Had trouble using the ball puller? Try this!

[Ron_T.]

I'm a newbie, but an old hand showed me the way to effectively use the threaded ball puller the EASY way!!!

I forgot to put powder in my rifle... and added the rifle ball. Then I realized I didn't have any powder in the rifle, so I got out my brand new ball puller, screwed it into the lead ball and tried to get the ball out, but it wouldn't budge! It was like it was welded into place!

I took the rifle with the ram rod and ball puller still in the barrel to the home of the president of our local muzzle loader club and told him I couldn't make the darned thing (the ball puller) work. He smiled and said, "Here... let me show you the easy way to make it work! Let's go to my work shop."

I handed him my rifle which he took over to his big vice mounted on a heavy work table. He put the handle of my ram rod sideways all the way through the vice and closed the vice's jaws almost all the way down on my ram rod just below the handle so that the vice wasn't holding the ram rod, but the vice's jaws would not let the handle slip through it's jaws either.

Then he merely "backed" slowly away from the vice holding onto my rifle with the barrel pointed at the vice. Since the ram rod couldn't follow him because the handle was jammed on the opposite side of the vice, the ball puller with the ball attached to it came slowly out of the rifle's barrel... and the rifle's barrel was cleared.

He didn't even breath hard doing it whereas I had practically worn myself out trying to pull up on the ram rod to remove the "dry" rifle ball.

He said, "If you're at the range and you forget to load the powder, simply jam your ram rod's handle behind a heavy shooting bench or other object once you've screwed the ball puller into the ball and "walk" the rifle ball outta your rifle the way I just did it."

Didja ever feel really "dumb"? I sure did once he showed me this little "trick"!

If you're SURE there is no powder in the rifle, then you could have someone hold onto the ram rod while you "walk" away from them holding the rifle... but you MUST be absolutely SURE there is no powder in the rifle!

I just ordered a CO2 "gun" to blow a "dry" ball outta my rifle, but I thought I'd pass along this "trick" the president of our muzzle loading club showed me.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

 

[quewalda]

adding some oil before trying to pull the bullet would help too

it is wise to use a ramrod that is long enough so that you can always have a good grip.

Round the protruding part of the ramrod, you can place a sliding "heavy" piece of metal that will act as a hammer against the grip.

avoid to give hard blows that could pull the ramrod's screw from the lead bullet

hoping you will forgive my bad English :redface:

 

[Bretwalda]

Ron,

Welcome and don't feel bad, as we are all "students" in learning the art of shooting/maintaining BP firearms! :rotf: Best wishes in all of your future endevors, may thay always give you much to talk about!!! :hatsoff:

 

[Birddog6]

If you're SURE there is no powder in the rifle, then you could have someone hold onto the ram rod while you "walk" away from them holding the rifle... but you MUST be absolutely SURE there is no powder in the rifle!

SURE ? :shake:
No Way..... Ya never ever take that chance. Too many unloaded guns have shot too many people. :shake:

Play it save, use a vice or a tree fork or something like that... :wink:

 

[musketman]

I handed him my rifle which he took over to his big vice mounted on a heavy work table. He put the handle of my ram rod sideways all the way through the vice and closed the vice's jaws almost all the way down on my ram rod just below the handle so that the vice wasn't holding the ram rod, but the vice's jaws would not let the handle slip through it's jaws either.

Then he merely "backed" slowly away from the vice holding onto my rifle with the barrel pointed at the vice. Since the ram rod couldn't follow him because the handle was jammed on the opposite side of the vice, the ball puller with the ball attached to it came slowly out of the rifle's barrel... and the rifle's barrel was cleared.

Another way to do that in the field is to use a length of rope and a stout tree branch or fence post, tie the rope to the ramrod and the other end to the small tree and back away with the muzzle pointing at the tree.

 

[Rancocas]

You have a "handle" on your ramrod? My ramrod is just a straight stick. Oh, you must mean a "range rod". :wink:

Sure, if you are using a range rod with a handle, then using a bench vise, crotch in a small tree, edge of a shooting bench, etcetera, is basic.
But, most of us don't carry a range rod out in the hunting fields and forests. Dry ball out there, and you might have more of a problem.
Just getting the ball puller to screw into the ball can be difficult with a ramrod. Usually the ramrod is only an inch or two longer than the rifle barrel. With the ball puller attached it may be 3 inches longer. With the other end of the ramrod being simply the end of a stick, you don't have much leverage for turning and digging the ball puller into the lead ball.
That is one reason why I carry a small pair of pliers in my shooting bag. I put my ball puller on the ramrod and drop it down the gun barrel. I tap it with the pliers to get the screw started, then while keeping downward pressure on the ramrod, I can grip the ramrod and turn it with the pliers.
After the ball puller has dug into the ball, I can use the pliers to grip the end of my ramrod and pull it out.
Also, there is a commercial product called a "ramrod puller" that functions like my pliers to grip the ramrod and makes withdrawing the ramrod fairly easy.

