Removing stuck bullet with dowel and .22 case

Rod is by far the most controlled method.

However you can also shoot it out. Load a case with 50-60% powder charge, and wad the powder with a cotton ball inside the case to hold the powder down towards the primer, the same as it would be if it was a full case. The wad also makes it easier to load the case without spilling the powder, and eliminates the need to crimp.
 
The last time I had a bullet lodged in the throat of a barrel, it only took a moderate tap with a cleaning rod to dislodge it. No hammer needed. In any case, start with a lighter touch on whatever rod you use, and work your way up - just like reloading!
 
The bullet is only into the throat. I can easily see the tail end of the bullet just in front of the chamber. I've worked at it a bit with a .22 casing on the end of my cleaning rod. I taped it up to try and keep it centered, but I've succeeded only in ruining a cheap cleaning rod.

If I've already worked it some and presumably misshapen the nose of the bullet, can I still try the 50% load trick? Or is that just asking for worse trouble?
 
Cameron SS said:
Rod is by far the most controlled method.

However you can also shoot it out. Load a case with 50-60% powder charge, and wad the powder with a cotton ball inside the case to hold the powder down towards the primer, the same as it would be if it was a full case. The wad also makes it easier to load the case without spilling the powder, and eliminates the need to crimp.
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Should only shoot it out if the bullet is in throat, and not if the bullet is further out. I know that's what you meant but it's worth saying here so somebody doesn't get the wrong idea.
 
I have a 1/4" brass rod about 1 foot long. With the rifle in a vertical position, muzzle up and dropping the rod from the muzzle will often dislodge a bullet on the first drop.
 
I also have a home depot brass rod that works for such problems far better than wood or aluminum use a wood block to tap on the rod so that you don't accidentally bu&&er your muzzle if you get a little too zealous.
 
Happens one on hunting trip.
Forgot to add power and the bullet was stuck inside. Have to used the car antenna (truck antenna).
Worked like a charm.
tip of the antenna have a round ball welded and no damage to the barrel or riffling
 
edge338 said:
Happens one on hunting trip.
Forgot to add power and the bullet was stuck inside. Have to used the car antenna (truck antenna).
Worked like a charm.
tip of the antenna have a round ball welded and no damage to the barrel or riffling
Click to expand...

On a hunting trip, if the bullet is stuck in the throat shoot it out.

Stick the loaded round in the muzzle and gently pry in various directions to get the bullet out of the case. Dump some of the powder into the palm of your hand - about a 1/4 charge.

keeping the rifle pointed up, gently chamber the case with the 3/4 powder charge, close the bolt and shoot up.

Bullet is removed.

I have done this many times. Sometimes with my ammo, usually as a service to others.
 
toddpotiphar said:
Thanks for the info. I certainly do have a cleaning rod, but had read elsewhere that the aluminum ones are too flimsy to push out a stuck bullet.

Another friend of mine who has decades of reloading and wildcatting experience recommended loading 1 grain of fast powder in a case, stuffing it with cotton balls to keep the powder over the primer, and firing it. Is this something that any of you have done?

The rifle is a 300 Wby, if thay makes any difference.
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If a aluminum cleaning rod is to flimsy.....why, exactly, would you thing a wooden dowel would work?

Honestly, file that idea under "D" for "Dumb"!

No wooden dowels, else the next problem is how to safely drill out 18+ inches of jammed in wooden dowel without butchering the rifling...

If you are worried about the cleaning rod being too flimsy, then a cleaning rod is the wrong tool, and you need a piece of 1/4 inch diameter rod, and some tape to pad the outside of it with.
 
The one and only time I'v stuck a bullet, simply dropping (as in letting it free fall) a cleaning rod down the muzzle knocked it out.
 
i have a quarter inch round steel rod i bought at canadian tire . wrapped with electric tape at intervals it works to drive out obstruction. i would not hammer a dowel in my bore
 
edge338 said:
Happens one on hunting trip.
Forgot to add power and the bullet was stuck inside. Have to used the car antenna (truck antenna).
Worked like a charm.
tip of the antenna have a round ball welded and no damage to the barrel or riffling
Click to expand...

I remember reading a story on here about a fella that did the same thing and managed to get the rifle stuck on the antenna. Still makes me laugh :)
 
buzzmagoo said:
If you believe its not in there very solid ,you could try blasting it out with compressed air . Hit it a couple half dozen times ( from the muzzle end ) you might get lucky !
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Yes, to get a better seal, but a couple of good layers of cloth rag over the muzzle; press you air nozzle tightly against the cloth (learned this from an old Millwright). The cloth gives not only protection to the bore, but provides a seal between the nozzle and the muzzle; optimizing the air pressure. I have an old shot-gun cleaning rod that I use for my pistols (so far only one) and have not had an issue with a rifle up to this point.
 
40 grains of H1000 and most of a cotton ball got the barrel cleared. One more round verified that things are still in working order. I'll suppose it'll take a trip to the range to make sure the barrel still shoots as well as it did before.

Next time I'm in town I'll pick up a brass rod.
 
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