Stuck (?) Breech Plug on my .45 cal 'old H&R' Huntsman

[jacksbark]

I bought an old-style .45 cal Huntsman from a guy on the Auction Arms site.

When I eventually got it I found that the breech plug doesn't want to come out. How dare it resist my authority!

The serial number on this rifle starts with 'AR' and it has the 'transfer bar'-type hammer/firing pin deal instead of the older 'rebounding hammer'.

So......

Do any of you guys out there who may be familiar with this rifle know if this is the 'push-out'-type or 'threaded'-type breech block? Visually, it looks just like the 'push-out'-type I have on my .58 cal Huntsman, which pops in and out with no problem.

I've done the customary pushing and pounding with a long bronze rod to the try to 'push' it out - so if it is a 'push-out' its in there mighty strong .... hope somebody hasn't decided to epoxy it in there.

I'm thinking of using a broken bolt removing tool down into the fire hole in the breech block (without touching the nipple threads) to see if I can get some torque on the breech block to see if I can start it turning .... just in case it actually threader in there. I've even tried the old 'two hours in the freezer then scalded with boiling water' trick to see if that would loosen it .... but, no joy .... it ain't budging.

Any brilliant ideas, chaps?

[quickdtoo]

Welcome to GBO! I'd let some good penetrant like Kroil soak it good for a day or two, then work on it. Unfortunately, some blackpowder shooters never remove the breech plug from their inline rifles which often becomes permanently installed.

Hopefully someone more familiar with old Huntsmans will help you on determining what type BP it is.

Tim

[jacksbark]

TY for that - and will do.

Since posting, above, have spent some time digging through the 28 pages of older posts and have had some luck in getting guidance on the issue.

Seems that I do have a 'push-out'-type plug, since it definitely lacks the two holes beside the nipple hole that would be used for inserting whatever tool was used to turn the plug.

So, short of the plug being 'epoxied' in, its likely to be a case of putting something in there to eat away the rust(?) and/or release its grip - in the meantime, I'm off to the Home Depot to get a nice piece of 3/8" steel rod so I can pound it out a bit more violently than with the 1/4" bronze rod I have used.

Besides, it must be made an example and be punished and beaten into submission for daring to challenge my authority! Once its loose and cleaned-up all will be forgiven.

[quickdtoo]

Good luck!

[jacksbark]

  Yeah - Luck's going to be in there somewhere. I guess if it doesn't come loose I can still use it as a real permanent frontstuffer - or a fence post, poker for the fireplace, or even a burglar club - its not worth sending back and its likely worth what I paid just in the parts.

[jacksbark]

OK, a 7/16" x 36" steel rod and a hammer did the trick - plug went flying 10' with the last smack of the hammer. It was just solid frozen in there with rust, gunk, crud and more rust. The barrel is now a believer and promised me it would shoot real good. 

[quickdtoo]