Air pressure to remove bullet

[Blackfoot]

Ok I see that you can use a compressed air to unload a muzzloader.

How much air pressure does it take to push a bullet / load out of the barrel?

I filled my 5 gallon air compressure and tried took out the vent liner and gave it several shots but it did not budge the load, I ended up putting a little powder back in through the vent hole and put the vent back in and went out and shot the load so that I could clean it.

Any ideas ? ?

 

[jtmattison]

I have a little 2 gallon compressor that only goes up to 125 psi. I use a little rubber tip attachment on the line that seals the nipple/vent pretty good. It blows the load out every time with no fuss.
One tip I can give you is to run a oily patch down bore first to lube it up. Sometimes the patch/ball needs a little extra lube to help it come out with air pressure.

HD

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Ok I see that you can use a compressed air to unload a muzzloader.

How much air pressure does it take to push a bullet / load out of the barrel?

I filled my 5 gallon air compressure and tried took out the vent liner and gave it several shots but it did not budge the load, I ended up putting a little powder back in through the vent hole and put the vent back in and went out and shot the load so that I could clean it.

Any ideas ? ?

Several variables involved. You want the load to move, so the amount of force (air pressure in this case) required to move an object starting from rest is usually greater than the force required to keep it moving at constant velocity once it is started.

Or, how much air pressure needed is dependent on the inertia resistance of the load at rest, so there is no pat answer. :winking:

 

[silverfox]

Another hint after you get a good seal make sure that you blast the air in not just slowly increase the pressure. You need a sudden blast of air. This allows maxium pressure before it has time to leak around the ball.
Fox :thumbsup:

 

This opens up a whole new competition idea both hi lo press needed and accuracy, how about it. :rotf:

 

[roundball]

Interesting side note...I've been using my air compressor to blow out loads when I come back from hunting, for about 15 years now...30 gal tank, 140 PSI.

However, I just started hunting with a .62cal smoothbore this week, and the PRB is so tight I've had to pull it out all three times...

 

[guncobbler]

Just a thought on getting the ball to start moving. How about before the air pressure is applied giving the muzzle a sharp rap with a rubber mallet (face on). The simulated recoil might just dislodge the bullet enough to get it moving. At first I thought that this might stress the cross pins but every time we fire the gun that barrel is recoiling back pretty hard. Do not recommend doing this while the pressure is applied. Could get you shot with an air powered ball. Not a pretty sight and how would you explain that to us GC

 

[Zonie]

As was said, the biggest part of determining the amount of air pressure is figuring out how well the patched ball/slug is stuck in the bore.

A .50 caliber guns bullet has a "piston" area of .1963 square inches so air pressure of 125 PSI will create a force of 125 times .1963 or 24.54 pounds.

With a .45 cal gun, the area is .159 sq in so 125 pounds of air pressure creates 19.88 pounds of force.

The force 125 PSI creates on a .54 cal bullet/ball is 28.63 pounds.

I have heard that the pressure in one of those CO2 dischargers is over 750 PSI so it would create a force of over 147 pounds in a .50 cal gun! That may be why they work so well.

zonie

 

[Birddog6]

I use air tools & the compressor almost every day. I found out that blowing a ball out of a barrel took 2 things.

1: The diameter of the hole in the discharge nozzle needs to be as large as possible. I have 3-4 dif ones I use for dif things & the one I blow balls out with has about a 3/16" hole in it.

2: You need a rubber large coned tip on the nozzle so it seals good to the barrel. Every one I have tried thus far has dislodged with a quick blast of 125# air & this large air nozzle.

Several times I have tried it with just a metal tip & the smaller nozzles & they didn't begin to move the ball, but the large bore rubber tipped one always does.

Some of the electro-pneumatic switches I repair are the same way. Put the small metal tip on there, too much blowby & not enough instant pressure to move the piston in the cylinder. Put the big nozzle on it & WHAM it is moving....

:thumbsup: