My bulldog has a bullet stuck in the barrel. I tried tapping it out with the plastic cleaning rid that came with the gun but no luck. I'm thinking wood or maybe even brass rods might be needed. Anyone have any experience or other suggestions?
What's a good way to remove a stuck bullet?
- Thread starter ztirffritz
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I second that, and would add that you should swab the barrel from both directions right up to the lodged projectile with an oiled patch as it will make for an easy exit the rest of the way once you dislodge it.
Brass will be expensive, wood should get it no problem. If the wood splits or just deflects when struck, grab a proper piece of steel and wrap it completely in at least 2 layers of electrical tape to avoid any contact with the rifling.
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I have also used a wooden dowel with a hammer. Less chance of damaging to bore and the crown.
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I had to resort to brass. The wood wasn't nearly strong enough. The brass only cost $2 more than the wood.
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Nope. But I didn't get to try yours because of it. I paid $20 to shoot 12 rounds at the range then had to leave because the barrel was plugged.
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I know this probably isn't popular and probably a last resort but I've removed the barrel and orings completely and used a torch and slowly heated the barrel up. the led came dripping out and I did a thorough cleaning. Still shoots dead on, I didnt want to risk damaging the inside of the barrel and I had more than two pellets in the barrel. Lead melting point is 621 degrees F where steel is 2600 - 2800f. I'd have to imagine its been done before?
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I had a .40 cal percussion lock rifle that had a ball seated without powder. None of the conventional methods, a little powder in the vent, a ball worm, etc, nothing worked to remove the ball. We melted that ball out of that barrel. I haven't properly tempered that bit of steel yet but next chance I get I'll take her up to a nice dull red and let it cool really slowly to soften it up. We do what we have to do sometimes.
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Yes Sir! There was definitely the oh @#$ factor when it happened...but you are correct....You gotta do what you gotta do. I will say I rested much better after I shot it a few times post meltdown.
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Along the melt-it-out line of thought, an improvement might be to reduce the temp needed by alloying the lead out. Cerrosafe alloy melts about 165° F. Heat the barrel to about 250°, melt some cerrosafe and pour it in; as the melt dissolves the lead, the melt temp will rise, but not too much. 250° should do it.
Rose's metal, 50% bismuth, 25% lead, 25% tin melting at 208° would do it and might find solders at the hardware store to do it.
250° F is too low to affect the temper of any steel. Starting around 300° a spring steel temper could slack at bit, but no safe barrel uses a spring temper.
Rose's metal, 50% bismuth, 25% lead, 25% tin melting at 208° would do it and might find solders at the hardware store to do it.
250° F is too low to affect the temper of any steel. Starting around 300° a spring steel temper could slack at bit, but no safe barrel uses a spring temper.
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I had some slugs I'd purchased a while ago but hadn't tried yet. I think they were oversized.
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For those who do not want to try the melting trick... start with a brass rod slightly smaller than the bore (assuming your bore is steel and not brass). Grind the end for the brass rod with a "spade drill bit" shape. It works best if you have the spade slightly smaller than the OD of the brass rod. Very Using high rpms and low pressure drill out the offending lead slug. What is left is a weaker led cylinder, which taps out with ease.
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