Fixed my broken ramrod

[S.Kenton]

I know I am gonna get a verbal beatdown for this ..but here is goes..I broke my ramrod on my lymans GPR the other day. I gave it some thought and decided I would try and fix it. Soooo I epoxied the broken pieces together..after it dried I drilled two holes through the ramrod, where it was broken. I then inserted two aluminum pins and cut them to size. Then epoxied the pins in place and smashed both ends of the pins which flattened both ends. Think it will work??? I'm gonna replace it in time..but was just wondering if it would hold and for how long? I've heard of horror stories about ramrods braking while pushing the patched ball down the barrel...sending the loader to the hospital with a ramrod poked through his hand..I have NO intention of letting that happen to me..It doesn't take a bunch of force to push my ball down the barrel even with a thick patch..
Any thoughts on this?

 

[necchi]

It didn't go through my hand, nor did I go to the Hospital. But I still have the scar on my palm from about 25yrs ago.
And to save all the lectures about how they never break unless you do something wrong,,
,,Well Duh! I guess I did something wrong,,
,,once.
Do what ya gotta do man, Good luck.

 

[Stumpkiller]

It will hold until it fails. Could be when you are far from a gauze bandage or a replacement rammer. Neither what you want on the opening day of deer season or some such.

I don't repair broken propellers or ramrods.

Replace.

 

[S.Kenton]

I dunno Necchi..seen some really CRAPPY ramrods break and I was SURE I was doing everything right..I was loading my 45 one day and heard it crack... stopped just in time to avoid a nasty visit to the hospital. Then more recently, my replacement RR for the SAME 45 cracked as I twisted the RR to make sure my cleaning jag wasn't coming unscrewed..I actually thought about making a brass or aluminum ramrod, wouldn't be THAT hard would it? I would need some brass or aluminum rod..I'm sure it's been done before.

 

[tiger955]

My new to me .58 cal. rifle I just bought came with a 5/16" wood ramrod, seems way too small for that gun. A larger one won't fit the pipes so I bought a 36" long solid aluminum rod at the hardware store today for about 4 bucks. All I have to do is to drill and tap a hole for a jag in the end and trim it down a little. I would like to find a metal treatment that would darken it some without a lot of expense also. I don't think blueing would work, and paint would rub off to easy.

 

[Lonegun1894]

I dont blame you for trying to fix it, but I also wouldn't take the chance unless it was an emergency. A new ramrod will be MUCH cheaper than the medical bills if it fails. It may work, and well at that, but is it really worth the gamble? Either way, best of luck and I hope it works, but please keep yourself safe by replacing it first chance you get.

 

[Mike 56]

Ram rods are cheap enough i keep a few soaking in boiled linseed oil and turpentine.
Mike

 

[Ron_T.]

My friend...

An old saying comes to mind...

"Penny wise and pound foolish".

Save yourself some pain and suffering plus a chance of possible nerve damage to your hand and wrist... PLUS an interupted hunting season plus a trip to the hospital emergency room together with that heavy expense.

A new aluminum or brass ramrod will be a LOT less expensive and it shouldn't EVER break!

Jus' my 2¢ and 3/4 of a century of experience with decisions that sometimes go wrong.

Like the Law of Probability sez, "If it can happen, it probably WILL happen!".

Good luck in whatever you finally decide... :v


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

 

[shmrck1]

SK,
Why risk any injury? For what you are talking
about to repair would almost cover the exspence
of a new ramrod :idunno: Your choice

 

[Rat Trapper]

I won't use wood rods do to the possiblity of having one break and spear my hand. I know those who had to learn this the hard way. I like a fiberglass coated rod.

 

[Dave K]

Well, you spent as much time repairing the broken rod as you would have making a new one. I wouldn't use that rod again, except for tomato plants. I dislike pain and suffering and the potential loss of shooting time due to injury, so I seek to avoid it.

 

[MSW]

while i commend you on your frugality, i am compelled to agree with the general consensus- you should replace your ramrod. for range use, i'd go with a 'range rod' made of fiberglass.

as for trips into the woods, i'd try to get a 'glass or a metal replacement rod.

just one guy's free advice, and no doubt well worth the price! get a new rod, and go out, and make good smoke.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I'll echo the others about the danger you face with that "repaired" rod.
Ram rods are almost disposable items. Many will last almost indefinitely, others fail soon.
I wrote an article about ramrod safety that was in Muzzle Blasts about two years ago.
Personally, I keep quite a few extras on hand and carry them in a large fishing rod case to events.
For most of my shooting (traditionalists plug yer ears) I use a synthetic rod of Delrin. I used to make and sell Delrin rods. Quality hickory rods are getting very-very hard to find. I save mine for reenactments and rendezvous. Most particularly, I do not use wood for hunting as I generally am alone where an injury could be a life threatening event.
Order some hickory rods from a trusted vendor and extra brass. Soak in oil (I use lemon oil) and make new rods for yourself.

 

[Wolfgang4570]

I'm sure I don't have near the experience of 99% of the folks here I do however have the experience of ramrod failure and a very near miss to a painful injury. I have replaced nearly all of the ramrods I own with ones made from brass. I am not too terribly far from the Log Cabin Shop so I have gotten them there. Adds some weight but sometimes that's s plus as well. Best of luck and be careful.

Schutzenkette

 

[hanshi]

I've broken two during shooting. Since I seat in small (4" - 5") increments haven't had any problems with injuries. Also never have repaired broken rods as I don't trust them. Search for and buy good hickory rods. You don't always have to do something wrong; sometimes rods just break. :idunno:

 

[Rifleman1776]

I've broken two during shooting. Since I seat in small (4" - 5") increments haven't had any problems with injuries. Also never have repaired broken rods as I don't trust them. Search for and buy good hickory rods. You don't always have to do something wrong; sometimes rods just break. :idunno:

Wise words. Seating in short increments is the proper, and safe, method. But, I have heard, some folks can get forgetful :redface: and try to shove the whole rod down in one push.

 

[S.Kenton]

HEY THANKS GUYS!..I'll probably replace it with an aluminum rod ASAP...I was just curious as to what the general consensus was.

 

[George]

I was just curious as to what the general consensus was.

There's always an outlier. :grin:

As a traditionalist I never use anything but hickory rods.

Some of my ramrods are very long and tapered, and it's not a trivial thing to make one.

I broke the rod for my 46"-barrel smoothbore by closing the hatch of the Jeep on it. It was a rod I had used for almost 15 years and was still strong and limber. It broke straight across only about 4" from the small end. Because I knew that section of the rod got essentially zero stress when in use, I decided to repair it. I drilled holes in the center of the two broken ends 3/4" deep, inserted a nail of the same size and epoxied the whole shebang. Like new with only a fraction of the effort of a replacement, and probably stronger than it was.

Spence

 

[Nappers]

I use brass ramrods in my guns, and keep the wood ones for when I store the gun. I liked the wood ones, nothing wrong with them, I just like the brass for looks, and loading my PRB. I buy 6' brass rod and make my own ramrods and a buddy of mine made a short starter with brass and an elk horn I think, some kind of horn anyways.....

Get a new one soon, so it don't break on ya!

 

[gordy]

May have missed it , but no one mentioned the "amost indestructable ramrod"? A bit pricey at around $35.00 but the chance of having to replace it is unlikely. For those that need a PC/HC rod it pretty well fills the bill. Do I have one , not yet. but as soon as I have the cash I will.
:thumbsup: