Author Topic: Huntsman breech plug wrench (Read 5554 times)

petemi · « **on:** February 23, 2008, 06:18:01 AM »

I put a scoped Huntsman barrel on my SB2 last Fall, and hated the breech plug wrench from the start. Using a rod or screwdriver, it would only turn a few degrees before it hit the scope or stock. Pliers worked even worse. Finally I welded a three inch, 3/8 drive socket extension to the rear of the wrench. Problem solved. Now I can tighten or loosen the plug with a ratchet and spin it in and out easily by hand. I wrote to NEF and suggested they add a 3/8 drive cutout in the rear of the wrench to make it easier to use.

lefty41 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2008, 10:08:50 AM »

Thanks for sharing a great idea

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2008, 10:39:13 AM »

A great idea if you weld or can get it welded.

thx for sharing,

Tim

Keith Lewis · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2008, 11:16:34 AM »

Another idea is the Drag Link socket that Sears has that looks like a big screwdriver blade on a socket. Unfortunately they are expensive and there are three sizes in the set. Harbor Freight has similar drag link set for about $9.00 but you have to search the online store for them.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2008, 11:26:13 AM »

Sears sells the ¾" socket separately so you don't need to buy the set.

Tim

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944512000P?vName=Tools&keyword=drag+link+socket

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96329

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2008, 02:58:59 PM »

I used a 1/4" drive on mine just thought the smaller socket wrench works better in the possibles pouch. Kurt

petemi · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2008, 03:36:16 PM »

Kurt, You're right. The 1/4 inch is a much better idea. I had two of the 3/8 extensions when I did it, so I used what was at hand. The other advantage, that I forgot to mention, is that the pressure from the rear helps keep the wrench seated, while side pressure tends to pop it out of the slot in the plug.

petemi · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2008, 02:30:39 PM »

I was just looking at my Huntsman owners manual, and the illustration on page 8 shows a wrench with a large screwdriver slot on the rear. Mine was new last November and my wrench was flat at the rear.

d_hiker · « **Reply #8 on:** March 01, 2008, 04:46:24 AM »

I just got a Huntsman barrel from the factory a couple of weeks ago and they were out of the breech plug wrenches. They said they would ship the wrench when they get the new batch in (maybe April). I'll post if it is any different than what has been described. I have quite a few misc. 1/4" drive sockets, I might have a friend weld one of them on the back of the wrench. Then I can use an extension as needed.

petemi · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2008, 03:18:21 PM »

Hiker, I'll be interested to know which kind of wrench you get, slotted or flat like mine. The drag link would work fine on the slotted if that's what you get, but it sure wouldn't be worth anything with my flat one. That's why I couldn't understand what the guys were trying to tell me about the drag link. That's when I went back to the owners manual, saw the illustration, and realized what they were talking about. Mine is nothing like the picture.

petemi · « **Reply #10 on:** March 01, 2008, 03:24:08 PM »

You would think if NEF was going to make, lets say, 100 barrels, they'd make 105 or 10 wrenches to have a few spares. Seems ignorant put yourself in a situation where you have to ship something incomplete.

d_hiker · « **Reply #11 on:** March 01, 2008, 05:03:47 PM »

They notified me to see if I wanted to wait on them shipping the barrel to me until they got the wrench or to send it without. I already have a Huntsman barrel and wrench, so I am not without a means to use it. I told them to ship it without the wrench. I have always gotten good service from NEF/H&R.

Busta · « **Reply #12 on:** March 01, 2008, 06:11:32 PM »

Quote from: petemi on March 01, 2008, 03:18:21 PM

Hiker, I'll be interested to know which kind of wrench you get, slotted or flat like mine. The drag link would work fine on the slotted if that's what you get, but it sure wouldn't be worth anything with my flat one. That's why I couldn't understand what the guys were trying to tell me about the drag link. That's when I went back to the owners manual, saw the illustration, and realized what they were talking about. Mine is nothing like the picture.

pete,

Can you post a pic of your wrench, sounds like they may have something new? If no pic can you tell us what it looks like in detail? The original plug wrench is a real pain to use without modifying it. I cut flats in a hex pattern on the top half of mine, so a old 13/16" spark plug socket fits over it. I hope they have come up with something better, we sure have been trying to get them to make something better for over 5 years now. Would like to see what they sent with yours.

petemi · « **Reply #13 on:** March 02, 2008, 12:57:40 AM »

Busta, I wish I had a picture of it before I welded the extension on it. If you took a slotted wrench, as shown in the book, and cut the slot off square 3/16 inch behind the hole you'd have my original wrench. The extension was welded directly to the flat back of the wrench. Ttthe picture was taken with a cell phone and isn't great. Pete

Busta · « **Reply #14 on:** March 02, 2008, 01:41:29 AM »

pete,

Unfortunately you have the same lame wrench as everybody else, I have never seen one like pictured in the book with the slot on the back. They have all been like yours as far as I know. I thought maybe they changed them for the better, but I guess not.

petemi · « **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2008, 04:00:53 AM »

I understand now that Tim and others were saying not to bother with the wrench and just use the drag link socket. It is too bad the thing is too small to use for a boat anchor.

Gemsbok · « **Reply #16 on:** April 29, 2008, 04:22:35 PM »

Does the drag link socket mesh well with the breech slot? Not sloppy?

d_hiker · « **Reply #17 on:** May 06, 2008, 08:09:57 AM »

I finally got the breech plug wrench the factory owed me from my Huntsman barrel fitting. It got here a couple of weeks ago from a new batch they had received. Same old breech plug wrench as my older one. But they did send it and I didn't have to follow up with them.

jrkrk · « **Reply #18 on:** June 17, 2008, 08:33:15 AM »

Here is what I did. Take the original breech plug removal tool go to home depot or lowes and get a hex nut and jb weld it to the flat part of the plug removal tool and get a socket head that fits the hex nut. Works good for me.

Tracker · « **Reply #19 on:** September 16, 2008, 03:33:20 PM »

That sure seems like a very simple and cheap solution. I have several removal tools think I will try that. Does the JB weld wrok that well?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #20 on:** September 16, 2008, 04:19:16 PM »

JB Weld is good stuff, Super Weld is even better.

Tim

http://www.eclecticproducts.com/_tds/sw_tds.pdf

http://www.jbweld.net/products/jbweld.php

walmpus · « **Reply #21 on:** September 18, 2008, 08:50:24 AM »

Here is what I have.....................

walmpus · « **Reply #22 on:** September 18, 2008, 08:53:40 AM »

Sorry about posting 2 pics in 2 seperate posts but thats the only way it would let me. Just a simple wrench I made. You could weld the 2 together if want. I just prefer to keep my seperate. My gun is scoped and the handle is long enough to not have problems. I have been using it for about 4 years now and it has worked perfectly. Not saying there is better solution out there.........just got tired of looking and made a solution myself.

Walmpus