Can I make a short starter?

[Rikeman]

I just went to Lowes and picked up a 1/2" oak dowel and 3" wooden ball and made my own short starter.

It was a real investment....$4.50 I think :wink: I even had enough Oak dowel to make a ramrod for my Hawken at no xtra cost. Took me all of about 15 to make not including dry time.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I bought a hickory Ramrod to replace the junk one that came with a rifle I owned, so I used a piece from that rod to make my short starter, using a joint in an Antler I had after using the tines for patch knife handles. I had NO extra cost in the short starter. If you find an old smooth doorknob at a garage sale, they can make nice comfortable handles for a short starter or a range rod. Most of the time you can buy them for $.25 or less! I have been to junk yards where they had buckets of old doorknobs, and I could buy one for a dime.