inappropriate ram rod use

[coloradoclyde]

I've also tied my ramrod to a tree and yanked on the gun to get a stuck ramrod out when I was cleaning between shots.....

Shoelaces come in handy when you're in the woods. :grin:

 

[M. De Land]

They make pretty good back scratchers as well but to stiff for nose picking! :rotf:

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I came across a film on the youtube where a man was using a ramrod by seating the ball, then SMASHING THE ROD AGAINST A TREE to get the ball down. :rotf: :surrender: :barf:

Well, I did have to do that once to get a maxi ball to seat that was stuck half way down a dirty barrel.

You should have posted the video for all to enjoy.

:rotf:

 

[Black Hand]

I came across a film on the youtube where a man was using a ramrod by seating the ball, then SMASHING THE ROD AGAINST A TREE to get the ball down.

I had to do exactly this when a ball became jammed a few inches from the charge in very dry shooting conditions. Seated the ball, shot and ran a couple damp patches down the bore before reloading and continuing the trail walk.

 

[necchi]

I had to do exactly this when a ball became jammed a few inches from the charge in very dry shooting conditions.

Why and/or how did "very dry shooting conditions" affect your patch/ball/lubrication for loading that shot?
Are you somehow inconsistent with your loading or lubrication during your shot to shot regime at different times?

 

[Black Hand]

Nothing changed but the weather conditions. For some reason, I had more problems with severe fouling when it was very dry.

 

[Vaino]

I've never had a stuck RR, why? Because I use a wire brush.....Fred

 

[Black Hand]

To clarify - the RR was not stuck, the ball just wouldn't move without a little additional persuasion...

 

[tenngun]

I swab often during loading. Wire brushes often stuck on me. I don’t think I’ve used one this century. I may have some stuck in my shooting boxes but they don’t go in my guns.
I too have loaded and had a ball stick half way down. And used a handy tree to drive her home with. Now a swab between shots saves me that trouble.

 

[Col. Batguano]

I came across a film on the youtube where a man was using a ramrod by seating the ball, then SMASHING THE ROD AGAINST A TREE to get the ball down. :rotf: :surrender: :barf:

Hey I have actually had shooters do that with their new smoke poles at the range. They use the 6 x 6 posts against the end of the RR to seat the ball. It's surprising to me how few (new) shooters ever bring a range rod with them.

I tell them about the virtues of swabbing between shots (or using a spit patch) after I see them do that once. But for that one shot, when the ball gets stuck on that crud ring,---hey---it works. Better than shooting the gun with the charge not fully seated. That's one of the common things newbs do---not fully seat the charge. That's why when I have them, (shooting my guns) and they load, I always grab the range rod and give it a few thumps to make sure it's all the way down. More often than not it is not.

 

[BrownBear]

The one that bothers me the most is during their camps they cook meat over the fire holding it with their ramrods.

I think he's mixing apples and oranges. No documentation, but I've often heard of that being done with METAL ramrods. Another sign of poor fact checking degrading an otherwise good story.

 

[Grumpa]

Shoelaces come in handy when you're in the woods. :grin:

I carry an extra lace when I'm out with the flintlock, It works a whole lot better than vise-grips (no matter how much padding is put on the jaws.) :redface:

Richard/Grumpa

 

[Grumpa]

using a ramrod by seating the ball, then SMASHING THE ROD AGAINST A TREE to get the ball down. :rotf: :surrender: :barf:

Well, I did have to do that once to get a maxi ball to seat that was stuck half way down a dirty barrel.

Clyde, you and I have a lot more in common than might meet the eye! :haha: :haha:

Richard/Grumpa

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Don't know of too many wire brushes as period items in the old shooting pouches...

 

[Vaino]

I don't attempt to simulate "period" equipment and practices. Just like to hunt w/ MLers whether they be HC or not and anything that facilitates my shooting is used....wire brushes included......Fred

 

[Dr5x]

Getting such a tight fitting ball stuck in your barrel makes me wonder about the stories that used to be so common about barrels blowing up with much collateral damage.
If you can't get it down with human strength you might wonder if you are loading your rifle or are you plugging the barrel so the power of the powder can't escaped any other way.
I believe Douglas Barrels closed down because of too many accidents.

Dutch

 

[F.G. Ford]

I once used my ramrod to hit the unlock button as my son pried open the top of the door on his S-10 Blazer :redface:

How much powder did you use, and how many yards distance were you?
We would like to know, for in the future we may be in the same situation.
Fred

 

[azmntman]

Squirrel load, 10 grains. I was in the tree where the squirrel was when shot, as the boy pried the door open I fired through the gap (kinda tricky, had to use a cleaning patch to keep the ramrod from falling out). Guessing the distance at 8 yards, zero trajectory. Very nice first shot did the trick. Ram rod ended up in back hatch. This was with the crocket thankfully, had we been deer hunting it would have been harder to convince him to pry while I fired (.54 would also have required a bigger gap and more pulling on his part). He has now added zero deductible glass replacement on his policy :hmm: makes me think he will not repeat but just break in :surrender: :idunno: Kids these days

 

[nhmoose]

I have taken flushed woodcock with my fowlers steel ramrod.

I was reloading my fowler standing over a downed woodcock when another flushed right next to me. I swung the rod and connected. I had a witness who saw it happen from 3 yards away.

2-3 years later I repeated the same with the same witness. I don't believe it either. :hmm:

 

[F.G. Ford]

Great reply!
Fred