just taking precaution to remove any excess bore butter before loading so it wouldn't comtaminate the powder.And the tool your are discribing is called a worm.
Cory- I got the patch out with a smaller bore brush. I just put it down the bore and spun it around an let the bristles catch it. I don't know why the worm didn't grab it.

That's the reason why I use an undersized .41 caliber jag in my larger caliber guns.
It's really pretty narrow, but I compensate for that by cutting large homemade patches and fold them over enough times to get a really tight fit. They'retight yetthey stillhavea little give sonot to getstuck very often.

My cleaning rod has a handle on it like yours, but I also have a device thatwill griparamrod with leather paddedjawsjust in case aplain smoothramrod gets stuck.

Some folks turn their jag down a few thousandths of an inchto better accomodate the thickness of their patches, especiallywhen the bore is fouled.

Any time you expect things to go well is when they mess up. It is the nature of the beast. Glad to hear you are back in the saddle with the rifle, and I hope your back heals up.

I somehow threw my back out yesterday from of all things, splitting a little firewood with an axe. I mean come on, I split wood with an axe since I was old enough to swing one.. Nothing an advil can not handle mind you, but I guess old age is a terrible thing...

Hey Dave, It took me 1/2 an hour to get dressed this morning. I even had to get back in bed to put my socks on. Dr. gave me some muscle relaxers and pain killer (oxycotin). Boy that's some good stuff. I'm moving around a lot better. Not good, but better. My wife said "I guess you're not going hunting tomorrow, are you?" I said "oh yes I am. Even if I have to crawl out there, I'm going."
Of course she said I am crazy. She just doesn't get it.
Hope your back is feeling better too.

When I travelled a lot I had back problems...I'd put Ben Gay on the area and take a large paper clip and clip a hand warmer inside my pants when I drove, that helped a bunch...Now I use those Icy Hots, they are worth the money...

bronko;
Throw that oxycotin away. It, the most highly addictive pain medication there is. I work with recovering prescription drug addicts and have seen first hand what that drug is capable of doing. Many good unknowing men have fallen into the trap of dependence by innocently taking that drug. Doctors that prescribe drugs that powerful for minor injuries need their heads examined and their licenses pulled. Believe me!!
Zen

Well if you call moving 100 feet in about 5 mins, or not being able to lift your foot more than 3" off the ground minor then I can see your point. But I'm here to tell you - my back felt like there was a bowie knife stuck in it. Even now I can at least move around although not comfortably.