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10/20/2007 9:40:37 PM EDT
I was cleaning my AR with the otis cleaning kit. I accidentally used a .308 patch instead of a smaller one. It got stuck about an inch inside the barrel. I couldn't even dislodge the flexible cleaning rod.

My friend was able to pull the rod free, but the patch broke free and remained lodged in the barrel. I've tried everything I can think of to dislodge it: I added additional lube to see if that would help, tried using a rod with a brass tip to push it through, even tried to get some tweezers down to pull it out thread by thread if I could, but I couldn't manage to manipulate it into position. I'm really at a loss for how I can get the patch out without damaging the barrel. I'm worried I may have already done so as is.

Any (real) suggestions for me? Your help is appreciated...and this is definitely a lesson learned the hard way!

Thanks...
10/20/2007 11:50:36 PM EDT
[#1]
Try taking a coat hangar and "Carefully" try and push it through and try grabbing it with hangar.
10/21/2007 12:11:20 AM EDT
[#2]
I learned my lesson from Mommy Dearest, and I have "no wire hangers...EVER!!!"


I tried that same concept with a shotgun cleaning rod with a thin brass otis pick attachment at the end. The patch bent the pick.
10/21/2007 1:33:09 AM EDT
[#3]
get one of those brass rods from Home Depot and try hammering it out gently like doing it with a stuck case... should fall off easily with the lube and all soaking it...
10/21/2007 12:34:31 PM EDT
[#4]
I'll give that a try. You say Home Depot sells brass rods?

I thought the extra lube would help loosen it as well. That's what I get for thinking!

Now the $64,000 question: Do I attempt to hammer it farther down into the barrel so it falls out the muzzle end, or do I try to attempt it from the muzzle, to make it fall out the breach? It's stuck about an inch inside the breach. I am concerned about damaging the crown, but I don't want to worsen the situation by pushing it farther into the barrel...
10/21/2007 5:50:41 PM EDT
[#5]
use a wood dowel
10/22/2007 5:26:56 AM EDT
[#6]
I got a stuck patch out of a M1A buy bouncing the dewy rod off the floor while holding the rifle.

It worked.
10/22/2007 9:13:30 AM EDT
[#7]

Quoted:
I'll give that a try. You say Home Depot sells brass rods?

I thought the extra lube would help loosen it as well. That's what I get for thinking!

Now the $64,000 question: Do I attempt to hammer it farther down into the barrel so it falls out the muzzle end, or do I try to attempt it from the muzzle, to make it fall out the breach? It's stuck about an inch inside the breach. I am concerned about damaging the crown, but I don't want to worsen the situation by pushing it farther into the barrel...


i bought mine at home depot for about 7 bucks and has served me very welllllllll.....
just back out the way u came in .... push rod from crown to chamber with slow but steady taps of a mallet or hammer.... the brass will not damage your crown....good luck...
10/22/2007 12:54:55 PM EDT
[#8]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I'll give that a try. You say Home Depot sells brass rods?

I thought the extra lube would help loosen it as well. That's what I get for thinking!

Now the $64,000 question: Do I attempt to hammer it farther down into the barrel so it falls out the muzzle end, or do I try to attempt it from the muzzle, to make it fall out the breach? It's stuck about an inch inside the breach. I am concerned about damaging the crown, but I don't want to worsen the situation by pushing it farther into the barrel...


i bought mine at home depot for about 7 bucks and has served me very welllllllll.....
just back out the way u came in .... push rod from crown to chamber with slow but steady taps of a mallet or hammer.... the brass will not damage your crown....good luck...



Thanks for the advice, and it leads me to another question:

Last time I checked Home Depot didn't have a sporting goods section nor a gun counter, so what department did you get the rod in, and what was its intended use?
10/22/2007 2:12:52 PM EDT
[#9]
Ask when you get there.
10/22/2007 9:29:06 PM EDT
[#10]
A brass rod will work, but the wooden dowel will probably be less expensive.
10/23/2007 3:41:48 PM EDT
[#11]
another vote for the wooden dowel.  that how i got my otis patch out when it happened to me.
10/23/2007 5:58:27 PM EDT
[#12]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Quoted:
I'll give that a try. You say Home Depot sells brass rods?

I thought the extra lube would help loosen it as well. That's what I get for thinking!

Now the $64,000 question: Do I attempt to hammer it farther down into the barrel so it falls out the muzzle end, or do I try to attempt it from the muzzle, to make it fall out the breach? It's stuck about an inch inside the breach. I am concerned about damaging the crown, but I don't want to worsen the situation by pushing it farther into the barrel...


i bought mine at home depot for about 7 bucks and has served me very welllllllll.....
just back out the way u came in .... push rod from crown to chamber with slow but steady taps of a mallet or hammer.... the brass will not damage your crown....good luck...



Thanks for the advice, and it leads me to another question:

Last time I checked Home Depot didn't have a sporting goods section nor a gun counter, so what department did you get the rod in, and what was its intended use?


hardware, in the bulk metal section, you will see steel rod, brass rod, square stock, angle, etc.
10/24/2007 1:44:01 AM EDT
[#13]
Thanks for the input guys. I appreciate it and I'll let you know what works!
10/24/2007 4:52:27 PM EDT
[#14]
Use a WOODEN dowel rod, just hammer it out. I would hammer it out the end its closest to.
10/25/2007 4:39:38 PM EDT
[#15]
Get that thing out yet?
10/25/2007 7:11:55 PM EDT
[#16]
I just got to the store to buy the dowels this afternoon. When I get home from work tonight, it's the first thing I'm going to do!

I'll let you know how it goes...
10/26/2007 1:12:32 AM EDT
[#17]
Picked up a 3/16" wooden dowel, fed it into the muzzle end, gave it a couple of taps with a hammer and the patch shot right out.

Thanks for the advice and input guys!

ETA: Oh, and the dowel was $.49 at Michael's Crafts store.
10/26/2007 5:30:15 PM EDT
[#18]
Thats where i got mine.  My first purchase ever at Micheals
10/26/2007 8:32:51 PM EDT
[#19]
Thanks again for the advice. I will NEVER make that mistake again...but if I do, I have the dowel to fix it.

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