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ballard resurrection (Read 595 times)

cheatin_charlie Senior Forum Member Online Posts: 445 Location: ohio Joined: Jan 10^th, 2009	ballard resurrection Oct 28^th, 2026 at 3:47pm	Print Post
	I have some questions for you Ballard fans. I bought a rusted Ballard # 3 rifle that is in need of TLC. All the screws were rusted in place and the ones that did not have the heads broke off would not come out with Kroil and heat. But fortunately I got the screws out but need the size of the screws in lever and breech block so I can make new ones. I had to drill them all out and got lucky and did not mess anything up. Second question the extractor is rusted in place in the action so the question is can I remove the barrel with extractor in place or do I need to keep working until I can get it out? Third question is stock bolt is rusted in place I cannot remove the butt stock. Anyone have any suggestion? My inclination is to cut the bolt head off so stock will slide off and then I can get to the threads in the action to get the bolt to unscrew. I am happy as to where I am now but still have a way to go I do not want to mess anything up. I am just trying to resurrect a wall hanger rifle into a functioning rifle. Charlie


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bobw Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2243 Joined: Mar 19^th, 2013	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #1 - Oct 28^th, 2026 at 5:11pm	Print Post
	cheatin_charlie wrote on Oct 28^th, 2026 at 3:47pm: I have some questions for you Ballard fans. I bought a rusted Ballard # 3 rifle that is in need of TLC. All the screws were rusted in place and the ones that did not have the heads broke off would not come out with Kroil and heat. But fortunately I got the screws out but need the size of the screws in lever and breech block so I can make new ones. I had to drill them all out and got lucky and did not mess anything up. Second question the extractor is rusted in place in the action so the question is can I remove the barrel with extractor in place or do I need to keep working until I can get it out? Third question is stock bolt is rusted in place I cannot remove the butt stock. Anyone have any suggestion? My inclination is to cut the bolt head off so stock will slide off and then I can get to the threads in the action to get the bolt to unscrew. I am happy as to where I am now but still have a way to go I do not want to mess anything up. I am just trying to resurrect a wall hanger rifle into a functioning rifle. Charlie ***** Someone will be along with screw sizes but if you do a search there are threads on the sizes or sources to purchase. The extractor needs to be clear of the barrel slot in order to remove the barrel. As long as it is clear, even if still in the action, the barrel can be removed. I’m just not certain it is clear at the bottom when in the extracted position, never tried it. Cutting the head off the stock bolt may be the easiest thing to do in the long run. Then make a new screw. Bob


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830singleshot Oldtimer Offline Posts: 515 Location: Texas Joined: Feb 11^th, 2007	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #2 - Oct 28^th, 2026 at 5:47pm	Print Post
	With rifle open and the forend off, I would introduce kriol below the barrel towards the extractor and the lever pivot screw. Every few days try moving the lever again till you get it moving but don't force anything. Use a hairdryer and get the action uncomfortable to hold and apply more kriol around the extractor. Once you get the extractor moving drop the block, lever and extractor out. Use the same procedure and put kriol inside the action inside the tang. Use the hairdryer and more kriol every few days. Use a bit that fits the stock bolt and a hammer impact tool to loosen the stock bolt. If it takes a month, that's what it takes but don't force anything. Good luck

	J. Scott McCash&&New Braunfels, TX&&830-237-2376&&jsmccash@yahoo.com
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KensBullard Junior Member Offline Posts: 89 Location: Woodland Wa Joined: Dec 17^th, 2024	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #3 - Oct 29^th, 2026 at 9:26am	Print Post
	Charlie seach ballard screws 1 year back and you will find a post of mine about Ballard screws it has all you want in it ken


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cheatin_charlie Senior Forum Member Online Posts: 445 Location: ohio Joined: Jan 10^th, 2009	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #4 - Oct 29^th, 2026 at 12:03pm	Print Post
	Thanks for all the replies. Charlie


