.32 Crockett Rifle ramrod questions

[UndeadPoet]

Gentlemen,

My new Crockett Rifle (2022 manufacture date) has an aluminum ramrod. It appears to be between 1/4 and 5/16 in diameter (17/64). It seems to fit well in the thimbles and stock and does not rattle, but I was looking at making a hickory one. I have seen where many of you have successfully used hickory and brass ram rods in 5/16 diameter in your Crocketts. However, a hickory 5/16 ramrod that I have is very tight in my barrel, and my steel 5/16 range rod doesn’t fit at all. Do you all have the same issue, that the ramrod is very tight in the barrel? Also, isn’t 5/16 approximately .310 (the same size as my unpatched roundball)?

Thanks for your insight and guidance.

‘Poet

 

[TDM]

I don’t have any personal experience with smaller diameter ram rods so take this with a grain of salt. But I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a hickory ram rod less than 5/16”. If the 5/16” fits your bore fine, which it should, you can drill out your pipes and stock to accept the 5/16” rod.

 

[UndeadPoet]

Thanks, TDM. 5/16 fits my pipes and maybe stock, but is very tight-to-not-fitting my bore.

 

[64Springer]

Sandpaper the hickory rod.

Then bend it to keep it in the pipes.

Find some brass and set the steel rod aside.

 

[TDM]

Thanks, TDM. 5/16 fits my pipes and maybe stock, but is very tight-to-not-fitting my bore.

Another thought might be to paint your aluminum rod brown or even have it powder coated brown if you happen to have a shop close by that does that. This may not be optimal but you’d keep the strength of your existing rod.

 

[UndeadPoet]

The aluminum rod on mine is dark bronze or brown looking already.

 

[UndeadPoet]

Good news! It appears that sanding the 5/16 hickory rod down a little is working. It is still tighter than my aluminum ramrod, but I think I can make it work. Thank you all for your sage advice!

 

[ETipp]

Good news! It appears that sanding the 5/16 hickory rod down a little is working. It is still tighter than my aluminum ramrod, but I think I can make it work. Thank you all for your sage advice!

You got luckier than I did with the factory aluminum ramrod. Mine was cut too short and it is terribly undersize for the thimbles. So much so that with every step I took in the woods it would rattle.

After obtaining a hickory ramrod, I sanded it to where it just fits down into the barrel with a little bit of space in between. At first I was concerned about this but I thought I would give a try anyway. So far, so good. I've hunted in high humidity and it still works fine. After sanding I applied some used motor oil on it to darken it up. Allowed to dry in the sun for a couple of days, wiped it down then applied some dark walnut stain. As of now, the only way I see where this somewhat tighter fitting ramrod could possibly give me problems is if I'm hunting in pouring down rain. I could always sand it down a tad more. However, being such a small diameter ramrod, I want to keep it as strong as possible.

I keep the shoddy factory ramrod for cleaning my Crockett rifle at home.

 

[UndeadPoet]

Thanks, ETipp! M aluminum seems to work fine, but I always like to have spares.

 

[ETipp]

Thanks, ETipp! M aluminum seems to work fine, but I always like to have spares.

Don't know if you plan on hunting with your Crockett rifle but I can promise you that a hickory ramrod is darn near silent while reloading in the woods. That dang aluminum ramrod was loud enough to alert everything in the next zip code of my presence. I have actually very slowly reloaded with a squirrel looking directly at me, at close distance, and the hickory ramrod was very quite while in the process. I got the squirrel.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I have used the same 5/16" hickory ramrod in my 32 since 1976. The simple secret to not breaking a slim rod is to grab it a little ways from the muzzle and use short strokes to seat the ball. I remember I soaked it in kerosene in a piece of pvc pipe for a few weeks. I don't know if this really helps but Dixie Gunworks said it did so I did it.

 

[64Springer]

It would certainly make those brittle wood fibers less brittle.

Will try it for a .45 oak rod.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Just use sandpaper.

 

[ESOOL]

Good Luck onthat project and be sure to let us know what you did when you find success from your testing!!

 

[UndeadPoet]

Thanks, ESOOL! I will post photos when done.