So how bad did I goof?

Long story short, I was using a wooden dowel to push a patch through my 397 and about halfway down I accidentally broke it off. It was a clean flat snap so I just used the rest to continue until I managed to do it again. The patch was a little snug but not tight so I used the other piece to continue pushing through until I realized the two ends at one of the breaks were just separating and spreading out inside the barrel, and then it broke again flush with the muzzle.

Is there a way to get the wood out of there? I should have listened to my doubts about using a 0.125" piece of wood but it was the best way at the time to keep the rifling nice. There was a tiny amount of Hoppe's #9 bore cleaner on the patch, thinking I'd be able to send a couple dry ones through and oil right after it so hopefully it's not harming the brass

Ouch!

Brassbarrel on 397 rarely needs to be cleaned.

Also, no need for Hoppes # anything.

Okay how to get the dowel out.  You could try to glue the rest of the dowel to the flush piece...

My way would be to use a "16th inch drill" a not very deep pilot hole into the end of the stuck dowel get a matching thin wood screw to pull it back out of the muzzle.  You don't want a too large screw or it will expand the dowel and really get it STUCK!

Use a corded patch puller and send it from the breech to the muzzle.  With a muzzle protector/guard is best.

BEST wishes on a clean wood dowel recovery.

shootski

Did you try to shoot it out?  Or maybe make a fitting to blow it out with a compressor.

RBrown

I'd get a solid cleaning rod for a .17 rimfire and push it out with that. Choke up on it and keep feeding it in slowly. Once it's out, use some weed trimmer line to make a pull cord to pull patches through. Take a hot knife and make a blob on one end of it and thread the patch down onto it and pull it through.

from 1 to 10 maybe a 15

you well have to work from the breech end and hope for a good outcome

pushing more then like won't work but a slow tapping might

will the barrel be damaged ????? will you get it out ?????  will you need a new barrel and tube ???? will you end up with a wall hanger, maybe

You might be able to use a piece of 1/8" aluminum welding rod to tap it out, but you'll have to take things apart enough so you can get the bolt out.

Ordinarily I wouldn't clean it but I ran a patch out of curiosity and it came out pretty blue since it's sat for a while neglected. The valve was also replaced a few years ago because it corroded inside and wouldn't hold air. I tried shooting it out a few times and then used a piece of steel rod about the same diameter pushing from the breech end and no luck, seemed like it just expanded that end of the dowel. Guess the glue idea will be next on the to-do list. Thanks for the replies

Might try a heat gun on the obstructed portion of barrel to expand it, and try tapping it out again..

About that steel rod (cringe), I'd try a wrap of tape around the end to keep from gouging the softer metal of the bore.

Used to be bronze (my 312 is)

Got it by tapping the rod a little more, one of the pieces had actually slid down alongside the other doubling up in the bore. Whew, thought it was a goner

well see it's better to be lucky then good or something like that glad it worked out for you

I did see it would from my vantage point but you have to promise no more wooden dowels

if you have to clean something use the right tools

take care

Or at least promise not to press in a broken piece with another. Funny thing is they didn't break from being pushed in wrong but from trying to re position the rifle in my lap