Joined the dry ball club today!!

[bisleyjohn]

Recently I was shooting my .54 GPR. I thought "I know what I am doing, I'll never get a dry ball". I was by myself at the range too, alone with my thoughts. I loaded the gun and lifted it up to cap it and just that quick, I thought, I just loaded a ball without powder! Did I?? I don"t remember pouring powder! NO! Yah, I don't know! UUUGH! NO!! So there I sat for a few minutes trying to go over my last actions and figure it out. Then I remember to check it with my ramrod. I slide it down. Yep, too short. SHUCKS!!

So I get to pulling the nipple and sprinkle in some 3F. Put the nipple back, cap it and pull the trigger. POP. Nothing. No smoke, no ball bouncing across the range, nothing. So I cap it again. POP. HUH! Ok so I inserted the ramrod again and it goes all the way to the bottom! NO LOAD, GONE!

This is REALLY strange! The other times I have done this, I always got some smoke, a tiny bit of recoil and a ball going BOOP and bouncing across the ground toward the target. This time, nothing. I blow hard down the barrel and get some smoke coming out the niple so the bore is clear. I just can't figure what happened. I'm sure I rammed a ball down. Obviously there was no powder charge. Somehow it just magically disappeared.

Oh well, it all worked out in the end. I loaded her up right and continued shooting. I think I must have went to Bizarro World for a few minutes. Point is. It can happen to any of us at any time. Pay close attention when working with firearms.

You must have had a close encounter - with the Dry Ball Fairy!

She is, of course, married to the Dry Ball Gremlin

 

[Bob McBride]

I did it a half dozen times early on. Now I’m super careful, when, like said above, we’re all yakking or when I’m making YouTube videos. I’ve swore to myself the first time I dry ball with the camera rolling the video will immediately become a ‘New Shooter Series’ video.

I can usually get a few grains of 0B in the touchhole. Last time I did it I think I got a grain in. I aimed at a nearby cinder block and “clunk!” It didn’t even chip the concrete. I bet the round ball wasn’t going 100mph.

 

[Leadball loader]

I have several dry balls. Under my belt in the last 49 years but a managed to go 47 years before I shot my ramrod down range!!
LBL

 

[30coupe]

The only time I dry ball is when I'm alone...or with someone.

 

[bisleyjohn]

The only time I dry ball is when I'm alone...or with someone.

life’s like that!

 

[Robby]

I guess my dues were late, did it again two days ago. I think I'm a life member.
Robby

 

[flinter1977]

The bad thing about joining the dry ball club is you're first time is not you're last time. I don't make the rules.

 

[rednexx]

I understand Gold Bond Powder helps with that.

 

[Ajgall]

I understand Gold Bond Powder helps with that.

I sure felt chapped when I realized I’d done it