I'm a member of the dry ball club. I've used a ball puller or shot it out. What is your recommended method of removing said ball?
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I am not sure why trickling powder in and shooting it out is dangerous or any different than, I don't know, shooting it out if you had not dry balled?????
Everyone has done it. I’ve never shot the ball out — just use a ball puller and range rod. I DID buy a co2 thing, but haven’t used it
FlinterNick
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Refer to my previous comments
I see you're no fan of a CO2 discharger. Are there reasons why this device is not appropriate and what alternative would you recommend?
Good thinking on reseating the ball.
If you are the one that did the dry balling or loading, trickling powder under the nipple or through the touch hole is not dangerous. If the powder of a used gun that is loaded is unknown then it's time for the ball puller, CO2 discharger, grease gun or pull the breech plug. Might be a bit over cautious, but if the powder is smokeless, setting it off is dangerous.
FlinterNick
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Well, it’s not that it can’t work to remove a stuck ball, it’s just not every circumstance that involves a stuck ball, jag or swab is the same. Use of powder, or a CO2 charger may be the right option may not but there is certainly always an easier more efficient way.
I recently had someone send me a barrel with two stuck balls, accidental double load, the problem was there was still powder in the barrel, so the best and right decision was to unbreach the gun, dump the powder and tap out the balls… CO2, prime in the touch hole… probably not a good idea.
I’ve had people send me barrels with not only a stuck ball but also a stuck ramrod.
Not every situation is going to call for the use of a CO2 charger or dumping a small amount of powder down the vent.
Dry balling accidentally and using CO2 charger, probably not dangerous to the person but I’ve seen people make mistakes with those, where they didn’t have the gun secured and the stock got damaged, I’ve seen sights get bent somehow and under lugs break off again, probably from not being secured.
The best and easiest options are 1. Ball puller, 2. Remove the breech plug, that’s what the plug is threaded for..
My dangerous comment was more sarcasm to those who say removing teh breech plug is dangerous, because it’s not dangerous to remove the plug, it’s asinine to say it is. People that say that simply just don’t know how to do it correctly, it’s no more dangerous than using powder to remove a dry ball or CO2 to blast out a ball… that was my point.
Learning how to remove a breech plug is really essential, it should be learned. I remember when i coudln’t do it, years ago and once i started being able to unbreech guns… it’s a useful thing to know.
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I learned about 30 years ago I can't run my mouth while loading or this would happen to me. On occasions when I wasn't sure if I had poured in powder I have tilted the barrel down to make sure. Each time I have always used a ball puller; bought one of those CO2 dischargers but never used it.
FlinterNick
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It’s just easiest to remove the plug, and cheapest.
The fear of damaging the threads or marring up the barrel, is usually what holds people back, just learn how to do it right.
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One more time.....
Not if you are at the range with a pinned barrel and want to keep shooting...........
Easiest and cheapest to just shoot it out...........Why is that so hard to understand?
Depending on location and availability of methods too be considered.
IMHO the least invasive method would be blowing the ball out..
Either trickle powder behind the ball and shoot it out or blow it out with Co2 discharger or air compressor if possible.
A air compressor works great.
Use a rubber tipped blow gun pressed against the touch hole or I’m told a valve stem will work as well ..
I have blown balls out with both the compressor ( at home) & Co2 (at range) .
I’ve pulled balls successfully and seen the pullers pull out of the ball creating more problems. Unless someone has a larger size puller then you’re looking at pulling the breech plug.
Not that pulling the plug is the wrong thing too do… it’s just not the easiest way of removing a stuck ball.
If the barrel belongs too someone else… the choice is theirs on the removal method.
As French C mentioned, different situations require different actions.
I have not tried the valve core method, but see no reason it would not work….
Size matters..
IMHO the least invasive method would be blowing the ball out..
Either trickle powder behind the ball and shoot it out or blow it out with Co2 discharger or air compressor if possible.
A air compressor works great.
Use a rubber tipped blow gun pressed against the touch hole or I’m told a valve stem will work as well ..
I have blown balls out with both the compressor ( at home) & Co2 (at range) .
I’ve pulled balls successfully and seen the pullers pull out of the ball creating more problems. Unless someone has a larger size puller then you’re looking at pulling the breech plug.
Not that pulling the plug is the wrong thing too do… it’s just not the easiest way of removing a stuck ball.
If the barrel belongs too someone else… the choice is theirs on the removal method.
As French C mentioned, different situations require different actions.
I have not tried the valve core method, but see no reason it would not work….
Size matters..
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Not kidding at all.
If you are at the range and shooting with a flintlock with a pinned barrel, which is the only time 99% of people dry ball (I do not dry ball at home while cleaning.....)
Do you shoot it out, or go home (45 minute drive for me) and unpin the barrel remove breach and push it out, and now what? drive back to the range (45 minute drive) and start shooting again.
Seriously....
I love the Black Powder Maniac’s song ‘powder, patch and ball or it won’t work at all’
Kept me from dry-balling for a long time! That, and not talking to anyone when you’re loading!
Kept me from dry-balling for a long time! That, and not talking to anyone when you’re loading!
For most folks, I'd recommend either 1) a ball puller or 2) shoot it out. The last option would be to remove the breach plug unless you are certain it can be removed. It is my understanding some factory rifles are not conducive to having the breach plug removed and do not recommend doing so. Others, such as a Kibler barrel, are machined and torqued to tolerances that require a very solid vice and a four foot cheater bar to loosen. Breach plugs that I've installed can be removed with minimal effort. So, if you go with removing the breach plug, just be sure you know what you're dealing with.
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This thread has grown, my 2 cents, I’ve dry balled plenty of times and years ago I used a ball puller to get them out. These days I can usually get them out by pulling the nipple and adding powder or stuffing powder in the touch hole on a flinter.
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The grease gun method works pretty well with percussion guns. Don't ask me how I know.
Good sir, I’d argue that one. I’ve never removed a breech plug. Just pulled them out with a bullet puller. And I’ve dry balled a number of times over the years. Good range rod.
FlinterNick
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I said you should always start with a ball puller.
But it’s not Always that easy or simple.
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