Need advise on removal of a lost cleaning brush

[Timmeu]

I have just purchased a 1864 Springfield musket that I am told has a lost cleaning brush lodged in the bore. I didn't loose it myself but am entirely capable of the same miscue. I would love to sample the many folks out there that might have a thought on the removal of this item. No one needs to admit to a similar issue but your ideas that worked and didn't work would be of great interest.

YOS

[Ken Hansgen, 11094]

I bought a gizmo last year for doing just that, It's a brass hollow tool to screw on the end of a rod that is pushed over the lost brush to retrieve it. Sorry, I don't remember who sells these. Perhaps somebody else does??

[JimB]

Get a section of pipe that will fit in the bore but is close to bore size. Push it in far enough to go over the brush. When you pull it out the brush will be in the pipe. The other way is to remove barrel, remove breech, push out brush.

[matt]

Since you just bought the musket pull the breech plug this way you will be able to see what condition the whole bore and chamber is in as well if the breech plug is pitted.
Matt
Winslow's Battery D 1st NY Lt Artillery 9775v

[Gary Van Kauwenbergh, 101]

Marty, Can you cut and unbend a coathanger, bend a hook in the end, then fish it out?

[Ron/The Old Reb]

I watched a skirmisher on the line pull one out of his barrel with a patch remover. You could try that.

[Maillemaker]

Get a section of pipe that will fit in the bore but is close to bore size. Push it in far enough to go over the brush. When you pull it out the brush will be in the pipe. The other way is to remove barrel, remove breech, push out brush.

Genius!

Steve

[mikea]

I have had a brush come off in the barrel a time or two. I put a .22 cal brush on my cleaning rod and pushed it down the barrel so that its tines went through those of the larger brush. They lock together and the lost brush comes out with the .22 cal brush when you pull the rod out. If you use a rod with the Hoppes shotgun thread you will need a thread adapter to fit the .22 cal brush on the rod. I keep a .22 cal brush & thread adapter in my range bag.
The last time I used it was at a Nationals to help out another shooter who had a brush come off in his barrel between relays in the Musket Match. Boy, was he relieved when it came out!

[John Holland]

The simple and cheap approach is a piece of 1/2" PVC tubing, cut longer than your barrel length. Slide it down the bore and over the brush, and back out of the barrel and you're done! Using a piece of pipe always has the potential of scratching the bore. Juat my experience for what it's worth.

JDH

[Timmeu]

Thanks for all the insights and suggestions. My wife wanted to know why I bought a musket with a brush stuck in the bore. I told her that I am always looking for a chance to get frustrated and upset and this seemed like a good opportunity to get there. I will report back with an AAR to let you know how things went.

YOS

[Chris Sweeney]

This will only work if it's broken off. I had the ferrule snap off of my favorite brush ( only 12 years old - sob!) leaving the brush part in the bore. I used a patch worm on the end of a ramrod and really drove it in. Came out on the second or third try. If it's a 10-32 thread brush you might be able to fit it over the ferrule, but it it's a shotgun threaD, FORGET It!

[Timmeu]

Hello

I took the musket to Mike Rouch from the 110th OVI and Miami Valley Sutler. We pulled the breech plug. Problem solved right? Not even close. The brush had to be forced out with a long rod. The previous owner had tried to make shift attach a shotgun tornado brush to the end of some cleaning rod. He had somehow incorporated coat hanger wire, some duct tape and some type epoxy. The entire mess was glued to the bore about 5 inches from the breechplug. I have since soaked the mess in penetrating oils. I did get another piece of coat hanger wire out of it. At this point I have not yet gotten a 58 cal. cleaning jag to completely travel the lent of the bore.

I just got back home from nationals and was able to pick up a different barrel that is in excellent shape to shoot with. I will continue to attempt to get the barrel cleaned up but I would be interested in any ideas on how to remove the epoxy. I should also mention that the stink off of the brush and etc was horrid. All in all a very interesting project.

YOB

[Lou Lou Lou]

Heat might work. If the barrel is empty apply a torch to it. Then scrub the heck out of it