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Offline cwlongshot

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Got a project today....
« on: December 30, 2011, 02:23:48 PM »
Went hunting this AM with a good friend I don't see as much as I would like to...
 We go to talking, it was not long I was holding a once nice T/C Hawken 54 cal. I say once because it sat in a corner of his garage for more than ten years.....LOADED!!! (Back up to 2000/2001)  All he knew is the barrel was plugged. He tried to shoot it and it would not go off, so he thought one of the kids jambed something down the barrel. So he sat it there until I noticed it and asked about it. (Back to today) He said he was gonna toss it out but did not think it a good idea to stick a gun in the garbage can... SO he gave it to me!
 
Ten minutes I had the breech unscrewed and found a gelatinous mass I think was once black powder. I soaked the breech "plug" in solvent. It went in with a sizzle as I had to heat it to unscrew it. It was almost complete rust. The combo of heat and PB Blast I soaked it in gave it a wonderful "blue" type finish!!
Now back to the barrel... Apparently he had pulled the nipple out and sprayed something in the hole at some point. As you would guess the barrel is badly pitted at the breech extending forward about 6". When I first looked thru it was about 35 cal... I got mud when I soaked it with PB Blaster and pushed a tornado brush thru it. I have been soaking and scrubbing it all day. There is actually pretty good rifling all the way thru!! I am really surprised! Its badly pitted at the breech and about 1" of the muzzle. But I think its gonna be shootable again!
It needs more soaking and scrubbing... but its SUCH an improvement I cannot tell you! I should have taken pics before during and after but I did not...
 
I am gonna get it back into shape and give it back to him... It was obvious to me how much he once liked it as he recited stories of deer he shot and hunts he was on with it.
Just wanted to share... I will post up a couple pics when its done.  ;)
 
CW
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Offline keith44

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Re: Got a project today....
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2011, 08:24:39 PM »
when you get it where you like it, shoot a group to make sure.  I suspect you may need to "polish" that last inch of the bore to have the accuracy restored.
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Offline Lon371

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Re: Got a project today....
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2011, 10:22:43 PM »
 Good for you CW for thinking of giving it back. Like you said, he probably has fond memories of hunts with it. But like so many folks, wants it gets to point of not shooting they just give up. I was recently giving a cheap inline someone for got to lube the breech plug also thought it was still loaded(it wasn't). Feller I got it from messed with it, couldnt get it loose and gave up. I did as you, soaked it in PB blaster and ordered the correct tool and new breech plug. Taa daa came right out. No load in it. Scrubbed the barrel nice and clean and shiny. I am the fourth owner, hopefully it will shoot straight.
 
Lonny
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Offline Rock Home Isle

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Re: Got a project today....
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2011, 06:56:42 AM »
That sounds like a fun little project that you have there...I commend your ambition.  8)
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Got a project today....
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2011, 09:11:19 AM »
Well I finished it this AM and he just left with a large smile on his face!!
Does my heart good to do these things... Here is a couple pics...
 



 
 
 
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Offline Rock Home Isle

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Re: Got a project today....
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2011, 10:22:24 AM »
Off Topic:
 
Nice to see all that green in the reloading room.  8)
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“Lost?? Hmmm... been fearsome confused for a month or two, but I ain't never been lost!”
Henry Frap the "Mountain Men"

“Ain't this somethin'? I told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Mother Gue said to me; ‘Make your life go here, son. Here's where the people is. Them mountains is for Indians and wild men.’  "Mother Gue", I says "the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world," and by God, I was right. Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.”
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Got a project today....
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2011, 10:49:37 AM »
Quote from: Rock Home Isle on December 31, 2011, 10:22:24 AM
Off Topic:
 
Nice to see all that green in the reloading room.  8)

Its no secrete and I make no bones about the fact that you will find any friends of LEE in this loading room..... :o ::)
 
CW
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Remember... Four boxes keep us free: the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.

Offline Rock Home Isle

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Re: Got a project today....
« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2011, 10:54:03 AM »
 8)  Good to hear.
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“Lost?? Hmmm... been fearsome confused for a month or two, but I ain't never been lost!”
Henry Frap the "Mountain Men"

“Ain't this somethin'? I told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Mother Gue said to me; ‘Make your life go here, son. Here's where the people is. Them mountains is for Indians and wild men.’  "Mother Gue", I says "the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world," and by God, I was right. Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.”
Del Gue in "Jeremiah Johnson"

Offline lakota

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Re: Got a project today....
« Reply #8 on: December 31, 2011, 11:42:21 AM »
Uh oh! You guys wouldnt like my bench-2 of those "red" presses and an "orange" lube sizer!
 
Thats a nice looking front stuffer. Is that the original barrel length or did someone cut a few inches off? looks like there is only 1 thimble. Looks like a handy carbine.
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Offline IronBrigade

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Re: Got a project today....
« Reply #9 on: December 31, 2011, 12:14:56 PM »
You did a real nice job on that renegade, CW ;)
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Got a project today....
« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2012, 01:05:54 AM »
Thanks guys,
 Its a std length barrel. I think maybe just the angle I took pic at makes it look shorter..
 
I wish I snapped pics before I started! It was covered in rust at the back of the barrel around hammer and about 2" forward. Then the muzzle back almost a foot was almost completely covered with rust. The inside of the barrel was also badly rusted. So much so the hole thru it was substantially smaller than 54 Cal! LOL
 
I had an interesting thing happen when I removed the back of the barrel... I soaked it with PB Blaster on the inside. Hit it with a map gas torch for a couple minutes, It was about 250 degrees. It came right off after that. I hit it with more PB in an effort to cut thru some of that rust. As it cooled a bit I grabbed it with a welding glove and brushed it clean of rust with a wire brush. Before my eyes the heat combined with the rust and PB blaster the part became a very uniform, pleasant looking blue brown color.
 
CW
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"Pay heed to the man who carries a single shot rifle, he likely knows how to use it."

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Remember... Four boxes keep us free: the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.

Offline lakota

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Re: Got a project today....
« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2012, 05:36:54 AM »
When I had my Renegade it had a GM barrel on it. When I see a standard Renegade they look so short compared to the 32" barrel I had on mine. I think that my gun lost some of its "handyness" when I swapped barrels but apparently the previous owner of mine didnt believe in cleaning. I tried to save it but I just couldnt get it to shoot. the bore was in terrible shape.
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