Ever shoot a stuck ball...what happened?

[Ed C.]

It didn't take me long being lazy and not swabbing the barrel often enough between shots to get a ball stuck halfway down the barrel. The delrin ramrod was too flexible to move the ball even with a "T" handle and hammering. I figured I'd break the hickory rod so I didn't even try using it. No steel range rod or ball puller so I took a chance and shot it out. 50 grains pushing a .490 ball with a 12" air gap. Fortunately for me it seemed like a normal discharge and the gun still is a great shooter. I don't want to take that chance again so I now have a steel rod to be used for an event like that. And I've decided that in the long run it's easier to swab every other shot. Probably helps accuracy also.
So I'm wondering if anyone done something similar and what happened?

 

[centershot]

EEEEeeeekkkk!!!!

 

[LME]

It didn't take me long being lazy and not swabbing the barrel often enough between shots to get a ball stuck halfway down the barrel. The delrin ramrod was too flexible to move the ball even with a "T" handle and hammering. I figured I'd break the hickory rod so I didn't even try using it. No steel range rod or ball puller so I took a chance and shot it out. 50 grains pushing a .490 ball with a 12" air gap. Fortunately for me it seemed like a normal discharge and the gun still is a great shooter. I don't want to take that chance again so I now have a steel rod to be used for an event like that. And I've decided that in the long run it's easier to swab every other shot. Probably helps accuracy also.
So I'm wondering if anyone done something similar and what happened?

You are right on both points!

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

It didn't take me long being lazy and not swabbing the barrel often enough between shots to get a ball stuck halfway down the barrel. The delrin ramrod was too flexible to move the ball even with a "T" handle and hammering. I figured I'd break the hickory rod so I didn't even try using it. No steel range rod or ball puller so I took a chance and shot it out. 50 grains pushing a .490 ball with a 12" air gap. Fortunately for me it seemed like a normal discharge and the gun still is a great shooter. I don't want to take that chance again so I now have a steel rod to be used for an event like that. And I've decided that in the long run it's easier to swab every other shot. Probably helps accuracy also.
So I'm wondering if anyone done something similar and what happened?

No disrespect intended, but shooting a ball out not down on the powder is not the way to go. Hindsight can't help you now, but next time dump some WD40 in and get the ball down, then get your puller and pull it. Be safe, not sorry! Didn't want to preach, but you were lucky that time. JMO
Larry

 

[Tasbay]

When I was starting off with Muzzleloaders I think I got a ball stuck about halfway down a T/C barrel on about 4-5 occasions with 80grains of FF in the barrel. Just pointed the gun in the air Cringed and pulled the trigger. I`m still here and the gun`s barrel is in pristine condition 30 odd years later.
Where I live it was learn by yourself and no guidance as I knew of no one with a muzzleloader of any sort. At the time it had never occurred to me to swab the barrel between shots. I had no internet back then.

 

[jmull4609]

Yikes!! Don't EVER shoot with a barrel obstruction. Great way to "ring" your barrel. Not a good decision

 

[Des52]

If the problem is swabbing between shots you should first look at your ball size and lube, and patch thickness. I used to swab inbetween shots with lots of fouling, Switched to TOTW mink oil and tite weave cotton patches and don't swab anymore. Check what the bore size is, my Pedersolis are all smaller than my TCs and CVAs. You may need a smaller ball.

 

[tenngun]

There is a you tube video where a guy tries shooting short started and balls half way down, his gun seemed to suffer no ill effects.
Sam Falada tried to blow up some barrels. He ran God Awful charges, and several fat minnies. He could only get a blow if he had an obstruction
Dixie Gunworks took a barrel and plugged both ends, charged it and lit it with a fuse in the touch hole. Barrel held.
It’s nice to know that my barrel should hold if I make a silly loading mistake
But I would never knowingly try it

 

[Daveboone]

I once had a ball that was particularly god awful hard to drive down...had to mallet it all the way down. I realized after I probably double patched it. It actually sounded pretty normal on ignition, but hit a few inches higher than normal.. I am darn particular on my patches now.

 

[Ed C.]

