It was a strange day at the range for two grizzled veteran shooters and gunsmakers. I started off at 50 yards with a .45 flintlock rifle my dad built in the 70s but never finished. I finished it a couple of years ago. I put two in the 10 and one in the 9 ring and told my buddy to shoot his newly built .54 flintlock. He got one shot off and then had several pan flashes when we checked the ramrod depth and yes, he dryballed it. We couldn't get it out or get enough powder into the touch hole to shoot it out so he packed it up and said he'd debreech it at home. Next up was me with my .36 flintlock I wanted to try at 100 yards because it shot great at 50 last outing. I was ramming the ball and the ramrod stuck tight halfway down. I used the wrong ramrod, the .45 rod from my dad's gun and the jag jammed on the patch wedging it tight. Three of us could not budge this rod and I couldn't keep shooting my dad's gun which has a longer barrel since that ramrod was stuck tight in my gun. So my shooting was done. That left the newbie shooting his .54 Renegade and he probably shot 15 rounds putting us to shame.
At home, I took the barrel out, clamped it in a vise, and gave a hefty pull on the rod, and it came out easily. I then pulled the ball and dumped the charge so all is good.
At home, I took the barrel out, clamped it in a vise, and gave a hefty pull on the rod, and it came out easily. I then pulled the ball and dumped the charge so all is good.
