View Full Version : Friend was dumb, dowel stuck in barrel.
So my buddy went camping last weekend, brought his AR with him, and had an FTE when the rim of a case tore off. In a moment of stupidity, he decided to take a wooden dowel (since he didn't have a cleaning rod) and use his pocket knife to shave it down to fit inside the barrel so he could knock the stuck casing out. He actually got it pretty far (~10in) when it got stuck, and then the end broke off, resulting in both ends of the barrel now plugged...
He brought the rifle to me and I removed the barrel from the upper and was able to get the stuck casing out by pushing the BCG onto it in a different orientation so the extractor could grab the rim where it wasn't damaged (trying with pliers didn't have enough grab). I couldn't get the dowel out though. I didn't try hammering it out (since the wood seemed soft and would just split). I did try drilling into the wood, screwing in a wood screw, and then using a bench vise to hold the screw while I tried to pull the barrel off of the dowel. The thing didn't budge one bit.
So, dowel removal specialists, got any advise?
JaxShooter
06-17-14, 12:51
Tactical termites? :-)
What about a cleaning rod from the breech trying to move it back the way it entered?
Maybe have to burn it out...lol
Tactical termites? :-)
What about a cleaning rod from the breech trying to move it back the way it entered?
I specifically didn't do this because the wood is soft and it will just compress or split against the walls of the barrel even more.
Thus far I had considered trying to drill it out and then see if I could break apart smaller pieces and get those out. Doing the same thing with burning would probably work too.
This thread needs to go to TOS. They probably have a sticky for this over there. :sarcastic:
This thread needs to go to TOS. They probably have a sticky for this over there. :sarcastic:
Hahaha
How bout taking the Gas block off (so wood doesn't get in the gas tube) find a way to for a temporary seal to close the gas port and then use compressed air to push it out....and keep it point in a safe direction while you use your new dart gun
Also for the protection of the barrel this would be the least harmful.
I'm sure that the solution, whatever it is, involves judicious use of a Dremel tool and lots of bad taste.
This thread needs to go to TOS. They probably have a sticky for this over there. :sarcastic:
This thread needs to go to TOS. They probably have a sticky for this over there. :sarcastic:
Does the OP write for Dear Abbey?? A 3/16" brass rod slide hammered from the breech will probably push it out. If not set off a primed case. Add powder as necessary until the wood is ejected. GH
I've got a bad feeling about this.
I would see if there is something that can be poured into the barrel to soften the wood and then use a solid type of cleaning rod to knock it out. It will break apart, but you should be able to clean it out with a bore brush afterwards.
Failure2Stop
06-17-14, 17:18
I would see if there is something that can be poured into the barrel to soften the wood and then use a solid type of cleaning rod to knock it out. It will break apart, but you should be able to clean it out with a bore brush afterwards.
Leave it in a termite nest.
This would be the best solution. But......
Leave it in a termite nest.
NoveskeFan
06-17-14, 17:29
I would see if there is something that can be poured into the barrel to soften the wood and then use a solid type of cleaning rod to knock it out. It will break apart, but you should be able to clean it out with a bore brush afterwards.
How about that stump removal stuff they sell at Lowes & Home Depot? Or maybe WD40 and a lighter...
Lol good lord that's a good one.
Since you managed to get a wood screw into it you may have crushed some of the wood fibers enough to buy some wiggle room. I'd back the screw out, and heat the barrel with a heat gun to shrink roast the plug as much as possible. That might be enough.
If not I'd load some penetrating lubricant behind the plug from the breech and maybe heat the barrel again to promote penetration. You can let the barrel sit for a day or two vertically to really get the wood saturated in oil. Lube the other end of the barrel liberally before trying to tap it out with a rod. No, I haven't done this before. Haha
What about a solid brass rod from a home improvement store? Like a 3/16th diameter, tap it through from chamber end?
I can't wait to hear how you get the dowel rod out of the barrel.
On another firearm site there is a thread about removing a Bore Snake from an AR barrel. I am still waiting to hear how that turns out as well.
If it's a tactical rifle, ordinary termites just won't do. You need a nest of tactical termites. Yeah, that's the ticket.....:cool:
MorphCross
06-17-14, 18:48
When army ants won't do, Tactical termites!
But on a more instructive note, Barrel blocks locked in a vise past the gas block shoulder, use a brass rod in the suggested 3/16" diameter and slowly tap it from the breech end of the barrel. The brass rod should not damage the steel barrel.
If not I'd load some penetrating lubricant behind the plug...sit for a day or two...to really get the wood saturated in oil. Lube the other end of the barrel...with a rod. No, I haven't done this before. Haha
Whoa!!!
I don't think you're at the right party
Haha
SpankMonkey
06-17-14, 18:59
Take the barrel off and place inside a oven at 350 for 2 to 3 hrs. The wood will shrink. Tap wood out.
Leaveammoforme
06-17-14, 20:35
Slug the bore. Push out dowel with slug.
Oh, I mean....