No disrespect intended, but shooting a ball out not down on the powder is not the way to go. Hindsight can't help you now, but next time dump some WD40 in and get the ball down, then get your puller and pull it. Be safe, not sorry! Didn't want to preach, but you were lucky that time. JMO
Larry

Agree 100%! I've purchased the proper size zerk fitting for my nipple thread and will use the grease gun method if nothing else works.

 

[rafterob]

Best advice I received about 10 years ago was to pour some water down the barrel. Let it soak in and then you should be able to push the ball down. If you can get it pushed down, try to fire it off right away. This has worked for me on a couple of occasions and the gun fired off both times.

 

[Ed C.]

When I was starting off with Muzzleloaders I think I got a ball stuck about halfway down a T/C barrel on about 4-5 occasions with 80grains of FF in the barrel. Just pointed the gun in the air Cringed and pulled the trigger. I`m still here and the gun`s barrel is in pristine condition 30 odd years later.
Where I live it was learn by yourself and no guidance as I knew of no one with a muzzleloader of any sort. At the time it had never occurred to me to swab the barrel between shots. I had no internet back then.

For most of my life, like you, you either learned your lessons the hard way or listened to the old timers depending on how hard headed you were. Glad we and our guns survived the short starting mistake.

 

[jmull4609]

There is a you tube video where a guy try’s shooting short started and balls half way down, his gun seemed to suffer no ill effects.
Sam Falada tried to blow up some barrels. He ran God Awful charges, and several fat minnies. He could only get a blow if he had an obstruction
Dixie Gunworks took a barrel and plugged both ends, charged it and lit it with a fuse in the touch hole. Barrel held.
It’s nice to know that my barrel should hold if I make a silly loading mistake
But I would never knowingly try it

I have SEEN ringed barrels from shooting short-started balls... but some things can't be changed

 

[Ed C.]

If the problem is swabbing between shots you should first look at your ball size and lube, and patch thickness. I used to swab inbetween shots with lots of fouling, Switched to TOTW mink oil and tite weave cotton patches and don't swab anymore. Check what the bore size is, my Pedersolis are all smaller than my TCs and CVAs. You may need a smaller ball.

So this is a curve for me. With the 1:48 twist to measure the bore diameter I have a land and grove as opposites so I don't know how to measure the real diameter. But it is a .50 cal. Investarms Hawken and I'm using a .490 ball and .015 patch which seems to be in pretty common usage for that gun. I'm still playing with lubes but am leaning towards a 6:1 water/balistol lube trying both damp and dried patches.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

I have a ringed barrel in a T/C .45 Hawken. Gun had the ring and lots of rust when I bought it and I don't really know how the ring got there, though it seems like shooting a stuck ball would be a good candidate. It shoots conicals and unmentionables just fine, but round balls? Not so much. I'm thinking about have it bored out to a smoothbore and getting a fast-twist drop-in barrel from TOW.... or not.

 

[Nazgul58]

Wow. Advice is all over the place. I have inadvertently shot a short started ball in a GRRW Hawken with no problem. Don't let it spoil your day shooting. Max pressure with BP is very low. Not an issue with a decent barrel.
OK, Flame on !!!

Don

 

[nkbj]

Had a ringed .36 rifle rebored to shoot revolver ball.
Aint nothing wrong with a .46.

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

First time out, ball maybe 3/4 of the way down the barrel.
One of the Good Old Boys said SHOOT IT.

 

[Steve Martin]

I have shot double charged loads with no ill effect and I once shot a double ball load with no ill effect (except a purple shoulder) but I don't recommend either. Just because you get away with something once or even twice doesn't mean it's not potentially dangerous. Glad there was no problem this time but at least now you know why most of us that shoot muzzleloaders regularly use steel range rods.

 

[Grenadier1758]

The good old boys that are members of my gun club wouldn't suggest shooting it out unless the ball was seated at the breech. But then, we have access to steel range rods, assorted solvents to soften fouling at the obstruction, and suitable hammers to gently seat the stuck ball at the breech.

While shooting out the obstruction may ar may not ring the barrel, there is no need to take that chance. I did, inadvertently, shoot a short started ball out of my 1 1/8" 45 caliber rifle with no ill effect. Still, I don't recommend such practice. Yes, I have read the article by the Bevel Brothers in "Muzzle Blasts" and in their tests they did ring any barrels. For me and by my recommendation, don't shoot out a stuck ball unless it is seated on the powder charge.