[The Brit]

Okay, I screwed up.

Having bought a brand-new M1A, put 10 rounds through it, I thought I'd quickly clean out the barrel. (Emphasis on the word "quickly".) I assembled my 30-caliber cleaning rod, screwed the plastic do-da on the end (with the loop for the patch), soaked a patch in Hoppes #9 and tried to quickly run it down the barrel from the muzzle end. Somehow, it got jammed, and all attempts to pull it out failed.... eventually, a yank brought out the rod, but left the plastic do-dah and patch stuck somewhere down the barrel :-(.

On a bolt rifle, I'd simply remove the bolt, get a wooden dowel or rod, and try and drift it out from the chamber end.... but I'm not sure that's possible on the M1A.

(I've cleaned my M1 Garrand this way before, many times, and never had a problem.)

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance....

 

[gunnerm1a]

Try to use the same rod to re-tread to the "do-da" the patch holder. then push it out towards the chamber. If it won't push you may have to tap it lightly with a small hammer. careful to not scar the bore.

 

[Monk D]

I would think the wooden dowel rod would be the ticket. Given that the "do da" is plastic, there won't be anything in the bore to damage the rifling.

If the possibility that the patch got hung up on the gas hole in the barrel exists, I would gently tap it (the patch and do-da) out from the business end, and then inspect the gas system to make sure that small pieces/fibers of patch did not get into the gas system.GI7

 

[M1A's r BEST]

I'd be real careful of "driving" it out with a cleaning rod. The wooden dowel rod idea sounds better. I've always cleaned my M1A (and now my M1 as well) by putting the tip with patch into the action, running the rod down the barrel, screwing the rod onto the tip and then pulling it all back out of the barrel. This does a couple of things for me. First I don't push all that crap I'm trying to clean out fo the barrel down into the chamber and receiver. Second, pulling on a rod keeps it pretty straight vs. pushing on a rod. Pushing on a rod makes it flex/warp and contact the rifling. Also, I've never used "jags". I always use the slotted tips and thread the patch through the slot. Your patch may have been too long and the trailing edges wedged between the rifling and the tip/jag to wedge that into the barrel.

 

[Old Sarge]

Try screwing the rod back on the plastic tip stuck in the bore and try gently turning the rod while slowly withdrawing it. Otherwise you will need a wooden dowel to carefuly drive it to the chamber end of the barrel. How far down is it stuck?

 

[The Brit]

Try screwing the rod back on the plastic tip stuck in the bore and try gently turning the rod while slowly withdrawing it. Otherwise you will need a wooden dowel to carefuly drive it to the chamber end of the barrel. How far down is it stuck?

Thanks, guys.

It's probably stuck.... maybe 3-4 inches into the barrel from the muzzle end.

I think the plastic threads on the do-da are stripped, as I tried to 're-screw' the rod back onto the do-da with the intent of turning it while I withdrew it.... but there's no feeling that any threads are 'biting'.

So, it looks like Plan-B is a wood dowel driven from the muzzle to the breach, possible with the aid of a plastic mallet. Then disassemble the gas unit to look for blockages/bits of plastic.

In the future, I'll run the rod through the gun and assemble the do-da/patch in the breach and pull outwards towards the muzzle - thanks for that tip.

 

[9th]

In the future, I'll run the rod through the gun and assemble the do-da/patch in the breach and pull outwards towards the muzzle - thanks for that tip.

Get some BRASS do dads!GI6

Much more "cajones " than plastic chigadero's!!GI7

Ever try Otis??

www.otisgun.com

I like mine alot!! for ALL my firearms!!GI7
( but that's just my opinion!)

 

[graystoke3]

FWIW --- If all else fails call around to your local welding supply dealers and find one that has uncoated brass or bronze brazing or gas welding rods ,they come in I believe 30 in. lengths and different standard diameters. . Try to find a 7/32 in. I have purchased those and made .22 cleaning rods out of them, and on more occasions than I care to mention I have used them to remove bore obstructions. They are reasonably tough and won`t hurt your barrel.

 

[Lionseye]

Having this problem once a long while back myself, I can tell you the wooden dowel won't work.
The problem is a wooden dowel that is thin enough and the right size to fit into the barrel to push on the plugged patch is not strong enough for the push needed and will snap like a twig.


