Hickock 45 Dry Balls It

[Secesh]

Although I myself have not dug any minie balls that have screw holes in the nose, meaning they were pulled from the bore, I know relic hunters who have dug them and I have seen one or two. I believe those who lived their entire lives using nothing but muzzleloaders, making sure the powder preceded the projectile were not that prone to get the order wrong. Not saying it didn’t happen, especially during the heat of a Napoleonic type battle.

 

[flconch53]

This has always been a fear of mine. Thankfully I haven't done it yet!

I always enjoy videos from Hickok45, thanks for sharing.

Just haven’t shot enough yet. Keep trying you'll get there

 

[wiscoaster]

The dry ball was intentional. He said as much. Clearing the dry ball by means of powder dribbling was what the video was all about.

Maybe, but "he said as much", no I don't think so. That's not what I got from the video, that it was all play-acting. At best, he screwed up and took advantage of his screw-up to do some instruction. Because frankly, the example clearing the dry ball in the video was probably just luck that it was percussion with a clean-out screw, and that case is not at all representative of the usual case. So .... I disagree with your opinion, sorry.

 

[springfield art]

One way to skin a cat.

We've all done it!!

 

[springfield art]

Just haven’t shot enough yet. Keep trying you'll get there

"Yet" being the defining word! I've done it, most have!

 

[TNGhost]

Maybe, but "he said as much", no I don't think so. That's not what I got from the video, that it was all play-acting. At best, he screwed up and took advantage of his screw-up to do some instruction. Because frankly, the example clearing the dry ball in the video was probably just luck that it was percussion with a clean-out screw, and that case is not at all representative of the usual case. So .... I disagree with your opinion, sorry.

It was pretty clear from the outset that his was about the heat of battle leading to a no powder load and he set it up that way as an excuse to show the technique (which was novel to him) and enable him to make a vid that would make it past the censors.

 

[wiscoaster]

It was pretty clear from the outset that his was about the heat of battle leading to a no powder load and he set it up that way as an excuse to show the technique (which was novel to him) and enable him to make a vid that would make it past the censors.

Well, ya, but maybe video editing can do wonders wrt the final presentation. IMO, he actually did really screw up. And then made the best of it for a "learning" video. And did a good job at that, as usual.

 

[DeeTV]

If he really did screw up why did he continue to record and then post the video? If a genuine mistake it would be far easier to stop and begin again or edit out the dry ball. And yes he did say the dry ball was intentional.

 

[wiscoaster]

Well, you know what they say about five witnesses and five different stories ....

 

[hogleg]

One way to skin a cat.

You're no weider than I am

 

[Mike in FL]

I think most of his stuff was banned from u tube anyway…. Never cared for the guy.

Me either. He's not such a nice fellow off camera.

 

[wiscoaster]

....He's not such a nice fellow off camera.

Ummmm .... you have any personal experience to document that??

 

[wiscoaster]

I think most of his stuff was banned from u tube anyway…

That's no reflection on him, just on YouTube.

 

[stickmann00]

One way to skin a cat.

I think of the dozen or so dry balls I’ve had I have only pulled one. All the others I’ve cleared exactly like that. Always works for me.

I have read somewhere, I think on this forum, that the bolster screw is there only to plug a hole that was necessary in the manufacturing process and was never intended as a cleanout access. Can anyone clarify?

I dryballed once...that was a good lesson

 

[bud in pa]

That's why I use paper cartridges, at 80 yrs. you can't expect me to remember everything.

 

[BrianL]

I use the nipple removal and charging method on my own screw-ups (refuse to say my dry balls) BUT always pull customers obstructions or 'loaded' guns that come in as trades as I have no idea what is down there.

 

[Taevers]

Yeah, they applied censorship to many who share our sport.

YouTube was the miracle of our time that was choked out by censorship. RIP.

 

[texasred]

Ummmm .... you have any personal experience to document that??

I met him at the nra in Houston and he was extremely pleasant and talked quiet a while. I like his videos.

 

[wiscoaster]

..... I like his videos.

Me too.

In fact, probably the very first gun video I ever watched on YouTube was one of his videos. It was the one where he showed what could happen to your thumb if using an incorrect hold on a revolver, using hot dogs to demonstrate the results. It was not only educational, it was not only entertaining, it was amusing.

I tried to find it and couldn't so I suspect it may have been taken down and replaced with a less gruesome video.