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Dry ball help

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jefftx

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I did a search, but didn't have any luck. I loaded spit patch and roundball in my .54 GPR percussion without powder I think. I shot five times and caps all went off. Got distracted. I don't have a ball puller. How can I get it out? I tried a few grains down nipple but did not work. I know some auto mechanics. Would compressed air work? Thanks.
 
You could try some powder under the nipple again. It usually works first try but sometimes takes a second or third. Check to make sure it is still there. One time I tried repeatedly only to find out it was gone already. This is a common problem and talked allot about here. Yes compressed air does work and make sure it's pointed in a safe direction. For the real stubborn ones you can find a grease zert fitting(or whatever they are called) with the same threads and pump it out. They also have those Co2 thingies but I have never had to resort to that.
 
Take the nipple OUT and cram all the powder you can get in there and it should shoot out. You cannot get enough down through the nipple hole to do any good.
 
I also sugget trying a new powder charge under the nipple.
First blow out what it there with high pressure air from a compressor, a can of air or my personal favorite tool, a can of butane. Blast it out real good. You may have gunked powder in there.

Pull the nipple, pour some 4f in there if you have it 3f if no 4f. Smack the side of the rifle to work the powder down in there and then add more and settle that and add ore until you have just enough space to reseat the nipple. Cap and fire in a safe direction.
 
Ty. I'm home now and can't try to shoot it out. I did find my ball puller and am trying to screw it into the roundball. It's stuck real good, but I am getting slivers of lead out, a little at a time. I'll keep at it. Need to clean it as I was at the end of my shooting session when this happened. :cursing:
 
JeffTx said:
Ty. I'm home now and can't try to shoot it out. I did find my ball puller and am trying to screw it into the roundball. It's stuck real good, but I am getting slivers of lead out, a little at a time. I'll keep at it. Need to clean it as I was at the end of my shooting session when this happened. :cursing:
Your going to make that ball a donut!
Drive back to the range and shoot it out is my advise. You donut that ball and you will have a bigger problem on your hands.
 
Do what I said (or MS Cynthia) and shoot it out in the bathroom or bedroom with the door shut. Shoot into a PILE of old clothes though, its gonna come out fast. I have done it several times, no more noise than a cap and you'll be done cleaning by the time the cops come if any nosy neighbors panic.

And MS Cynthia is correct, once ya blow through the ball its not gonna be easy and ya cannot shoot it out or use grease etc. DONT blow through with the ball puller, try it once and give it up.
 
If you still have a stuck ball, clean the barrel ahead of the ball and then grease/oil the barrel real good.

That will do two things. One, reduce the risk of rust, two, the ball will come out easier once you get to moving.

Once you get it out clean barrel as usual.

Good luck
 
ok. Gonna go inthe spare bedroom and shoot into one of my archery targets. I've got 4f. Glad the wifey is not home.
 
Thank you guys. Looks like I need to re stuff my archery bag. Put a good three inch hole in it.
 
JeffTx said:
Thank you guys. Looks like I need to re stuff my archery bag. Put a good three inch hole in it.
:haha:

yeah but you no longer have a dry ball.

Best open the windows and spray some freshener around the house. Your wife probably has a typical female nose and will know something burned in her house.
 
Will do. She has a nose like a bloodhound too. Once again thanks to this fine group.
 
Time to plan ahead. Get a grease zerk of proper thread and a grease gun and a tube of grease. Now that you are prepared, you will never need it. :)
 
I don't like ball pullers as a general rule and using a grease gun to clear it makes the subsequent clean up a PITA.

Just keep some 4f on hand and repeat the process to dislodge a ball if you get another stuck.
 
I was just thinking about this last night. With muzzleloader season around the corner, I will be spending some time at the range. I always primed with the same powder as my main charge. Now even more the reason to keep some 4F around.

I kind of laughed at the idea of shooting into a pile of clothes in the house and trying to mask the smell with air freshener.

Lord knows my wife had the nose of a Bloodhound! :rotf:
 
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