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cheatin_charlie Senior Forum Member Online Posts: 445 Location: ohio Joined: Jan 10^th, 2009	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #5 - Oct 29^th, 2026 at 3:57pm	Print Post
	Good news by using an impact driver I got the butt stock bolt out and removed the wood. Still working on extractor and then onto removing the barrel and getting a liner put in it. charlie


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830singleshot Oldtimer Offline Posts: 515 Location: Texas Joined: Feb 11^th, 2007	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #6 - Oct 29^th, 2026 at 4:37pm	Print Post
	Congratulations on the butt stock removal. I just had another thought. Is your extractor a 1 piece or 2 piece? If it's a 2 piece, it only matters to remove the pieces from the lever screw to the part that is parallel to the bore. If it's the parallel to the bore piece that's froze up, that won't stop the barrel from being removed. The other part will jam everything up. Just my thought for the day. Good luck.

	J. Scott McCash&&New Braunfels, TX&&830-237-2376&&jsmccash@yahoo.com
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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18389 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #7 - Oct 29^th, 2026 at 5:52pm	Print Post
	Had what sounds like a similar #3 I bought at a local pawn shop for $275. The extractor was rusted in place, so I pulled the barrel and then started drilling the extractor out starting with a small bit and gradually going larger. I did this with a hand drill as I had no option to drill down on the barrel in my drill press. By the time I got close to stopping the bit caught and pulled the extractor back as it caught. I think the Kroil and heat from drilling finally made it let go.

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TomKlinger Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 303 Location: Central Florida Joined: Feb 17^th, 2019	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #8 - Oct 29^th, 2026 at 6:07pm	Print Post
	Really?it needs a liner?? The way is sounds the bore should be pristine!😂😂😂😂😁 Tom Klinger


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cheatin_charlie Senior Forum Member Online Posts: 445 Location: ohio Joined: Jan 10^th, 2009	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #9 - Oct 30^th, 2026 at 5:29am	Print Post
	TomKlinger wrote on Oct 29^th, 2026 at 6:07pm: Really?it needs a liner?? The way is sounds the bore should be pristine!😂😂😂😂😁 Tom Klinger Ahhh sarcasm with my morning coffee no wonder it tasted a little bitter . Charlie


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Sure shot Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1242 Location: East central Iowa Joined: Jun 22^nd, 2020	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #10 - Oct 30^th, 2026 at 12:36pm	Print Post
	Now that you have the buttstock off,I'd put it in a bucket of penetrating oil and forget about it for a couple of weeks.


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18389 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #11 - Oct 30^th, 2026 at 1:23pm	Print Post
	Sure shot wrote on Oct 30^th, 2026 at 12:36pm: Now that you have the buttstock off,I'd put it in a bucket of penetrating oil and forget about it for a couple of weeks. I left my ugly #3 sitting in a 3 lb. coffee can of acetone/atf mix for a couple weeks, and it did nothing to loosen things up. I still had to drill the extractor out. And barely got the barrel off after the soaking. I used my 20" action wrench with a 3 ft. pipe over it to finally break the barrel loose! Even heat from my Mapp gas torch didn't help break the barrel loose!

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cheatin_charlie Senior Forum Member Online Posts: 445 Location: ohio Joined: Jan 10^th, 2009	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #12 - Oct 30^th, 2026 at 1:32pm	Print Post
	Thanks for the warning on removing the barrel. It will probably be a week or two till I get to it. I have to clean everything up and make new screws and work on some other things while the weather is still nice here in Ohio. One other thing is it worthwhile to try to get the piece that the stock bolt screws into removed or just leave it alone? Thanks Charlie


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18389 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: ballard resurrection Reply #13 - yesterday at 11:17am	Print Post
	cheatin_charlie wrote on Oct 30^th, 2026 at 1:32pm: Thanks for the warning on removing the barrel. It will probably be a week or two till I get to it. I have to clean everything up and make new screws and work on some other things while the weather is still nice here in Ohio. One other thing is it worthwhile to try to get the piece that the stock bolt screws into removed or just leave it alone? Thanks Charlie I never remove the tang on a Ballard unless there was some specific reason to. I've had a number of actions complete with tangs color cased and Al Springer never removes them either.

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