how to pull a ball

[user 48702]

I’ve never gone to a Rhondy where I didn’t have to use this at least once or more. Works great every time.
Doc,

Neat idea. Is each cartridge a one shot deal or do you get several uses out of one cartridge?

 

[Doc]

Neat idea. Is each cartridge a one shot deal or do you get several uses out of one cartridge?

Normally get two to three uses off of each cartridge. At Walmart if I remember correctly the cartridge runs for a box ten about $5.
I consider this one of the cheapest necessary things available for a BP shooter.
Doc,

 

[Howard Pippin]

The only time I decided to pull a stuck ball over other methods I had used, (co2, powder under nipple, air compressor) Was when I stuck a ball about halfway down the barrel because of fouling. Being it was a 50 caliber I took a 7/16 steel rod, center drilled both ends, of one that was about 3 feet long. Braised a 1/8 inch drill bit in one end and a good sheet metal screw in the other. Put one rap of electrical tape over the rod to protect the barrel, drilled the ball using a pair of vise grips, turn it around, using vise grips screwed into the ball, slid a short piece of pipe over the rod, clamped on the vise grips, and using the short pipe a slide hammer, tapped it Right out of the barrel. I now have the tool if I ever pull such a dumb stunt again.
Squint

 

[Mangonboat]

These threads yield such a wealth of ideas , tried and true methods and improvised tools and techniques, but almost NEVER does the OP post their final result. Drives me crazy, not knowing how it all turned out. I hope its not because the OPs are no longer among the living, having been on the wrong end of a stuck-ball extraction experiment.

 

[deerstalkert]

These threads yield such a wealth of ideas , tried and true methods and improvised tools and techniques, but almost NEVER does the OP post their final result. Drives me crazy, not knowing how it all turned out. I hope its not because the OPs are no longer among the living, having been on the wrong end of a stuck-ball extraction experiment.

this is the beauty of Idaho Rons method. the grease neutralizes the charge, and even if it doesn't , one isn't standing in front or over the muzzle tugging on a projectile.

 

[Doc]

The only time I decided to pull a stuck ball over other methods I had used, (co2, powder under nipple, air compressor) Was when I stuck a ball about halfway down the barrel because of fouling. Being it was a 50 caliber I took a 7/16 steel rod, center drilled both ends, of one that was about 3 feet long. Braised a 1/8 inch drill bit in one end and a good sheet metal screw in the other. Put one rap of electrical tape over the rod to protect the barrel, drilled the ball using a pair of vise grips, turn it around, using vise grips screwed into the ball, slid a short piece of pipe over the rod, clamped on the vise grips, and using the short pipe a slide hammer, tapped it Right out of the barrel. I now have the tool if I ever pull such a dumb stunt again.
Squint

You’re correct CO2 will not work if the ball is not seated. Your slide hammer sounds like a good idea.
Doc,

 

[flntlokr]

Make one of these and keep it in your kit. Use any compressor or a bike pump. Thred the small end the same as your nipple threads. Usually only takes 60-80 lbs of pressure. Drape a heavy cloth or towel loosely over the muzzle to catch the ball when it comes out.

 

[sturmkatze]

In my youth, I dry balled all the time. We didn't have the fancy co2 hoogies them. I just pulled it out with a screw-on attachment. Same with one that wouldn't go off. I've never tried Mark's method -- mainly because I'm lazy.

It would suck to get one down that rent come out and I had to resort to serious methods. I'd probably just take it to my BP gunsmith and ask him... He's a whiz. Editors only kid me a little too.

Anyway, we all do it. Part of the comaraderie of the sport. Kind of like the great equalizer. I'm guessing one of these days soon, I'll get to try my co2 hoogies.

 

[golden sky]

i'm gonna go make that tire valve adapter before i make a greasy mess

 

[user 48679]

Before pulling the ball, have you tried removing the nipple & drizzling powder into the ignition channel to shoot it out ?

 

[golden sky]

i sprinkled in a bit of rifle powder and nothing happened, i'm using home made #11 caps and cut bases off ramsets for ignition, not sure I have enough fire to ligh this off, I did shoot about 4 balls off before this happened,. the shots did have significant delay before firing. i'm using pyrodex RS FFG equivalent. maybe its just too grainy, need to try a finer powder?

 

[Grenadier1758]

Pyrodex requires a lot of heat to ignite. That explains why your "successful" shots were slow to fire and why your cap didn't set off the small amount of powder you used as a squib charge.

Press on with the compressed air approach after you verified that you haven't created a hole through the ball with the stripping out of the ball puller.

If you use a damp patch on you jag and can easily push the jag to the ball and hear air coming out the nipple. there's a hole. If you feel resistance pushing the jag, then there's no hole.

 

[Mr. Flintlock]

Got a fouled barrel me thinks, can't get the charge to light off, tried cleaning out the ports and nipple and various other caps, nothing.. what's the general set up for yanking out the ball from the barrel?

Take the nipple out, fill the drum with powder, replace the nipple and shoot it out.

 

[golden sky]

success!!!!!!!!!!
i did just that, I took my powder ground it into a dust and sprinkled a bit down in the drum.. i was really not interested in getting greasy

 

[golden sky]

what's a better powder for my kentucky rifle?

 

[PathfinderNC]

Do it with with gusto.

 

[LME]

The only time I decided to pull a stuck ball over other methods I had used, (co2, powder under nipple, air compressor) Was when I stuck a ball about halfway down the barrel because of fouling. Being it was a 50 caliber I took a 7/16 steel rod, center drilled both ends, of one that was about 3 feet long. Braised a 1/8 inch drill bit in one end and a good sheet metal screw in the other. Put one rap of electrical tape over the rod to protect the barrel, drilled the ball using a pair of vise grips, turn it around, using vise grips screwed into the ball, slid a short piece of pipe over the rod, clamped on the vise grips, and using the short pipe a slide hammer, tapped it Right out of the barrel. I now have the tool if I ever pull such a dumb stunt again.
Squint

Can you show us a picture?

 

[Grenadier1758]

what's a better powder for my kentucky rifle?

Any real black powder. Try Schuetzen 3Fg black powder.

Black powder has a much lower ignition temperature than Pyrodex so it ignites faster. Cleans easily with water with a bit of dish soap.

If you have only substitutes available, the Triple 7 Powder seems to be slightly better than Pyrodex.

 

[Idaho Ron]

success!!!!!!!!!!
i did just that, I took my powder ground it into a dust and sprinkled a bit down in the drum.. i was really not interested in getting greasy

Did you even watch the video?
It doesn't make a mess.

 

[Idaho Ron]

If you don’t have a ball/bullet puller, check out the @Idaho Ron video using a grease gun. He has posted it here a number of times.

People would rather potentially ruin a gun than clean a tiny amount of grease from a barrel.
I honestly have quit showing the video because guys don't want to get their fingers messy.