Blockage from nipple area to the main Barrel

[Chris Underwood]

I have a Traditions Fox River fifty black powder. i have cleaned the gun and removed the nipple and have tried to send a wire through the whole that allows the fire from the cap to go into the barrel but the wire refuses to go into the barrel for me to see it when i shine a light down the barrel. the screw on the side would be the best way to get into that area but the screw refuses to budge, and i was wondering what you would use to free that screw. I know from working on antique engines that pb blaster and wd-40 works to free bolts that are rusted but i do not know what to use to get the screw free. Any information about how to get the screw free or what to use to get the screw free would be of big help. thank you for your time and advice.

[arcticap]

It can be soaked in any good penetrating oil for several days, then placed in heated oil or in boiling hot water before attempting to unscrew it.
Try to bear down hard on the screw driver so that it can bite into the screw slot enough to be able to put some reverse torque on it.
Since they can be very stubborn it can take perseverance to get it out.
There's also trying an impact wrench, and as a last resort an easy out screw removal tool.
Less expensive impact wrenches are sold on eBay.
Some folks prefer to leave the screw stuck as it is but that does make it tougher to clean out the flash channel.
However it's possible to shoot out the blockage by placing a little bit of powder under the nipple after soaking until it loosens up. A CO2 ball discharger or compressed air may also work.
But shooting the blockage out can certainly work, especially if the blockage can be softened up first by soaking it. Then dry out the drum before putting in any powder.
You said that you can't see light through the flash channel, but is it possible for air to pass through the flash channel and out the barrel?

[pohill]

If you hold the gun upright and pour water down the barrel (nipple removed), does it come out the flashhole? In one of my rifles I cannot see a wire stuck through the flashhole into the barrel, no matter what I do, but the hole is clear.
PB Blaster and heat works for me with stuck nipples, screws and even screw-off barrels.

[Chris Underwood]

no i've tried to blow through it and no air escapes or water comes through. the water just sites in the barrel.

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

Does your rifle barrel have a drum or a snail that the nipple screws into?

[Beagle333]

no air escapes or water comes through.

Any chance the thing is still loaded?

[g.willikers]

Or it has a seated bullet, but no powder?

[arcticap]

Originally Posted by Sure Shot Mc Gee

Does your rifle barrel have a drum or a snail that the nipple screws into?

The Traditions Fox River Fifty has a drum and nipple.

To check if it's loaded, place the ramrod on the outside of the barrel and use it to measure from the drum to the muzzle. Mark the length and insert it into the barrel to see if the ramrod will go all of the way down to that depth. If there's over 1/2" of the marked section of ramrod sticking out from the barrel, then the chances are that a projectile and powder is loaded in the barrel.
Take note of how much of the marked section of ramrod is sticking out at the muzzle. If your measurement is off just a little and you're unsure, then measure again more carefully and double check the ramrod depth.
I once bought a used gun that was simply blocked with hardened residue.
However, if a gun has a full charge and projectile in it then that's a lot more hazardous to remove.

[Chris Underwood]

thanks for all the advice. i just went out and shot the gun after putting powder in the space between the nipple and the barrel and the blockage came free. Thanks again for all of your help.

[arcticap]

That's how I cleared out the blockage of mine too.
Good luck and let us know how it shoots when you get the chance.

[Chris Underwood]

i will for sure thank you

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

That's how I cleared out the blockage of mine too.

Help me to understand what you wrote please.
If a barrel has blockage in and around its firing channel which I believe is located in its breech area (if I'm not mistaken?) How does a fresh charge compacted in front of that channel area manage to clear the blockage in-behind it?_

Reason I ask. I had a friend give me his cap lock rifle to see what I could do to help it fire reliably again. I asked what powder He used and was told it was fed Substitute Propellent type 2FF loose powders from day one. After inspection. I could tell His barrel was more than an 1" short cone to breech. Luckily I took my breech scraper and to my surprise found and had to remove a ball & some sort of charge. Proceeding on with the scraper I then removed more that an inch of some sort of material that resembled hard compacted gritty fly ash. Question: Is it noted that a constant use of Propellent type powders like pyrodex and others will indeed create that kind of situation over time? As I've never seen that happen with Gorex B/P usage in all the years I've used it. (2FF & 3FFF)

Even after I pulled its ball. I highly believe it was still unable to be fired in its un-scraped condition.__(just so much foreign material I had to scrap out before hand.)

Hmm. I missed reading that # 9 post somehow. >Sorry about that guys. And thanks to mykeal for help in clarity

[mykeal]

Originally Posted by Sure Shot Mc Gee

If a barrel has blockage in and around its firing channel which I believe is located in its breech area (if I'm not mistaken?) How does a fresh charge compacted in front of that channel area manage to clear the blockage in-behind it?

It doesn't.

You place the charge behind the blockage by introducing it under the nipple:

Originally Posted by Chris Underwood

i just went out and shot the gun after putting powder in the space between the nipple and the barrel

Originally Posted by Sure Shot Mc Gee

Is it noted that a constant use of Propellent type powders like pyrodex and others will indeed create that kind of situation over time?

No. I've not seen such a condition if the gun was properly cleaned after each use. I believe that would only happen if the gun were not cleaned.

[jager.30-06]

man if i were you i would get to my primary care physician asap...perhaps they could refer you to a specialist.....sorry couldnt leave that one alone lol!