Wood Rod for Bullet in Rifling with Hornady OAL Tool?

[josebd]

When using the Hornady cartridge, overall length tool, sometimes the bullet will get stuck in the chamber, I have used a cleaning rod just to tap out the bullet, can I use like a 3/16 wooden rod. Instead, it’s not stuck in there, it just needs a light tap.

 

[MislMan]

Yes .. a wooden dowel/rod is ok for just light taps. Do not strike the rod with any form of tool.

 

[Forum Boss]

Try rotating the rifle muzzle UP 90 deg, then lifting the rifle up a couple inches and tapping the buttstock (down vertically) on bench or table.

That usually dislodges the bullet instantly. Also I recommend NOT to push hard on the rod on the Hornady device. Insert gently, release (in case the bullet is not aligned), then push gently again to touch the rifling. Finally give it 2-3 light taps.

With that method I get consistent measurements to 0.0015" three out of four tries.

After I've done the muzzle up routine, followed by buttstock drop-taps, I've never had to use a rod to dislodge the bullet.

 

[Big Mc]

When using the Hornady cartridge, overall length tool, sometimes the bullet will get stuck in the chamber, I have used a cleaning rod just to tap out the bullet, can I use like a 3/16 wooden rod. Instead, it’s not stuck in there, it just needs a light tap.

That Hornaday tool has a learning curve . Tommy Mc

 

[JFrank]

I just lightly push the bullet in until it stops, if I have to tap the bullet out with a dowel then oh well. no big deal and no maybe’s or subjective to interpretations to the results.

 

[NorCalMikie]

You can also use a small brass rod that fits the barrel. "Drop it" down the barrel and the bullet WILL come out.

 

[biggun2869]

Make sure the dowel is smaller than the bore by a good amount. A friend got one (dowel) stuck and as far as I know never did get it out.

 

[Bill K]

The wood towel will work just fine and has much less chance of harming the bore or crown, then using a metal rod does or can.

 

[Bill Norris]

Normally dropping a smaller caliber bullet down the bore will knock it out. Send it base first just to make sure the two bullet points don't try to wedge.

 

[akajun]

Air compressor with a rubber tipped blow nozzle
FYI that bullet will fly

 

[ebb]

Any steel coated rod or stainless rod if you lower into the bore till it touches the bullet then lift up about 6 or 8 inches and drop the rod. Use a rod with male threads on the end, sometimes the female threaded rod will get the threads damaged on the nose of the bullet.

 

[K22]

You can also use a small brass rod that fits the barrel. "Drop it" down the barrel and the bullet WILL come out.

Although I use a Frankfort Arsenal type tool, a 3" long piece of brass rod works 100% of the time for me to free a bullet by just dropping the rod it down the muzzle.

I cut mine from an old 22 cleaning rod, polished it to remove any burrs. Works like a charm.

 

[josebd]

Any steel coated rod or stainless rod if you lower into the bore till it touches the bullet then lift up about 6 or 8 inches and drop the rod. Use a rod with male threads on the end, sometimes the female threaded rod will get the threads damaged on the nose of the bullet.

It’s not jammed into the lands,just sometimes stays in the lands,especially Sierra bulletshornady bullets won’t do it

 

[ebb]

I understand, exactly what you are talking about, it has happened to me sometimes checking if bullet is touching land for a OAL, sometimes when I like a long load that jams lands and I have to remove a loaded round that is stuck. I put my normal cleaning rod in the bore and push it in till it touches the stuck bullet nose. Lean the rifle on the bench with muzzle up then lift rod slightly and drop the rod from 6 7 8 inches and gravity will gently tap the bullet out as the rod falls.

 

[M-61]

I’ve been using it for years. I just remove whatever I have on a cleaning rod and the gentleness of a push and out it comes.
You must be getting an impressive shove on that cable to get that much into the lands.
90% of the time I need it as the bullet gets yanked out of there case.
I never see this as a problem. Part of trying to get an accurate measurement which with that tool means 5 times and take average. Don’t think I ever got the same reading twice. More importantly the targets look just fine.
I guess the lead angle matters to how hard the bullet gets a start into the rifling. A real slow slope would easier to get it jammed with the tool.

 

[divingin]

My buddy lightly case lubes the bullet ogive before using the Hornady tool. He says that, plus snapping the bolt open (to the primary extraction cam), works for him. Personally, I never remember to do that, so can't say if it works or not.

 

[Tesoro]

It helps to clean the bore beforehand. I use a small wood dowel and give the bullet some back pressure while simultaneously pushing the bullet forward with the hornady tool. You can feel a kiss vs jam easily. I will polish bullet with 000 3m pad for jam so I can mike the width of the rifling marks. ( using optivisor!) as mentioned takes 5x to get a good average. Won't get stuck bullets.

 

[WSnyder]

If the bullet hangs up I just turn the rifle up pointing at the ceiling and wiggle/jiggle the end of the tool rapidly side to side as I slide the tool out and the bullet generally comes right out. If it doesn’t I repeat. It usually comes out the first try.

 

[Zeke 225]

Do the same thing Tesoro does been doing his method for long time.

 

[markT]

Air compressor with a rubber tipped blow nozzle
FYI that bullet will fly

Maybe a pressure regulator?? And an OSHA Compliant tip...