Is a Fiberglass Ramrod Really Bad For a Muzzle-Loader?

[Carbon 6]

So here is a case of an iron ramrod just sitting there minding it's own business and then suddenly.....killing a guy.

Well, you know, Iron ramrods were added to military muskets specifically for their weapons potential.

 

[Black Hand]

Noting previous discussions, many state that it is difficult to find good hickory ramrods. That combined with the inherent variability between wood rods, lead me to conclude that they will have a higher failure rate than, i.e. Delrin. Hardly an irrational fear for those that don't have access to good hickory ramrods or the ability to correctly measure their worth.

However, for those that know and can grade wood the failure rate will decline.​

I agree...to a point.
That said, even a rammer with poor grain can be successfully used (I even cracked/split the rammer that came with my Cabelas 54, glued it together and continued to use it). Comparing the characteristics of wood to Delrin plastic is problematic. The fear of a rammer spontaneously and maliciously breaking if one looks at it, and that is what we are dealing with, IS irrational. There are people that will immediately replace a wood rammer before it has ever been used because of this irrational fear...

 

[Juice Jaws]

I think it's the epitome of the "nanny state". The irrational fear causes over protection instead of education and proper use..

The ramrod is probably the least dangerous thing on a muzzleloader.
I've pinched fingers on locks and trigger guards.
I've bruised cheeks and shoulders on stock and butt plates.
I always protect my eyes because I'm not a total idiot.
I've cut fingers on flints and caps.
I've dug cap fragments out of my cheek.
I've been powder burned.
I've been gouged by front front sights and hammer spurs.
What comes out of the muzzle is lethal.
Lead and substitute powders are toxic.


I've broken about a half dozen ramrods in 40 years on over 50 guns, Zero injuries.

If I applied the the same irrational fear to things that have actually injured me, I can't even imagine what my gun would look like.

Wooden ramrods are an integral part of what traditional muzzleloaders are.

Remind not to shoot next to you,

 

[Carbon 6]

Remind not to shoot next to you,

Why, does the sight of blood make you squeamish ?

 

[Black Hand]

Remind not to shoot next to you,

Since I shoot flintlocks, standing next to me (at least to my right) isn't suggested...

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Speaking of, anyone know where to find a good hickory rammer?

 

[Black Hand]

Speaking of, anyone know where to find a good hickory rammer?

Make one. Buy a straight-grained hickory plank from the lumber store, cut/split a square blank and shape it with planes, scrapers and sandpaper. Takes about an hour...

 

[Carbon 6]

Try any of the major muzzleloading suppliers (Track of the wolf etc.), buy multiple blanks at one time.

 

[Livbucks]

The fear of a rammer spontaneously and maliciously breaking if one looks at it, and that is what we are dealing with, IS irrational. There are people that will immediately replace a wood rammer before it has ever been used because of this irrational fear...

Your misquoting and mischaracterizations are quite alarming. You'll reside rather nicely on my ignore list. You will be there all alone, BTW. Cheers!

 

[Black Hand]

Your misquoting and mischaracterizations are quite alarming. You'll reside rather nicely on my ignore list. You will be there all alone, BTW. Cheers!

Oh Goody! Run away and hide your head in the sand.
I haven't misrepresented, mischaracterized or misquoted - I have clearly stated what I have seen and heard (perhaps a bit dramatically for effect, but nonetheless still accurate). If this offends you, there is nothing I can do about it...

 

[Juice Jaws]

Since I shoot flintlocks, standing next to me (at least to my right) isn't suggested...

Hey Black Hand no problem, I shoot flintlocks also plus I have one that is left-handed, we can shoot side by side and worry the other folks.

 

[Black Hand]

Hey Black Hand no problem, I shoot flintlocks also plus I have one that is left-handed, we can shoot side by side and worry the other folks.

Works for me. That said, are you sure you want to admit that after hearing another complete stranger put me in the Ignore box because I have disagreed with them...?

If I put everyone that disagreed with me or that I disagreed with in the ignore box, I'd have no one to interact with on this site. But sticking your fingers in your ears and screaming "I CAN'T HEAR YOU" really gets us nowhere.

 

[Juice Jaws]

Works for me. That said, are you sure you want to admit that after hearing another complete stranger put me in the Ignore box because I have disagreed with them...?

If I put everyone that disagreed with me or that I disagreed with in the ignore box, I'd have no one to interact with on this site. But sticking your fingers in your ears and screaming "I CAN'T HEAR YOU" really gets us nowhere.

Tell you the truth I think I could fine more friends in the Ignore Box than out of it. I guess some people have thin skin and get their feelings hurt. Give it another 10 years in this country and old farts like us will be outlaw.

 

[Black Hand]

Give it another 10 years in this country and old farts like us will be outlaw.

Then I guess I will be an outlaw and just as out-spoken (or more) than I am today. I will happily continue to challenge misconceptions/dogma/outright lies wherever and whenever I see them. Been doing it all my adult life and don't intend to stop.

 

[Black Hand]

Based on the numbers, the vast majority of people who use wooden rammers have not been injured. An occasional person has witnessed or experienced an injury, but they are a tiny minority and those that happened to the friend of the second ex-wife's brother's second cousin can be dismissed out of hand. All that said, it appears that you have a greater chance of tripping over the dog/cat, striking your head on the toilet-bowl and dying on the bathroom floor than injuring yourself with a rammer.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

ENOUGH!!!

I’ve had enough of this fighting!! Makes us all look bad!! Guys for the love of God keep in mind this is a hobby it’s supposed to be FUN! Turn them frowns upside down and apologize to each other right now before I teleport through the Internet and beat both of you with a wet noodle!

 

[Black Hand]

ENOUGH!!!

I’ve had enough of this fighting!! Makes us all look bad!! Guys for the love of God keep in mind this is a hobby it’s supposed to be FUN! Turn them frowns upside down and apologize to each other right now before I teleport through the Internet and beat both of you with a wet noodle!

Come on Smokey - everyone knows threatening someone with a wet-noodle beating doesn't work. On the other hand, a flogging with a live, wet, angry squirrel strikes fear in the heart of the stoutest person - wet squirrels are MEAN...!

 

[Carbon 6]

I tried putting someone on the ignore list but the forum software kept notifying me every time they posted something making it even harder to ignore that person. So, I un-ignored them and now it is easier to ignore them. Now whenever I see them post something I don't like, it makes me chuckle thinking about the ignore list.
Now I almost look forward to their posts so I can chuckle.
Laughter is powerful medicine and the best friends I've ever had were once enemies.

 

[Black Hand]

I tried putting someone on the ignore list but the forum software kept notifying me every time they posted something making it even harder to ignore that person. So, I un-ignored them and now it is easier to ignore them. Now whenever I see them post something I don't like, it makes me chuckle thinking about the ignore list.
Now I almost look forward to their posts so I can chuckle.
Laughter is powerful medicine and the best friends I've ever had were once enemies.

I'm not willing to discount that someone who is annoying, disagrees with me or is utterly clueless will be wrong all the time. On occasion, they have something interesting and important to say. I am free to ignore the garbage they post while keeping the nugget of wisdom that is occasionally found.

What I do find amusing is when people on an internet website post or PM to say they have put me on their ignore list or in a lead box. It's as if they believe it will personally affect me or that I even care - it's sad. It merely demonstrates that they are incapable of dealing with disagreement.

 

[Bo T]

Hey Black Hand no problem, I shoot flintlocks also plus I have one that is left-handed, we can shoot side by side and worry the other folks.

Black Hand on the left, Juice Jaws on the right.