Muzzleloader - unloading a non lead sabot?

[ProLibertate]

I've got it unstuck. Yay!

So many people have recommended shooting it out by putting 3F or 4F in the nipple hole that I don't doubt that would have worked. However, only having 2F this wasn't an immediate option for me.

Being an amateur machinist I was able to quickly come up with an extractor solution using a cobalt SpeedOut and a 36" long 1/4" hex drive extension. I did have to thin the extension down to ~.495" and polish it so it'd fit the barrel bore without risk of scoring. Even after pulling the bullet and ejecting the sabot with CO2 there was still a hard plug of Pyrodex that wouldn't eject. I wasn't shooting with plugs, it went in as powder, so who knows what it found in the bottom of the bore to react with and come out like that. I wound up having to push it back down the bore and breaking it up with a patch worm. I took a look down the bore and everything looks great now, no blockages, pitting, or rust.

[MARKFP]

Good job! I think you can now qualify as an apprentice machinist and possible a beginning gunsmith.

[Wheellock]

Glad you got it out.

[FeuerFrei]

I've got it unstuck. Yay!

So many people have recommended shooting it out by putting 3F or 4F in the nipple hole that I don't doubt that would have worked. However, only having 2F this wasn't an immediate option for me.

Being an amateur machinist I was able to quickly come up with an extractor solution using a cobalt SpeedOut and a 36" long 1/4" hex drive extension. I did have to thin the extension down to ~.495" and polish it so it'd fit the barrel bore without risk of scoring. Even after pulling the bullet and ejecting the sabot with CO2 there was still a hard plug of Pyrodex that wouldn't eject. I wasn't shooting with plugs, it went in as powder, so who knows what it found in the bottom of the bore to react with and come out like that. I wound up having to push it back down the bore and breaking it up with a patch worm. I took a look down the bore and everything looks great now, no blockages, pitting, or rust.

Regarding real black powder;
FF to FFF is just a matter of grinding it to a finer consistency. If you need a DIY field expedient load you can grind a load's worth using 2 wooden spoons or equivalent to make it finer. You don't need much anyway and there's more wiggle room than you'd think when stoking a BP shooter. I never managed to blow my Hawken 50 up.

Sadly Pyrodex doesn't work this way. Try some REAL bp and discover the versatility.

*When mountain men/explorers took their muskets to work they brought one grade of powder and ground up what they needed for pan use. It is low tech and easy. Common sense safety rules apply.