“Dry ball”

ceb427 · Nov 7, 2024

Well ladies and gentlemen I’ve done it for the very first time I dry balled my .50 Hawken after someone asked me a question at the range I guess I’m going to take out the nipple and jam as much powder as I can in there and try and blow it out as I’ve never dealt with this before

Grenadier1758 · Nov 7, 2024

That's the easiest for most of us. Only takes about 5 grains of powder to remove the ball. Get it done quickly or we will be filling about 20 pages of methods that may or may not work or removing a dry ball.

You've joined the club that most of us belong to.

wiscoaster · Nov 7, 2024

The grease gun method works pretty well with percussion guns. Don't ask me how I know.

ceb427 · Nov 7, 2024

Ok guys I got it out first time it pushed the ball half way up the barrel I was able to funnel some more powder in the hole and reseat the ball and blow it out was a lot less horrible than i anticipated whole process took maybe 20-25 min

kh54 · Nov 7, 2024

Congratulations on both achievements!

stubshaft · Nov 7, 2024

Just have to remember that the NEXT time it happens. : )

French Colonial · Nov 8, 2024

ceb427 said:
Ok guys I got it out first time it pushed the ball half way up the barrel I was able to funnel some more powder in the hole and reseat the ball and blow it out was a lot less horrible than i anticipated whole process took maybe 20-25 min

I am with Grenadier...Thank god you posted you got it out! Or we would be reading posts about this for a week.

Howard Pippin · Nov 8, 2024

Really, since I'm long time retired, I enjoy reading all the posts that would have come up if this would have ran on. Of course we've seen all the messages I suppose there are but it's better than reading some of the stuff that's in the papers, sometimes sometimes somebody brings up something new.

LME · Nov 8, 2024

ceb427 said:
Well ladies and gentlemen I’ve done it for the very first time I dry balled my .50 Hawken after someone asked me a question at the range I guess I’m going to take out the nipple and jam as much powder as I can in there and try and blow it out as I’ve never dealt with this before

You are not the first nor the last one to dry ball a M.L.! I have yet to do it but I did break off a jag once. I put a little priming powder through the the vent hole and shot it out. I was taken back at how little powder it took? Good luck!

Brokennock · Nov 8, 2024

Grenadier1758 said:
That's the easiest for most of us. Only takes about 5 grains of powder to remove the ball. Get it done quickly or we will be filling about 20 pages of methods that may or may not work or removing a dry ball.

You've joined the club that most of us belong to.

ceb427 said:
Ok guys I got it out first time it pushed the ball half way up the barrel I was able to funnel some more powder in the hole and reseat the ball and blow it out was a lot less horrible than i anticipated whole process took maybe 20-25 min

French Colonial said:
I am with Grenadier...Thank god you posted you got it out! Or we would be reading posts about this for a week.

Do you guys really think that the problem being solved,,, and it being posted as having been solved,,,, will stop the suggestions coming in, to include the anti-greasegun protesters?

Unless a Mod decided, "oh, problem solved, let's lock the thread," and does so, there will be incoming suggestions and retorts...
To include a thread resurrection in a couple years.

Brokennock · Nov 8, 2024

ceb427 said:
Ok guys I got it out first time it pushed the ball half way up the barrel I was able to funnel some more powder in the hole and reseat the ball and blow it out was a lot less horrible than i anticipated whole process took maybe 20-25 min

I am glad you got the situation taken care of.

45man · Nov 8, 2024

My friend in town told another friend he never dry balled, well the next time he came to shoot he did it twice and nobody was talking to him at the time. I have a good puller so it was easy to remove the balls. If you shoot a front stuffer, it is going to happen sooner or later.
I did it deer hunting once!

maillemaker · Nov 8, 2024

A CO2 discharger like this is a handy tool to keep in your range bag:

https://logcabinshop.com/oc30/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=24787

If you buy one that takes 12oz or 16 oz co2 bottles get the bigger ones.

Snooterpup · Nov 8, 2024

ceb427 said:
Well ladies and gentlemen I’ve done it for the very first time I dry balled my .50 Hawken after someone asked me a question at the range I guess I’m going to take out the nipple and jam as much powder as I can in there and try and blow it out as I’ve never dealt with this before

Welcome to the non-exclusive club! Those really pointy collared ball extractors from Track O’ das Woof work very well. Do not use anything that is not collared to your correct caliber size and always use a strong non-wood range rod to remove a dry or stuck ball. Removing the nipple and putting powder in the flash channel and shooting it out is always the best first try.

Okie Hog · Nov 8, 2024

ceb427 said:
guys I got it out first time it pushed the ball half way up the barrel I was able to funnel some more powder in the hole and reseat the ball and blow it out

i,m glad it worked.

Boomerang · Nov 8, 2024

The best way to get one out is to take the breech plug and nipple out, poor in some powder, pump in some grease, screw in your ball puller and shoot it out with a co2 dispenser!
I thought everyone knew that!

EC121 · Nov 8, 2024

Order a steel rod and some of those tapered pullers from Track of the Wolf. They have deeper, tapered threads and a centering bushing to get a better grip. Sooner or later you will pull the end off of a wooden rod.

reddogge · Nov 8, 2024

FlinterNick said:
I would not do this, nor would i use compressed air or a CO2 charger… if you do wear protective glasses at least.

I would send the barrel to Kibler, Hoyt or Rice before i did something silly like this.

I'm glad you got it out like thousands of others despite FlinterNick calling this method silly.

FlinterNick · Nov 8, 2024

reddogge said:
I'm glad you got it out like thousands of others despite FlinterNick calling this method silly.

It’s silly I’m not alone there dog

ceb427 · Nov 8, 2024

Thank you guys for all your help this is a great forum I’ve been shooting ML since I’m 15 and I’m now 27 very first time I did it there was a very young newbie with a 12 gauge pump and a colt 1911 45 I was teaching him how to hold and some range safety as well as we adjusted his rear sights on the 1911 I always keep tools like sight pushers in the truck as I do shoot a lot of modern stuff as well he was doing great and I got distracted during all this and well I can definitely see myself doing it quite a few more times I was very surprised how easy it was to remove it I will always use this method as long as it permits

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