Bullet starters?

[Ohio Rusty]

I found when I has my Hawken many moons ago, the short starter helped start the maxi-ball into the end of the bore as the front driving band needed to engage the rifling and I couldn't do that just by thumb pressure. I have one that I carry, but my current RB/patch combination for my rifle isn't so tight I can start with my thumb. I'll probably make one for my Crockett rifle as when I try .32 maxi ball in the rifle, I may need the starter to get the maxi to start down bore.

 

[simonbeans]

I have been making and selling these for a while. They appear to have some historical provenience.

 

[Jedidiah]

What do the "experienced" builders, crafters etc here, recommend for Coning a barrel, so a short starter may not be needed? Does it require special tools etc?

 

[nchawkeye]

Kind of interesting, folks jump on that ball starters, are not PC, but they sure do not mention that adjustable rear sights were not used 200 years ago. They use them now for some reason with no qualms.

But, there were jaegers with flip up sights for longer elevations.....

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

Someone makes a thing called a "palm saver". A cone shaped piece of wood with a 3/8 hole in the small end ,intended to go over your ramrod to help you fully seat the ball on the powder. I purchased one of those and glued in a 6 inch piece of 3/8 maple dowel. I just put the flat end of the dowel on the ball and strike the flat top of the palm saver with my palm driving the ball 5 inches down the bore. Finish the load with the ramrod.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

I generally use a "ball" type commercial starter with a lanyard loop, a small nub and a six inch shaft. I have another one that has a much longer shaft that I use as a ramrod for my short barreled muzzleloaders. I have had to make a few that I couldn't find for sale anywhere. You can buy the hardware from TOW and other places. For my .32, I used the appropriate sized aluminum arrow shaft remnant with a standard threaded tip hot-clued into it. A "blunt" will also work, but for a round ball, you are probably better with the tip. Any archery shop can help you with this. Studs for lanyard loops can be improvised with an Uncle Mike's wood-screw type QD sling mount. Most gun shops stock those and they are fairly inexpensive.

My short starters generally reside on my shooters' "necklace" along with my capper or flash hole/nipple pick and a fixed measure for whatever I am shooting that day. I just grab the necklace, pull it out of the possibles bag and put it 'round my neck. Works pretty well.

 

[nchawkeye]

What do the "experienced" builders, crafters etc here, recommend for Coning a barrel, so a short starter may not be needed? Does it require special tools etc?

Some do it with files, tapering the lands and grooves and some use a coning tool ..

 

[Two Feathers]

I always thought I’d take an antlered one and drill it out for a powder measure too.

Seems like a no brainer but I haven’t done it yet.

Fisherking:
No impugning of skills or disrespect of any kind meant, but there's a bit more to it than just drilling one out for powder? I have made one or two, and to do it right requires some math and a lot of dumb luck.:~)))
Good luck.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[bat119]

I threaded a 9mm casing to accept 50, 54 jags, a 45 ACP ball starter, a hole for palm saver can be used as a hammer to start maxi balls not historically correct it does make loading easier

 

[FishDFly]

Fisherking:
No impugning of skills or disrespect of any kind meant, but there's a bit more to it than just drilling one out for powder? I have made one or two, and to do it right requires some math and a lot of dumb luck.:~)))
Good luck.
God bless:
Two Feathers

Some folks have talent when they make stuff!

 

[rafterob]

Lots of options presented here and I have a few different styles. I prefer the ball style for comfort.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I strive to have the short nub just long enough to seat the patched ball just below the muzzle. When I cut the patching, I can see the sprue on a cast with the centered patch perfectly bunched around the circumference of the ball.

When I want to forego the short starter, I use a smaller ball and sometimes a thinner patch.

 

[CapPopper]

Made this one out of aluminum for my .32. It's pretty much impossible to load without one.

 

[hanshi]

I'm new to muzzle loading....
That being said I know I need a bullet starter before I use the ram rod. Between the small T starters, wood balls and synthetic balls,. Which work best for you? I'll be shooting 50 cal.

It's easy to custom make your own starters. The materials you have around your home will work.

 

[Flintlock]

Much easier to use a tad looser ball/patch combo you can start with thumb pressure, in case of mishap or foul weather it is very much easier to pull the ball and save the powder and lead.

 

[CapPopper]

Much easier to use a tad looser ball/patch combo you can start with thumb pressure, in case of mishap or foul weather it is very much easier to pull the ball and save the powder and lead.

Would be nice but some guns just don't like it..... if I go thinner than .018 on my .32 accuracy starts to fall off in a big way. It'll stack them all In one hole with the heavy patch though.

 

[tenngun]

Copied from one in Museum of The Fur trade. I drilled a powder measure in the top

 

[Fisherking]

Fisherking:
No impugning of skills or disrespect of any kind meant, but there's a bit more to it than just drilling one out for powder? I have made one or two, and to do it right requires some math and a lot of dumb luck.:~)))
Good luck.
God bless:
Two Feathers

Antler. Drill press. Drill. Fill with powder. Check with powder measure. Drill more until desired volume.

I’ve made a few and use one now. Not sure what I am missing there. It’d take me fifteen minutes tops for whatever powder charge I needed.

 

[Fisherking]

Copied from one in Museum of The Fur trade. I drilled a powder measure in the topView attachment 189317

That is a good looking kit!

 

[COTNTOP]

I purchased the long starter for pistols from TOW and that is all I use now.