15-20grns Goex 4F..........phhhfffttt.......clank!

[roundball]

Had a surprise happen at the range today...while fighting blowing rain and wind gusts, trying to keep things from blowing off the table, I got distracted and dryballed my .54...not once, but twice.

Dropped out the lock & vent liner, rested the plunger dispenser of my pan primer against some threads, and actuated it 6-8 times to get 15-20grns 4F in there.

Reassembled, sat down, and touched it off at the 50yd steel hanger I'd been shooting...only heard a quiet, anemic phhhfffttt, then about a second later heard the clank of the ball hitting the steel...couldn't believe it had enough power and trajectory to hit that thing at 50yds...
:shocking:

 

[BLAHMAN]

Amazing what some BP will do, heh?

 

[Huntinfool]

I've seen that done a time or two. It kind of reminds one of a blow gun doesn't it! :crackup:

I usually just pull my dryballs. My mentor kids me about it he says I'm saving them too make a neckless full of .490 bals so I can wear it to remind me powder first, then ball! :crackup:

Heck I got to laugh at myself everyone else is! This thread reminds me of an inscription on the barrel of my friend's old original rifle handed down from his Great Uncle! Goes like this...

Pour in the powder
Put tight the ball
Take careful aim
And watch em fall


Chuck

 

[roundball]

I usually just pull my dryballs.

I always pull or blow mine out too depending on where I am...I was surprised to discover that this is apparently the first time I've ever dry-balled this particular rifle in .54cal...because the size/shape of this .54's patent breech is apparently just big enough to capture a ball if I seat it all the way down...definitely felt funny when it bottomed out...and I couldn't pull it out, I just ripped the 'screw' back out of the lead ball.

Apparently I've only pulled balls out of this rifle while they were sitting on top of a powder charge after a days hunt, etc..evidently never had a dry ball in this rifle before.

Anyhow, thought it was really something that those slow speed balls made it, and made it accurately, all the way to the target...25grns of 4F would probably make a good quiet squirrel load

 

[jtmattison]

I've helped a buddy do it before.
I put about 20 grains of 3f into his cleanout hole, replaced the screw, seated the ball and let him pop it.
It's funny when you see the ball bouncing down range.

Fortunately, I've never dry balled. Knock on wood.

Huntin

 

I've helped a buddy do it before.
I put about 20 grains of 3f into his cleanout hole, replaced the screw, seated the ball and let him pop it.
It's funny when you see the ball bouncing down range.

Fortunately, I've never dry balled. Knock on wood.

Huntin

Oh, you will now...good job jinxing yourself there, buddy! :blah:

I have never dryballed in all of my years of BP shooting...but every now and again I practice just in case it ever really happens.

You must be prepared....

 

[Huntinfool]

Oh I forgot to mention dryballs don't pull very well for me. I have pulled the screw out of a few of them I find it works a lot better if you pour some moose milk or water or coffee or something wet down there first.

Chuck

 

[roundball]

Oh I forgot to mention dryballs don't pull very well for me. I have pulled the screw out of a few of them I find it works a lot better if you pour some moose milk or water or coffee or something wet down there first.

Chuck

Mine normally just slide right out, probably due to the lubed patch...pull 25-30 of them during hunting season...just never experienced jamming one down into the top of a patent breech before

 

[mglampson]

Fortunately, I've never dry balled. Knock on wood.

There are 2 kinds of black powder shooters, those that have dry balled and those that are about to.

Britches