DirtyDusty
32 Cal
Anyone know if a source for hickory dowels, to make a ball starter? What about the brass tip? I have some antler I was thinking of using.
Hickory dowels
- Thread starter DirtyDusty
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
- Status
BillyC
Shooting my .45 better every time
I wouldn’t think a short starter would have to be hickory, not likely to bend and break. I used the extra I cut off my ramrod that came in my Kibler kit. I used a spent .38 cal case for the brass tip.
With the right patch and ball combination, short starters are not needed.
Lowes has red oak dowels, they look just like hickory when stained and can have surprisingly little grain run out.
longcruise
70 Cal.
I've made many short starters and rods with those oak dowels and never broke any.
I'm also in the club of those who have only broken long starters that had brass tips, never those that didn't. I'll also say that the .45 short/long starter my Dad made in the late 1970s having a .38 Special shell case for a tip has never broken and the ones I did break were commercial ones from cheap "starter kits" using pith wood dowels and the brass was very thick so the wood was reduced significantly at the ferrule base and thus weakened.
TOTW and they have all the brass or iron tips. Choose your size.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Search.aspx?search=hickory ramrod
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Search.aspx?search=hickory ramrod
longcruise
70 Cal.
@ORBushman a good option for many but I can't seem to get beyond my DIY impulse! 
admittedly, my homemade stuff isn't always pretty but they are functional.
admittedly, my homemade stuff isn't always pretty but they are functional.
All the ones at TOW have threaded tips, I don't like those for ramrod/short starters.
The ones without threads are hard to find
hanshi
Cannon
I've made a bunch of starters for various calibers using a range of materials to build them. I usually put brass tips on the starters but no all of them. Notice the short wooden peg and one even carved out of the antler. They were all made from stuff I found around my shop.
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 3,237
- Reaction score
- 7,173
Can't help but disagree with you, for me, and my fellow shooters. I am sure, you are correct with what you want in a load, but I like a tight fit. I don't see how the ball would get in the bore without one. I see bunches of my friends yearly shooting in matches, and I have yet to see anyone loading without a starter. Again, if that works for you go for it.
Larry
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2021
- Messages
- 449
- Reaction score
- 850
DirtyDusty, if you are just wanting to make a range ball starter, nothing to put in a PC kit. You can even use and old arrow shaft. The wooden ones sometimes even have an insert with threads that will accept a jag. I have uses carbon and aluminum ones for bench shooting in small caliber rifles. I fill the small caliber wooden rods are more likely to break . But I always take wooden to the woods. Just use a pistol case that fits snug on the wood shaft. I would epoxy it and pin to shaft. If the rim is to fat it can be filed down pretty easy.
Treso brand is the non-thteaded ones I've used. I buy Treso ramrod accessories on eBay. Pretty good stuff and not too expensive. At least there used to be plenty on there. Haven't looked in a while.
Just did a quick look on eBay and the have RMC and CVA ramrod tip kits but didn't see any Treso. Both brands are made for a 3/8 rod. Plus 1 in the red oak dowels from Lowe's or Home Depot. I use them for all kinds of stuff. They look good either stained or waxed and are durable. No idea where to get hickory though.
- Joined
- May 6, 2013
- Messages
- 4,282
- Reaction score
- 9,867
I ain't checked in awhile but I bet I got a bunch of short hickory rods under the bench . Every time I cut a ramrod to length the left over piece I toss under the bench . PM me yer address and I'll send em to ya ...
Brokennock
Cannon
So now anyone who looks at this forum knows you have guns and now has your address 
So now anyone who looks at this forum knows you have guns and now has your address
It always amazes me, at least he didn't put his phone # on line
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2019
- Messages
- 6,179
- Reaction score
- 9,424
If the tip of the short starter dowel is slightly pointed , the center of the dowel takes the abuse , while the outer edge doesn't touch the ball , no metal tip is needed. Doing it that way for 1/2 century w/ no breakage. Metal tip makes the starter look finished.
- Status
