Custom .45 ML Problems

[Buckrub]

Hi guys. Long time, no post. Life got in the way. I put a post at new members........

I have an issue with a custom .45 that Ken Ross so wonderfully put together for me years ago. It's on a Rem 700 ML action, with barrel, breech plug, etc., from Luke (?) at Arrowhead. I've tried to contact Ken but to no avail.

My issue is that it fired 4 shots at the range 2 weeks ago flawlessly, and accurately. I'm using 60g of Vitavoury Oy N120 powder, CCI 209 primer, Barnes ML Expander .40 cal bullet, blue sabot. I hunted this last week, all week, in Arkansas ML early season. Today I packed up to come home and tried to fire ML to unload it, and it popped two caps, never went off. First time ever for that. This load has fired flawlessly for years.

I took it apart, and pushed bullet and powder out the back, and cleaned it.......over and over. Looks shiny. Breech plug has no obstructions in the threads. But now, the breech plug will NOT screw in far enough to be able to seat the bolt. I've taken it apart, cleaned, and tried again, over and over. Nothing. It has a 3/8 socket on the plug, and I simply cannot tighten it enough to get it back together sufficiently to seat the bolt.

Never had this issue before.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Bill.

[hunter]

Did you clean the threads in the barrel to make sure nothing is keeping the breach plug from seating tight against the shoulder?
Maybe a kernel of powder or crud stuck there.

[jims]

I do not think Ken Ross has posted in 2 years or so. Unsure why.

[Buckrub]

I have cleaned it repeatedly. That was/is my thought also. But I can't see or feel anything. I admit I did not have a .45 stiff brush attachment, will get one soon. Maybe that's it.......but man, I can't imagine what could be in there after all that cleaning.

Worse, I can't imagine why it didn't go off...........twice......when I know it was loaded, same loads that shot well the week before.

[encore50a]

Harbor Freight sells a brush kit that has different size brushes of nylon, brass and stainless steel.   Its not expensive at all.  They also sell an extension if needed.
This brush will get into the barrel threads and remove crud and/or propellant.
You have to look in the automotive section for the brush kit.

[hunter]

Is the bolt nose still tight against the bolt body?
Does the bolt lock down, (without binding) without the breach plug installed?
Sometimes the bolt retention screw will get a flat spot on it and if headspaced to the flat spot and then the
screw is a quarter turn off can change the headspacing.

[Buckrub]

Oct 27, 2020 6:54:21 GMT -5 hunter said:

Is the bolt nose still tight against the bolt body?
Does the bolt lock down, (without binding) without the breach plug installed?
Sometimes the bolt retention screw will get a flat spot on it and if headspaced to the flat spot and then the
screw is a quarter turn off can change the headspacing.

The bolt works fine without the breech plug. I can take the bolt retention screw out totally if needed. The bolt itself, when removed, looks fine. I can't figure this out. I agree, it HAS to be something in the threads, but I've cleaned and cleaned. I have a brush on order and will stop at Harbor Freight today and look further. Thanks for that tip. But if it's NOT crud in the threads, I'm lost. Seems almost impossible to be happening.

Thanks!!!!!!

[BuckDoeHunter]

I would spray the breech plug barrel threads with some type of aerosol cleaner to blow the kernels out. Sometimes they stick in the grease on the threads and are a pain to remove.

Have you used a drill bit turned by hand to remove the carbon in the flash channel? That may be your issue with the no fire.

[Buckrub]

No to the drill bit. I can see daylight through the breech plug, just fine. But that IS a good idea. So is the aerosol cleaner.

Thanks to all suggestions!! I'll keep you posted. Got doc appt today, try it tomorrow.

[BuckDoeHunter]

Do you know what breech plug Ken used? That will tell you what size drill bit you will need to make sure the flash channel is completely cleaned of carbon soot.

[Buckrub]

I can see daylight through the breech plug. That is what floors me about the two misfires. But it's a 5/32 drill bit, but I didn't have one at camp. Today was a bad one. I'll get to it within next few days, and I'll use the drill bit. Probably (if I remember, LOL) be a good idea to put one in my .45 ML box. I appreciate the info, and assistance!!!!

[Buckrub]

I finally got it done.

Got a brush, worked on threads. Still wouldn't go far enough at first. Kept working, although dry patch was almost clean. Tightening plug was a bit harder than I'd like, it took some force to get it to the 'end'. Not sure I don't have some kind of minor thread issue, but it finally went all the way in and is ok now.

Drilled out breech plug best I could with 5/32 bit. Sorry for bad memory, but is the drill bit supposed to go all the way through? I can see daylight, but I could before, also. Some crud came out. I have to guess (??) that was the reason for the misfire. Should have cleaned it better between shooting at range the week before, and deer season I guess. It looked clean but of course, that's no valid indication.

Thanks to all for the help!

Bill

[hunter]

If I understood your question correctly, no the drill bit stops just shy of the vent liner. I usually use a torch tip cleaner to clean out the ventliner.