Apply two coats of weed killer, set in sun, shake up and down on next full moon saying 'hawka mocka shocka'. Dowel will disappear and appear in someone elses bore.
In support of SpankMonkey's recommendation:
This is the best solution I've seen so far here, being familiar with wood, woodworking, and carpentry in general. The addition of any type of liquid, even that which evaporates quickly, will raise the grain of the wood, opening/separating the fibers from its dried state. The wood will never again quite shrink down to its original dried size. This is not what you want, because, even with the added lubricity of a lubricant the stick will most likely become tighter.
The heat of the oven will draw much of the moisture out of the wood and shrink a small amount, while it may also expand the barrel slightly.
Let us know what you do and how it turns out.
I have to know...was alcohol involved in any way in your friend's decision to shove a wooden rod down his rifle barrel?
Heavy Metal
06-17-14, 21:22
Take the barrel off and place inside a oven at 350 for 2 to 3 hrs. The wood will shrink. Tap wood out.
No need to take it off. 350 won't hurt the upper.
That really sucks, good luck.
soldier_twiggy
06-17-14, 22:52
Chamber a blank and squeeze the trigger [emoji1] That is a joke...don't do that.
Spank's right...oven roast the bbl then tap out the shrunken wood with a cleaning rod.
essayons
I have to know...was alcohol involved in any way in your friend's decision to shove a wooden rod down his rifle barrel?
Not sure, but I do know they had a bunch of beer with them... I do know that his GF was shooting it when the FTE occurred.
No need to take it off. 350 won't hurt the upper.
I already took off the barrel so I could grab the end of the stuck case better :).
Let us know what you do and how it turns out.
Thanks! The oven idea sounds good. I'll give it a shot (not like the blank shot though =P).
MikeDawg46L
06-18-14, 09:16
So...does this "friend" go by the name of "Plasman" on M4C also?....:blink:
So...does this "friend" go by the name of "Plasman" on M4C also?....:blink:
Actually no. If it was me I would've just straight out said it was. I'm not afraid to admit when I've messed up and ask questions for myself. Doing otherwise won't get you very far in life.
MikeDawg46L
06-18-14, 10:13
Was a joke. You know the old "so this guy I know..." story.
Sent from my awesome iPhone using Tapatalk
Try freezing overnight.
Metal shrinks in the cold and wood/water expand in the cold.
rodinal220
06-18-14, 21:24
I use 5mm O-1 drill rod 36" found at any good machine tool supply house for removing barrel obstruction like stuck bullets. Since you got the stuck case out, you should be able to gently tap out the dowel from the chamber end.
I once removed a stuck bullet with a primed case that had 3.5gr of Titegroup in it.
Worked great, rifle is fine.
I'd probably do as one previous poster suggested and start with a primed case and add small amounts of pistol powder as needed.
If it's a live twig, bake it, it will dry out, shrink and harden making removal easier.
What SpankMonkey and MegademiC said is the right answer imho.
Thanks guys. I'm going to try the oven method when my friend is around next weekend.
What about using a air compressor with some type of attachment on the air hose that can fit into the barrel? Just be careful as the dowel might turn into a spear.
Im very interested to hear how this turns out..
What about using a air compressor with some type of attachment on the air hose that can fit into the barrel? Just be careful as the dowel might turn into a spear.
If the oven method doesn't work, I'll give this a try. I'll have to go to my co-worker's place since I don't have a compressor.
Bake the barrel ans tape the stick out.. That's the first shot.. Leave barrel hot and wear gloves..
justin_247
06-26-14, 10:17
Very interested in hearing how this turned out...
But, I can't help but think to myself... "Another person who spends $1000 on a rifle, but is too cheap/dumb to spend $35 on a basic cleaning kit."
No updates? Come on, don't leave us hanging.
So we tried the oven trick today and it worked like a charm! 400deg for 30min and after tapping the wood with the brass rod and hammer I was able to use the rod to push the dowel out. Thanks!
I love it when a plan comes together!
Glad to hear it worked out
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You guys rock! This is one of the reasons I like M4C-someone will always have a good plan for a problem. Rock on guys!
Thanks for sharing the "end of the story" ... this one really piqued my curiosity.
So, next time I get a wood dowel jammed down my rifle barrel, I'll know what to do.
:)
Got to this thread too late. Sounds like something I would do! I came up with a few things to try. I don't know if they were good ideas. I'm going to save them for next time:jester:
I believe it was an old American Rifleman that had a short blurb about removing barrel obstructions. One method was to drill through the obstruction with a drill silver soldered to a drill rod and that was run through a piece of brass tubing in the bore to protect the bore. Once drilled through the obstruction was usually under less stress (or whatever) and could be tapped out with a brass rod.
The technique used in this thread was pretty neat!
sevenhelmet
07-29-14, 05:51
The technique used to remove the wood dowel from the barrel was neat... the technique used to put it in there was not. Hopefully your friend learned from his little misadventure.
Hopefully the owner of this mess will stick to cap guns and/or laser tag.
evilblackrifle
07-29-14, 13:15
nevermind
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