 

[brubincam]

-----I always file notches on the last 3 inches of ramrod so I can get a good grip-----

 

[RonT]

I make my ramrods from hickory billets and form a swell on one end. I drill a ~

 

[Flint311]

Yup, anything to get a better grip. I have a short piece of dowel with a ball puller threaded into it (ramrod end threads sticking out). Just screw one puller into the ball, the "T" handle into the other end of the ramrod and pull. Sorta same as range rod, but can take to the woods.

 

[Tumblernotch]

For use at the range when using a range rod, we have a steel hook that is split, bolted to a roof joist. You "hang" your rifle by the handle of the rod and simply pull down on the rifle leaving the rod hanging with the ball attached.

If pulling a stuck patch from a musket (happens often at re-enactments when cleaning after firing blank charges), two bayonets locked by inserting their tips in their sockets and placed over the ramrod head and gripped tightly will give a good grip for pulling.

In the field, unless you are using a CO2 discharger, your safest bet is putting some ffffg powder into the barrel through the bolster (or touchhole) and shooting it out. If you have an over-length ramrod you can use a patented ramrod puller (you still have to have someone hold one end or the other or wedge the stock somewhere). This is the least safe, but if you did dryball and you take the precaution to make sure the gun is not primed there is no danger, other than breaking the rod, scratching the stock or going head over heels into the brush when the ball comes free.

 

[roundball]

I always carry a "power amplifier" in my vest when out hunting...my favorite is a 2" wooden ball with a 10/32" machine screw all the way through it...MSM brand from October Country.

And there's a strong brass T-handle with steel threaded insert in the shooting box in the truck...never needed it, but its nice knowing its there.

 

[Dphar]

I just ordered a CO2 "gun" to blow a "dry" ball outta my rifle, but I thought I'd pass along this "trick" the president of our muzzle loading club showed me.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

I just work 10 grains of FFFFG through the vent or pull the nipple/cleanout on a percussion add some powder, put the parts back in and shoot it out.
I can shoot a ball out of a flint this way while someone is trying to find their CO2 thingy.

Dan

 

[Ron_T.]

Excellent advice, guys...

I ordered a CO² gun with a flintlock adapter last week which I'll carry to the shooting range and in the field. That seems like the easiest (and "fastest") way to solve the problem. :grin:

Again, thanks for all the good suggestions! :wink:


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Ron: They made crotches in Trees to help you pull balls. And, at home, one night, all alone, I used my feet to push on the handle of the Range rod, while I pulled the rifle off the rod( and ball). :thumbsup:

 

[Swede50]

Be sure your ram rod end has a pin riveted in or you will pull the end off like I did. Then you have a stuck ball and a ramrod end.

Not trying to respond to Paul. Trying to respond to the origonal post.

 

[Lostrifle]

My "new" ramrod has brass tips on both ends, one threaded 10/32's and one 8/32's. I made a "T" handle from a piece of antler with a 8/32 bolt screwed into a slightly smaller hole drilled through the middle. I also have a range rod with the same threading setup. "Be prepared". :thumbsup:

 

[Tumblernotch]

I always carry a "power amplifier" in my vest when out hunting...my favorite is a 2" wooden ball with a 10/32" machine screw all the way through it...MSM brand from October Country.

And there's a strong brass T-handle with steel threaded insert in the shooting box in the truck...never needed it, but its nice knowing its there.

That's a good idea. My problem is, my ramrods only have one threaded end.
:thumbsup:

 

[necchi]

That's a good idea. My problem is, my ramrods only have one threaded end.

that's purty easy to remedy. http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(d...catId=6&subId=49&styleId=164&partNum=RT-5-8-B
you can get'm in brass or iron for most standard ramrod sizes. just file the end to fit, a bit of epoxy, and drill a hole through it for a small brass rod from the hardware store or a small nail for iron to pin it.
I try to get one of the different thread than the existing one,,then I have 10-32 on one side and 8-32 on the other,,I like the idea's here of a antler t-type handle with a through bolt! darn good idea!

 

[ohio ramrod]

This is why when ever I make a ramrod I put brass tips threaded 10/32 on each end. I carry a small "T handle" in my shoting bag. As well as Two ball pullers made from # 6 drywall screws. If the T handle doesn't do the job (Which it usually does) the second puller can be screwed into any tree and used to pull.Trees don't move much.

 

[roundball]

I always carry a "power amplifier" in my vest when out hunting...my favorite is a 2" wooden ball with a 10/32" machine screw all the way through it...MSM brand from October Country.

And there's a strong brass T-handle with steel threaded insert in the shooting box in the truck...never needed it, but its nice knowing its there.

That's a good idea. My problem is, my ramrods only have one threaded end.
:thumbsup:

The underbarrel rod that came with my Virginia was that way...worthless as far as I'm concerned, just for show, etc.....so it went into the corner of the garage and I had brass ones made, with both ends drilled & tapped for the strong 10/32" size accessories