Rookie mistake

[Easyrider]

Hi. I have a Pedersoli Gibbs muzzle loading rifle that I have owned for about a year and a half. While cleaning it yesterday, I realized that I have not recently removed the screw from the back side of the breech plug, the one that allows you to clean out the channel from the nipple to the chamber. First off, what is the proper name for that channel? I cannot for the life of me remember. Secondly, the damn screw is seized in there, and I broke the appropriate sized bit for my gunsmithing screwdriver kit trying to get it out. So far, I have not frigged up the screw. I assume that applying heat is my next option. My question is, how much heat can I apply before I risk damaging the finish on the breech plug? The rifle is currently sitting in the closet, muzzle up, with a small puddle of Kroil soaking in the chamber.
This is a rather embarrassing rookie mistake. I have been shooting muzzle loading rifles for over 30 years, I should know better! My advice to you all is to never pay any attention to anything I ever say again...

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

Are you talking about the breech plug, or a clean-out screw proprietary to the Gibbs intended to be removed?

Regardless, I think you'll be fine: Can't say I've seen one with a clean out on the breech plug and unless there is something really unique in the Gibbs breech that makes it impossible to clean out that area otherwise, you should be getting it all IMO. I've never removed the breech plug in my GPR in 25 years, nor any other muzzleloader I own or have owned (for cleaning purposes that is) and can't imagine I would either (two schools of thought there, I personally side with the thought that they really aren't meant to be removed - if you've breeched a barrel, I think you'll see why).

 

[Easyrider]

Are you talking about the breech plug, or a clean-out screw proprietary to the Gibbs intended to be removed?

Regardless, I think you'll be fine: Can't say I've seen one with a clean out on the breech plug and unless there is something really unique in the Gibbs breech that makes it impossible to clean out that area otherwise, you should be getting it all IMO. I've never removed the breech plug in my GPR in 25 years, nor any other muzzleloader I own or have owned (for cleaning purposes that is) and can't imagine I would either (two schools of thought there, I personally side with the thought that they really aren't meant to be removed - if you've breeched a barrel, I think you'll see why).

The Gibbs has a clean-out screw on the left hand side of the breech plug, opposite the snail. The channel (flash channel, perhaps it is called) goes through to the nipple. Your Great Plains rifle has the clean-out screw on the other side, right in the center of the snail, or at least mine does. I have no interest in taking the breech plug out, just the screw. If this site were easier to post pics, I'd post one....

 

[tiriaq]

I do not know if that screw is intended to be removed. I would be content to just remove the nipple, and flush and clean the flash channel that way.
Pulling the nipple and getting Kroil in from the inside might help get that screw out.

 

[H Wally]

I had the same thing going on with one of my guns with a clean out screw - removing the nipple and doing a series of soaks/scrubs with boiling water will loosen a ton of the crud that'll be plugged up in there - if the gun wasn't new it'll have had time to develop some good thread locking corrosion down where it's impossible to get access to - the flash channel and very back of the barrel. Boiling water and repeated flushing and hard scrubbing will loosen a ton of stuff out of what formerly appeared to be a pristine barrel. If you can get a pressure fitting into the nipple hole and down the barrel that'll be even better - it's amazing how much gunk can get fired out of the gun with a pressure fitting.

Once that's done and dried hitting the whole setup with some heat and ultra thin penetrating oil will help. I've even gone so far as to set up a hot plate on low with the part immersed in penetrating oil in a can.... that can be quite dangerous if you get a fire, but man it works.