How do I get the breech plug off?
 

I have an old T/C Hawken barrel that I need to get the breech plug off, how do I do that with out messing up the barrel. it needs to be refinished so I'm not worried about the finish.

The Hawkins breech plug does not come off. And yes, I know many many years ago, they made a tool to take off the breech plug. But that was short lived, and people were normally advised not to do it. If you really want the breech plug off, then take it to a gun smith. Although they might tell you that they will not attempt the job.

That is the disadvantage of the traditional rifles. The breech plug is stuck. So you have to do your work from the muzzle end down. Can I ask, why you feel the need to take it off?

I had a OLD TC and I got the BP Off because the person I got it from gave it too me bacause he got a Ball and a Ball Puller stuck and broke off in it. I put the Barrel in a Vice and with a pair of Vice Grips with a towel wrapped around them and some Brute Strength I got that sucker off. It was'nt pretty and I left a few marks on the BP, but if it went on, it'll come off. Now Im not saying it'll work with all BP's but it did on this one and Im sure it was'nt ment to ever come off.
(BP)

Some rifles even spot weld them I was told. Whether that is true I can not say. I know when I was talking to a technician at T/C one time about removing the breech plug, he told me under no circumstances should I attempt that. Which was good advice. I took it to a gun smith and he would not do it either. So I still have that barrel.

The funny thing is I lapped that barrel and it actually turned out to be a good shooter.

The barrel has a bullet and a bullet puller stuck in it. I though about heating it to melt the bullet out. If i am careful about only heating it to around 900 degrees it shouldm't hurt the temper of the barrel.

I would heat the barrel as a last resort, if it doesn't work, the barrel is junk.

Some time you can not if it is one of the old el cheapo's and has brazing or spot welds locking it in place.
TC has never done that kind of thing that I know of. I have take several off and it can be difficult. The way I go about it is with a large vise with low gearing that has slip over brass covers for the jaws and a two foot pipe wrench that also has brass covers for the jaws I pour the barrel about half full of a good rust breaking penetrating oil or Evapo-Rust and let it soak for a couple of days the lock it strongly in the vise and put the pipe wrench on the breach plug and turn it in the right direction [right to left for a TC] that normally takes care of it.

Is there powder in the breech now? If not, have you tried taking the nipple off andputting a small ammount of powder in there and shooting it out? If you do that make sure it is pushed all the way down.

easy fix: call t/c @ they tell what has to done and return it to them
The shipping cost itwell worthit save you a lot of sweat :I had a base mount screw stuck on a thunderhawk :I could of did the job
I think it ran 8.00 bucks to ship it to them:The best 8.00 bucks spent:wave:

All tc toucholes are 1/4 28 threads so you could get a 1/4 28 grease fitting and use a grease gun to get it out.

Stan

Paul...As mentioned, there are many ways to clear the barrel of an obstruction...It would be best to have more info though and the #1 question...Is there powder behind the bullet???

After that, is it a flintlock or a percussion...As mentioned, just a little powder (5grs) trickled in the touch hole or in the nipple area will pop out that jag and bullet, assuming it is not loaded...

If it is loaded and a percussion gun, there is a CO-2 kit that will blow out the obstruction...Some guys have also used an air compressor and others have used a grease gun...

I have tried to push it out with grease it won't work. What happened is some one put a bullet, like a 275 grain short conical down the bore with no powder. Then somehow was able to load another charge on top of it later and was able to get the gun to go off! How this all happened is a mistery to me. So the original conical is REALLY ramed against the back of the plug. So th e guy try's a bullet puller and gets it stuck in there to. Then gives the barrel to me. I have no money in it so I have nothing to lose.

I guess truth is stranger than fiction. What a ****uation!

I have a gunsmith here that works strictly on MLs. In fact he has a barrel of mine that he is reaming out, sleeving and re-rifling with a fast twist for big conicals. He is really inexpensive and I am sure he can get that bullet out for you quickly and cheaply. Send mea PM and I will send you his name and phone number.

i had the tool but sold it. they come up on ebay from time to time. send it back. theres a 10 week wait for repairs though. i sent a barrel in for thread work back first week of november. they told me today maybe february.

I will NEVER AGAIN send anything to T/C. I had the worst customer service from them. If I can't fix it myself I'll use it for a wall hanger gun.

have you tried a CO2 discharger?

Guys, from what I've read with Paul's post is that the previous owner had dryballed a conical and the there was a powder charge placed on top of it and a PRB. Somehow this load fired and the pressure forced the conical back into the breech somehow and jamming it in there. When a bullet puller was used, it broke off with a piece of the ram rod.
But even so, the design of the breech would lend me to believe it can stll be shot out. I would flush the breech with degreaser (already tried grease to get it out). Let it dry. Take it to the range or other safe place. Remove the flashhole liner or nipple. put in some powder and fire it into the side of a cardboard box (to see if the bullet came out). But first, before firing, check the depth of the bullet with the ramrod. Then again after firing if it didn't come out to see if it moved. If it moved, then you may need a bit more powder. (usually only about 5-10 grs is enough)