32 or 36?

[Darkhorse]

Dolittle,
Ace Hardware carrys some brass rods in different sizes. However, what I would do is check October Country's website. They have several options for both range rods and understick rods.
I have one from them with a file type handle on it. It comes with a brass bore guard. They also have one with an Antler handle. These rods are very high quality will last forever and are fairly cheap.
A while back the range rods were not on the website, if you can't find them call and have them send you a catalog. Their catalog has them and a lot of other neat BP goodies.
The bore guide slides over your rod and has a taper that fits in the end of your bore. You slide this taper down into the bore then work the rod through it for both loading and cleaning. It keeps the rod from rubbing on the crown of your rifling.

 

[Chuck Deaton]

Hey thanks, I just built a non-traditional 32 intending to use buckshot and intending it to be as light as possible. With a 3/4" barrel and a walnut stock it turned out to be 7 and 1/2 pounds.

As far as hickory goes I can probably get green boards say in 2 X 2" so that a ramrod can be "rived". It would be easy to ship a 2 X 2 wrapped in shrink wrap.

If I had a bulk order, several people that wanted one I could do it in about 6 wks.

 

[djnye]

sawn boards are sawn boards

split blanks are split blanks

they are not interchangeable--the approach and mind-set are very different as are the results.

take care, daniel

 

[Chuck Deaton]

I got it, I got it

Where I come from, down there in the Ouachita bottoms, tween Ouachita and New Hope, we built everything out of wood, most of it felled with a axe and a crosscut and most of it was split with a froe. Mostly made chair bottoms and baskets out of hickory and white oak.

Splitting a 1/4" proper ram rod out of a 2" X 2" sawn green hickory stave just ain't that difficult.

In fact I can supply green hickory in nearly any form, saplings, shingles, staves, boards, logs and ram rods. Should there be any interest just let me know.

 

[Birddog6]

One thing else I will mention since we are discussing small bores. On the small bore ramrods whatever ya do, DO NOT cut a notch in it where your load stops or whatever. It WILL break there as I know for a fact & seen alot of others break theirs at that notch or ring cut in the rod. My son has a 38 cal TN rifle & I had made the slightest ring with a blade around the rod & before the day was over it was broke there. Not a big deal, I just made another when I got home but unecessary on my part.

You don't need a mark, if there ain't no powder in there you will dang sure know it.....

On the brass rods someone mentioned, usually stock in most places re 36" lengths & if that is not long enough you can silver solder a piece on one & make a longer rod. Also welding supply places carry them.
As for the bore guides, they are cheap & well worth the money. You can get them of brass or teflon. You can buy the finished Range Rods of Brass & SS for $15 to $20 at most ML suppliers.

 

[Haggis]

A riven stave, reguardless of demensions, should have continuous long strands of fibers running the length of the stave. A sawn board invariably will be cut across these fiberous strands.

If one can picture in one's mind a bundle of ram rod length flexible fibers, held together with nature's glue, you have a riven stave. A sawn stave is more like a rope; short pieces mechanically held together by the same natural glue.

Now picture pressure being applied to one end of the ram rod.

If it is a riven stave the pressure is being applied to the ends of the long fibers and transfered to whatever is being pushed or pulled.

If pressure is appied to a side of a riven stave, bending it bow fashion, the nature glue merely flexes with the bundle fibers and it will not break. A very good hickory ramrod can be bent nearly double, depending on its length of course, without breaking.

If it is a sawn stave the pressure is being applied to ends of short fibers held togerther by the natural "glue" and if the "glue" slips, and it will, the stave will break.

If pressure is appied to a side of the sawn stave, bending it bow fashion, the nature glue will fail and it will break.

Wooden ram rods don't break because wood is a poor material choice, they break because they are being manufactured incorrectly, and consumers are generally unaware of the natural properties of wood.

 

[Magnumjh]

R.M.C. Muzzleloading will make you a brass ramrod any thickness you need. They have a web-site and on-line cataloge.

 

[musketman]

On the small bore ramrods whatever ya do, DO NOT cut a notch in it where your load stops or whatever. It WILL break there as I know for a fact...

What I do is put a ring of paint on the ramrod where the load ends, or if I'm really lazy, magic marker...

This way the wood is not scored and will retain it's strength...