Stuck patch/cable...I screwed up

[3blade]

Ever have one of those days where nothing goes right?

Was cleaning my Winchester M88 this morning, using the Otis cable/pull through system. All clean, took the bore guide out and gonna run one last dry patch through to make sure the chamber and throat is clean. I don't know if I used the wrong size or doubled up the patch, but it gave me a little resistance at the start, and my mind was admittedly elsewhere so I did the stupidest thing possible. I gave it a real hard tug. Oh...****.

Tried pushing it back out with the cable, nope. Tried getting a hook in it from the chamber, nope. Poured a bunch of CLP down the barrel and let it sit for a few hours, nope. Tried hemostats from the chamber, nope just ripped a few threads off. Tried a small wooden dowel, nope, the one that fits down the barrel with the cable taking up space is too small to hammer on.

Short of a trip to a gunsmith and the usual hydraulic method, any ideas? Or gunsmith recommendations in the morinville/st albert/north Edmonton region?

[Full Curl Earl]

We do a couple of Otis cable removals a year, it's not uncommon unfortunately. We use a perfectly fitted brass rod and oil as a lube and tap it out. Usually requires holding your longue just right. I am a believer that this is less harmful than the hydraulic form, but not everyone agrees.

[teledogs]

Usually the Otis cable can be removed by simply turning or twisting the cable so it unscews from the jag and then u can use a proper sized push rod to remove the jag.
Hope this helps. Good luck

[propliner]

Yes, used a brass rod tapped smartly with a small hammer. I found the perfect rod at Can Tire.

[260 Rem]

A bit of tightly wrapped electrical tape around a less well fitting rod might keep it centered away from the bore ...

[Pathfinder76]

Call Rod Hendrickson.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Full Curl Earl

I am a believer that this is less harmful than the hydraulic form, but not everyone agrees.

What are your thoughts behind this?

[double gun]

I would try every possible method before using the hydraulic method myself.

[Pathfinder76]

Why is that?

[Full Curl Earl]

Ive been unable to find a true way of measuring the actual force exerted on the barrel internally. I have not slugged one following the hydraulic method but suspect you can likely note some swelling, even if minor. As opposed to a brass rod nick on a land requiring a light lapping. Also haven't had issues removing them our way, even after the client has mashed it pretty good, such as the one in the picture. I'm not claiming to be right here either, just know what has worked for me. Also, the article is about a bore snake, an Otis is a whole different monster, the pic attached below is an OTIS as the OP has stuck. By the way, I've never had to remove a cleaning rod before, but eventually everything happens once.

Originally Posted by chuck

What are your thoughts behind this?

[Pathfinder76]

Remind me to never use an Otis pull through. Yikes that looks ugly.

[elkhunter11]

Just curious, but does anyone know what kind of pressure the hydraulic method produces? Does it actually produce anywhere near the pressure that is produced when the rifle is fired?

[260 Rem]

Originally Posted by chuck

Remind me to never use an Otis pull through. Yikes that looks ugly.

I had never seen one, but agree I would not want one of those stuck. No chance I will ever try one now.

[3blade]

Originally Posted by Full Curl Earl

Ive been unable to find a true way of measuring the actual force exerted on the barrel internally. I have not slugged one following the hydraulic method but suspect you can likely note some swelling, even if minor. As opposed to a brass rod nick on a land requiring a light lapping. Also haven't had issues removing them our way, even after the client has mashed it pretty good, such as the one in the picture. I'm not claiming to be right here either, just know what has worked for me. Also, the article is about a bore snake, an Otis is a whole different monster, the pic attached below is an OTIS as the OP has stuck. By the way, I've never had to remove a cleaning rod before, but eventually everything happens once.

Holy smokes....how could that even happen?? no, I don't have it that stuck. It's 100% just a patch that jammed in the throat. Should be easy for someone with the right tools, either brass or hydraulic.

Also, it's pretty much the only way to clean an 88, unfortunately. Works fine when the idiot I mean operator does his part

[BigJon]

Originally Posted by 3blade

Holy smokes....how could that even happen?? no, I don't have it that stuck. It's 100% just a patch that jammed in the throat. Should be easy for someone with the right tools, either brass or hydraulic.

Also, it's pretty much the only way to clean an 88, unfortunately. Works fine when the idiot I mean operator does his part

Brass muzzle guide and clean from the muzzle end.

Better yet, get the bore cleaned to bare steel and apply dyna bore coat and going forward keep anything but bullets out of the bore 'til you see a good reason to get in there with a cleaning device.