Ball Pullers

[Tenmile]

TOW tapered screw has worked well for me (when I’ve helped someone remove a dryball). I feel that we probably load tighter than necessary sometimes making extraction more difficult. I’ve always been nervous about leaving a gun loaded, especially a muzzleloader since they’re not as obvious

 

[TarponStalker]

Pancake compressor works wonder and is light weight.
There is one at every rondie I go to. Sometimes it stays in the truck.
I leave my truck unlocked just so folks can use it.

JT you've got me on that one. What the heck is a pancake compressor?

 

[Tenmile]

JT youve got me in that one. What the heck is a pancake compressor?

Why do you think pancakes are flat?

 

[Davey Boy]

It would make sense to me to drill a starter hole in the stuck ball so the ball remover could get a good hold.

 

[2 shots]

t.o.t.w. sells some nice, sharp tipped pullers with collers.

 

[Montgomery]

JT you've got me on that one. What the heck is a pancake compressor?

It is a "small" air compressor that is round and kinda flat, hence the name pancake compressor . Lowes or Home depot etc all sell them. I have one and it is great for keeping tires etc on cars, motorcycles, bicycles, wheelbarrows what ever inflated properly. Cab also use if for some tools!

 

[SOLANCO]

Pancake compressor works wonder and is light weight.
There is one at every rondie I go to. Sometimes it stays in the truck.
I leave my truck unlocked just so folks can use it.

What fitting do you use on the air hose to get pressure into the barrel?

 

[TarponStalker]

It is a "small" air compressor that is round and kinda flat, hence the name pancake compressor . Lowes or Home depot etc all sell them. I have one and it is great for keeping tires etc on cars, motorcycles, bicycles, wheelbarrows what ever inflated properly. Cab also use if for some tools!

Oh ok. I know what that is now. Thanks for clarifying. My mind was somewhere else.
I guess that’d work in some ways for me if I had some way to clamp the end to the flash hole.
Since I’m at camp with no power I need a manual method to pull the charge.

 

[SOLANCO]

My range rod has a swivel handle. Welded several nuts onto it for purchase with pliers or wrench for screwing into a stuck ball.

 

[Montgomery]

Oh ok. I know what that is now. Thanks for clarifying. My mind was somewhere else.
I guess that’d work in some ways for me if I had some way to clamp the end to the flash hole.
Since I’m at camp with no power I need a manual method to pull the charge.

Get the CO2 charger ball puller. You won't regret it.

 

[French Colonial]

It would make sense to me to drill a starter hole in the stuck ball so the ball remover could get a good hold.

Buy the ones from TOTW and you will not need a starter hole.
They are sharp enough to screw in and when you can no longer turn the rod by hand, secure the rod and give the gun a good jerk and the ball will start coming out

 

[Red Owl]

Just interested. Do any of you have any historical references to how they did it at the time? Trickle powder into the drum, etc. and shoot it out, or try to pull it out. I've had two times using a puller. One worked okay but the next time, didn't work,

 

[TarponStalker]

Get the CO2 charger ball puller. You won't regret it.

I think I will order one. Do you suggest the RMC as Grimord suggested or do you know if others ?
I assume they have an adaptor for flintlocks.
I’ll also get a better screw in puller from Track. Then I’ll be covered.

Thanks again to all

 

[French Colonial]

I think I will order one. Do you suggest the RMC as Grimord suggested or do you know if others ?
I assume they have an adaptor for flintlocks.
I’ll also get a better screw in puller from Track. Then I’ll be covered.

Thanks again to all

No No No

We have to see if we can get to twelve pages of replies!

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

In all the years I have enjoyed shooting back powder I have only tried twice to pull a round ball. Both unsuccessfully.
I’ve only tried one type of ball puller. It’s one that I bought many years ago that had the brass centering collar on it. It’s probably from TC or CVA. It doesn’t start threading in the ball well then either just tears out or I can’t get it to pull out. Maybe it’s swelling the ball?
I have an idea the screw is a larger diameter and steeper thread angle than it should be. I e see some pictured that were much “sharper”.
The reason I ask if this. I hunt a lot with flintlocks. Even with great care I find that after several days hunting and keeping my gun loaded I’m likely to get hangfires. Sshheeeeeeboom!! Not want I want when the moment if truth arrives. I pick the flash hole every time and sometimes multiple times per day.
I’d really like to be able to pull the charge and reload after every couple days just to see if that’s better I don’t want to shoot/clean to do this as I do t have great conditions at camp to make sure it’s dry and clean enough to reload.
I have a 48 inch cleaning rod but it doesn’t have a fixed T handle on it. I have an idea I may need that to get the best pull. And I’d like to order another puller after I see what everyone on here uses for the job.
Some people make it sound so easy.
Thanks for your input.

If you decide to pursue pulling a ball: Do get a brass collared screw (tapered better than the one you have) and for your specific caliber. First of all dump some WD40 down for lube. When pulling a ball the start and insertion needs to be with lots of downward pressure, and go in as far as possible. This is where I think most failed extractions occur (JMO). The puller is not forced into the lead, it just pulled a little lead out. Another tip that some shooters do not do: They fail to hook the rod and pull the rifle. Much easiier that way. Don't have a Tee or ball on the RR? Use padded vice grips or a padded C clamp to hold the RR against a post etc. I have seen balls come out that two macho men were pulling, but the extractor stayed in the lead.
Larry

 

[Montgomery]

I think I will order one. Do you suggest the RMC as Grimord suggested or do you know if others ?
I assume they have an adaptor for flintlocks.
I’ll also get a better screw in puller from Track. Then I’ll be covered.

Thanks again to all

Yes, The RMC is fien, also try Track of the Wolf and several others for best prices= etc. This is mine, with adaptors etc. and also my Ramrod puller, which is also a big help!

 

[Eutycus]

So far I've haven't yet had the "pleasure" of unsticking a ball by the puller method though I have shot a few out. But I have given it some thought.Wouldn't the ball become even tighter and wedged in when a screw is applied? Displacement of lead from the center of the ball would expand the ball sideways making it even tighter. A drill bit (a tad smaller than the diameter of the screw) could drill a hole in the center and the screw drilled into the ball. A tight fit could still be had. Am I overthinking it? I'll leave it to the experts to comment.

 

[45man]

Every ball puller I seen has too large of a screw and swells the ball. I make my own with a piece of brass rod and a thin woodscrew silver soldered in. I drill the other end of the rod for a length of drill rod for a "T" handle.

 

[Eutycus]

Every ball puller I seen has too large of a screw and swells the ball. I make my own with a piece of brass rod and a thin woodscrew silver soldered in. I drill the other end of the rod for a length of drill rod for a "T" handle.

That's what I was referring to, the "swelling" of the stuck ball.

 

[sturmkatze]

I've never "not got" the ball out and all I've ever had was the RMC style. Hell, back in the day, I didn't have the range rod with a T-handle either. I dad a rod made of some synthetic. I digress... I make sure to hit the screw hard onto the ball and twist it down. Beat to have something to hook to and not use your hands if it's loaded. A loop of rope or cord... Hook the handle. Whatever. Slow steady pull. I've never had it not come out.

Now, we'll hear why I'm wrong.
Btw, the TOW pulled looks great and I might get one. I have a number of the RMC ones.