GoexBlackhorn

First thread-ever for this board and first question:

Are there any aftermarket pins available to ease removing full wood-stocks, without damaging surrounding wood?

What I'm looking for are pins with a hollow cavity... to insert a pointed object into, when lightly pounding out the pins.

My Traditions Shenandoah has a very minute flat-face, subjecting it to being easily-missed upon removal and that means damage to surrounding wood...... average-Joe Traditions ML wood that-is....lol

Semisane

I'm not aware of any aftermarket pins like that. You can get hollow roll spring pins from most hardware stores. But I think the smallest available is 1/16" diameter and length of those seems to be limited to 1". That's not long enough for a barrel pin.

Are you using a flat face pin punch to remove the pins? Trying to tap pins out with a pointed object can lead to trouble.

On a side note, most guys with long rifles do not remove the barrel from the stock on a regular basis. Floor wax or bees wax is used to seal the gap between the barrel and the stock to keep moisture out as much as possible. And the barrel is cleaned while still in the stock.

I tend to get a bit sloppy with the soap and water when cleaning my guns and usually protect the barrel/wood gap with a plastic umbrella bag as shown in the cleaning tip I posted in the reference forum. http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/blac...aning-tip.html

GoexBlackhorn

It's 12 years old, only has about 125 miles on her and only removed those pins once. Drum screw is froze shut from my 777 years and cleaning that drum-area is a real PITA, even with a TOTW drain hose attached to a nipple.

I envy half-stock sidehammer owners that dip their barrels in a three gal. pail of water and soap. Gonna' have to gently EZ-out that froze cleanout screw and replace it.

bronko22000

GB - When I had my pinned rifle I only removed the barrel one time. I always cleaned it with a product called "Turkey Tracks" which I purchased at Ft Chamber's ml shop.
All you do with this is plug the nipple with a round toothpick, pour about an ounce of it down the bore. Then with your thumb over the muzzle and tilt the rifle back and forth to wet the entire bore surface. Let it set for about 10 mins, pour out and swab.
I ususally then would run a couple dry patches then an alcohol patch, another dry patch then an oil patch. Done. No fuss no mess.

Blackpowdersmoke

I would have to admit that I always shied away from long guns with pinned barrels because I like to flush my barrels and I never found any of those nipple flushers that I thought were worth a hoot. I would clean the rifle as bronko says... plug the nipple with something like a toothpick or quill and swab repeatedly after soaking the breech area with a good BP cleaner.

BPS

cayugad

Like you I also avoided them. But after getting my custom rifle, I discovered its not all that bad. In the company's cleaning instructions they also suggest plugging the hole with a tooth pick or some object.. then pour a cleaning solution in the barrel ... tilt back and fourth, coating the inside and then basically swabbing it clean. The first time I cleaned it was was surprised how easy it really was.

GoexBlackhorn

Olde Turkey Tracks.... hey, it does exist.
http://www.taylorsfirearms.com/olde-turkey-track-black-powder-solvent.html

Blackpowdersmoke

Goex...

Here's another good one if you're limited to cleaning with a solvent only. This stuff works great and it got very favorable reviews...

http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/268...nt-8-oz-liquid

I would give your barrel a good (back and forth) rinse as suggested by Cayugad with 91% alcohol after the cleaning process. Then dry it thoroughly and oil er' up.

BPS

GoexBlackhorn

I've used the Butch's before. I recall it being much better than T/C-13.

Got an email from someone here suggesting the T-17. I believe it was Jon who really liked it's cleaning power.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Thomp...cts/705885.uts

Blackpowdersmoke

Never tried T-17 but I wouldn't be surprised if they're all made with pretty much the same ingredients nowadays...

I only use the "supposed" BP solvents to remove the initial fouling in my bore immediately after a shooting session and prior to a good flush/rinse/dry and then an alcohol rinse/dry and an application of Barricade.

Butch's does work well for wiping off small parts and the exterior of your barrel around the lock area as well. And, they state that it has protectant qualities. Whether that's true or not is beyond me, I have never just cleaned any of my BP firearms with it and then put them to bed.

I did notice that Butch's tends to "foam" as you pull it up and down the bore so maybe it's more of a soap based cleaner vs T/C 13 being more of an ammonia based cleaner like Windex, etc.

BPS