What you need is a good quality rod and bore guide to push that plugged patch out.
You can invest in a Dewey nylon coated which is high quality or go the little bit cheaper route and get a good Dewey brass rod and make a bore guide out of something or buy one too.

The sectional rods, even though compact to store, are terrorists looking to kill your barrel and crown.
The best system for compact and general cleaning I've found is the OTIS, but it still leaves out that rare time a patch gets stuck, where that rod is needed.
Soaking the patch with more Hoppe's cleaner/oil till it's all wet will also help unstick it and soften it for the trip down the barrel.

I use OTIS exclusively now, but still keep a Dewey brass rod and guide in my case for those unseen times.GI8


http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=5644&title=%22LOOP%22+RIFLE+%26+PISTOL+ROD

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=5641&title=COATED+RODS

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/ns/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=81&title=M14%2fM1A+BORE+GUIDE

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=22284&title=DELUXE+LAW+ENFORCEMENT+CLEANING+SYSTEM

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=21109&title=TACTICAL+GUN+CLEANING+SYSTEM

 

[drx]

Easy, just shoot it out. GI3 I kid, I kid...as the others have said, I've had success re-threading the patch holder with the cleaning rod when I've accidentally unthreaded it in the barrel. Other than that I don't see why a dowel from the muzzle end wouldn't work, just like you've done with bolt rifles.

 

[Visigoth9]

Do not use gasoline and matches

 

[ConRich]

+1 for the Otis Cleaning System. So after you find a 1/4" hardwood dowel to drive out the do-da I'd look into the Otis kit. I have the "Otis 750 Tactical Cleaning System", it's good for .22cal up to 10 gauge shotgun. HTH

Rich

 

[pantera84]

I used a hard wood dowel once to remove a stuck bullet from a rifle. It should move the "do-da" out I would think.

 

[Lethal_Addict]

Bye a new rifle and sell that one on CALGUNS... They never shoot anyway. THE STATE FORBIDS IT! haaaaaaa!

 

[The Brit]

Bye a new rifle and sell that one on CALGUNS... They never shoot anyway. THE STATE FORBIDS IT! haaaaaaa!

Now that is just plain sick..... (more or less true, but sick) GI6

 

[jkh62]

You can try a primed case. Chamber it,aim in a safe direction and it should come out. Compressed air might work also.
I used a primed case on a gun at the range and it worked fine. I do not think the primer has enough impulse to hurt anything.

 

[JeffMan]

WOW! I never though about compressed air. That might be just the ticket. I used to work as an auto tech. and I used to blow things out all the time.

Good thinking jkh62's.

Besides that, the good news is that it’s just plastic along with a patch. You'd be a lot worse off with a brass or steel piece down the bore.

I'd go with a short wood dowel from the chamber end and use a small hammer to tap it forward. Pushing it towards the chamber is how it got stuck so the other way may remove it with ease. Or you could use some solvent to soften the plastic - something that wont hurt the chrome barrel. Perhaps brake clean as it devours plastic fairly quickly or even brake fluid.

Good luck and god speed. I hate having a rifle out of commission.

Jeff

 

[jkh62]

If you do try the primed case be aware that a primer packs a pretty good punch for it's size. I use to shoot "plastic" bullets in primed pistol brass. The first time I tried it didn't think it was going to be very powerful. I loaded up some cases and went out in the garage. There was my wifes rubber maid (new) trash can. I wanted to see if it would dent it. It went right through one side and dented the opposite side. Man was I surprised. I turned it around and went in the house. I should have waited for a cat.
Oops,sorry honey. Primed cases have enough force to drive bullets into the barrel. If you have a compressor I would try air first but I bet a primed case will launch it.

 

[wayne in boca]

Go to the black powder section of the gun shop and get a patch worm.It's like a cork screw,designed to remove errant patches from rifle bores.Should remove patch and do-da.Lots of luck.

 

[wellthought]

Let cleaning chemicals work their magic

I use a cleaning instrument called "patchworm." I clean my M1A from the chamber end through to the muzzle end. There is no scratching and no worry about damage to the barrel of any kind.

Try using the patchworm and let the cleaning chemicals do the work. I use two "all caliber" patches that provide an extremely tight fit inside the barrel and muscle it through. This method gets into those dirty lands and grooves and really gets my barrel clean.

http://www.patchworm.com/patchworm.html