Well, only been shooting black powder for a couple of years now, still consider myself "new" to the sport; until today. I always heard if you shoot muzzleloaders enough it's a when not an if , on dry balling. Told myself "I'll never do that, I'm careful", well I was getting some good groups, things were going well, got excited and it happened. As soon as I smacked the short starter I knew what I did. I tried the air compressor and that didn't work, so I pulled the vent liner and trickled about 20 grs. of 2F in the breach, then replaced the liner and seated the ball. Fired it at the berm and watch the ball hit the dirt at about 50 yds. Easy peasy,, back to shooting in no time. That was the first. I'm sure it won't be the last; all part of the experience.
I joined the dry ball club today
- Thread starter kyron4
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many members in this club. i did it last sunday. had friends up for a shoot. yacking and not paying attention. seems there is a voice in the short starter that whispers to you "dummy, there is nothing under me" knew the instant i smacked it.have a rubber nozzle on an air gun. popped right out. 2nd time this year. getting old i guess.
Oh yeah, 160lbs air pressure behind a .535 ball will dent a Ford Escapes fender.
Walkingeagle
54 Cal.
Lol, heck my chemo addled brain has me dry ballin almost every range trip anymore. Lol
I do remember the first time, and having no mentor back far too long ago, I had to sit down with a coffee and ponder on it a bit. Then it hit, grease zerk and gun. Worked great but took time to clean up afterwards. Shortly after that I discovered pulling the nipple and working a bit o’powder in was way easier. Never looked back unless it’s a stuck ball part way down.
Walk
I do remember the first time, and having no mentor back far too long ago, I had to sit down with a coffee and ponder on it a bit. Then it hit, grease zerk and gun. Worked great but took time to clean up afterwards. Shortly after that I discovered pulling the nipple and working a bit o’powder in was way easier. Never looked back unless it’s a stuck ball part way down.
Walk
DuncNZ
54 Cal.
The main thing I have found with dry ball extraction is to get some moose milk or some such liquid down the barrel and let it soak for a few minutes before trying an extraction
My compressor only went to 120 psi and I tried it with the ball still 3" from the muzzle, didn't work. Not sure if I seated it against the breach if it would have worked .
have a rubber nozzle on an air gun. popped right out. 2nd time this year. getting old i guess.
Oh yeah, 160lbs air pressure behind a .535 ball will dent a Ford Escapes fender.
Since the ball was up near the muzzle I was able to trickle powder in the vent then seat the ball . Don't now what the minimum is to get a ball to leave a 34" barrel, but about 15 to 20 grain popped it out with some oomph.
Several times lately I have went shooting and not dry balled.
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some day for the sake of my curiosity i will test just what it takes to dislodge a dryball vis trickling powder.
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i would be tempted to say that this condition increases as we get older but someone might think me dirty minded.
Congratulations on joining the club. Now start working on your Double Ball Membership.
I have never once dry balled .................. Two times yes but never just once . Not so bad when alone but humiliating , embarrassing when someone just stands there watching you do it and ask " doesn't powder go in first ? " Good thing I married her
In a 32 crockett, 32" barrel, 15 to 20 grains is a hunting load.
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I had my first dry ball a few weeks ago. I was by myself so no excuse about being distracted. I was able to work some 4f in through the touch hole with my pick, and when I thought it was enough I fired it off. Instead of a bang I got a poof, but I could see the ball leave the barrel and go about halfway to the target stand.
Rock Home Isle
54 Cal.
Ever since Covid…every few weeks, I keep renewing my membership to the Dry-Ball club.
About 4 or 5 grains of powder will send a dry ball out of the barrel. You do need to watch carefully for that tiny bit of smoke at the muzzle as the repot is so soft that you not think the ball has departed.
Rock Home Isle
54 Cal.
I, once, kept trying over and over, to trickle powder in behind the ball, and discharge the dry-ball…about 7 times…only to find out that the ball was gone. Guy at the table next to me, finally said, “Yeah, I saw it go on the first try…”
I shoot with a mean crowd…
Dry ball's are "interesting". Do this long enough, you'll see someone forget to remove their ramrod. Don't be that guy.
Seen it......"i just shot my ramrod!!!!!!"
Rock Home Isle
54 Cal.
Someone should start a thread…”I shot my Rod”…What’s Your Story?
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