So I made my first reloading mistake (hopefully it's the worst I ever make) and fired a powderless cartridge. The 165 gr .308 bullet is of course stuck. I took a crude measurement with a pen and I believe it's barely into the lands. Short of spending $60 on a carbon fibre cleaning rod, is it reasonable to put a .22 case on the end of a hardwood dowel and hammer it back? The internet tells me the rim of a .22 case is .278" in diameter.
Removing stuck bullet with dowel and .22 case
- Thread starter toddpotiphar
- Start date
I have made that mistake twice.
One time the bullet just fell out so no problem.
The second time I just took a metal cleaning rod and pushed it out. I did not screw around with the 22 case. If its really stuck I guess you could use the 22 case to not mess up your cleaning rod assuming it fits.
One time the bullet just fell out so no problem.
The second time I just took a metal cleaning rod and pushed it out. I did not screw around with the 22 case. If its really stuck I guess you could use the 22 case to not mess up your cleaning rod assuming it fits.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Whatever you decide to do, just be aware that many people have tried using wooden dowels, sometimes it works, but often the dowel shears off in the bore, then your next tap with the hammer drives the dowel ends over each other and super duty jam in the bore. (hardware store dowels very rarely have straight grain the full length). I have a 30" long .250" diameter O1 tool steel rod, that I wrapped a strip of electricians tape lengthwise, that I have gingerly lowered down the bore and gently tapped out a lightly stuck lead bullet; never had to do that for a jacketed bullet, but probably only a matter of time. I've read that the "correct" equipment to use for a bore obstruction is polished steel rod that is close to but just under land-to-land diameter, plenty of oil.
If you don't have a solid cleaning rod, try the dowel. Something on the end of it to take the battering is a good idea, but I would want at least a 1/4" dowel.
Some oil in the chamber end, muzzle down overnight won't hurt.
Use a series of taps rather than a big bang. Don't use a hammer. The bullet should pop out easily.
You don't want a broken, splintered dowel in there.
Do you know anyone with a cleaning rod?
Maybe it is time to invest in a cleaning rod?
Some oil in the chamber end, muzzle down overnight won't hurt.
Use a series of taps rather than a big bang. Don't use a hammer. The bullet should pop out easily.
You don't want a broken, splintered dowel in there.
Do you know anyone with a cleaning rod?
Maybe it is time to invest in a cleaning rod?
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
I have a 1/4" brass rod that I use for barrel obstructions.
as mentioned above wood dowels can be more of a problem then a help.
as mentioned above wood dowels can be more of a problem then a help.
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.
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.
ok, YOU HAVE A ROD.
Putting a 22 case over the threads is an excellent idea.
Tap the bullet out with that rod. It should come out easily.
I have shot out lots of bullets that are stuck in the throat by using half of a normal load as an emergency fix in the field, where no rod is available. Not my #1 choice of the way to do it.
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
I've done that once...
I have shot out lots of bullets that are stuck in the throat by using half of a normal load as an emergency fix in the field, where no rod is available. Not my #1 choice of the way to do it.[/QUOTE]
I have shot out lots of bullets that are stuck in the throat by using half of a normal load as an emergency fix in the field, where no rod is available. Not my #1 choice of the way to do it.[/QUOTE]
Milanczar
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Bought a Mauser C96 at a good price but it had a broken off cylinder ring bit of a case stuck that the owner didn't know what to do with or get it out.
Nothing to get a purchase on. Expanding wall anchors etc etc. Nada
Had to ever so gently collapse an edge by getting at it with a hard probe without scratching anything.
Eventually got enough of ithe edge off the wall to start with tapping with larger brass edge then collapse enough to push out with a dowel.
Took about 5 minutes doing and an hour of figuring out what to do.
Nothing to get a purchase on. Expanding wall anchors etc etc. Nada
Had to ever so gently collapse an edge by getting at it with a hard probe without scratching anything.
Eventually got enough of ithe edge off the wall to start with tapping with larger brass edge then collapse enough to push out with a dowel.
Took about 5 minutes doing and an hour of figuring out what to do.
Once I had a bullet stuck in the bore of a 300AAC Blackout, 225gr Hornady BTHP over a light load of H110. Just the tip of the bullet was sticking out of the muzzle, I filled the bore with gun oil and let it sit overnight, muzzle down. I was able to take a wooden dowel just smaller than bore diameter and push it out
Go to a steel supply place and ask to see their rack of drill rod. That stuff is made out of serious tool steel, polished and comes in every size you can imagine. You might find yourself looking at it and wishing your cleaning rod had material that good. Its better than wrecking the threads on a 60 dollar cleaning rod. Its been awhile since I've bought any but I'm sure 5 bucks would still take it home. If you need something to remove stuck bullets or cases that's the stuff. I use it for determining COL.
If you play with wooden dowels it may work; but you may end up with both a bullet and broken stick in your barrel.
If you play with wooden dowels it may work; but you may end up with both a bullet and broken stick in your barrel.
US Army issue Garand/M-14 sectioned cleaning rod. Add enough section's so it just come's out and tap with a hammer.
Your next posting just may be "How do I get a wooden dowel out of the bore. It broke when I tapped it".........
Your next posting just may be "How do I get a wooden dowel out of the bore. It broke when I tapped it".........
And if the dowel or cleaning rod is a sloppy fit in your bore, use a wrap or 2 of electrical tape to work as a centraliser and keep the rod from bowing. Put it on close to each end and midway. Getting a straight rod that doesn't bow in the middle and contacts the bullet in the centre instead of to the side of the ogive works a lot better. If the bullet is fairly loose a multi-piece rod might work if you use the tape trick, but if it doesn't come out after several light taps then stop.
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