New flintlock rifle question

[SDSmlf]

When I saw where you were from assumed there was a backstory with the CMP chamber indicators. Rules are rules.

Picked a cheap set of long drills (maybe 18" or longer, would have to check) from Harbor Freight. Wouldn't consider using them to drill a ramrod hole, but great for chasing one. Might help in your case.

Be careful with that sandpaper. Can scratch a stock finish in seconds. And it appears you have a very nice stock.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Hi,
Happy to hear/see a new face here on the Forum, the others are getting tired & grizzly.
I don't think you could get a better gun maker than Mr. Mackenzie, his work is superb.

You will get several suggestions, but if I may ad one. Please go easy, no big hammers, wrenches or power tools.
All the best!
Fred

 

[Brokennock]

While that is a very nice looking rifle, I kind of meant pics of the problem. Can you show us a close up of the ramrod ends, both of them, and maybe of the rod as far into the gun as it will go.

Was the ribbed jag on the rod when you received the rifle?

 

[Rifleman1776]

That is a beaut. :grin: Be proud and enjoy. I was wondering about that yellow thingy also. I'm sure you will get your stuck rod problem solved soon. It sorta proves an ml rifle is not the simple thing many people think them to be. Do some shooting and tell us about it.

 

[lowcsp]

It looks like you have yourself a kiber kit these are very good guns and he did a very good job on it if that is one of jims kits. does the entry pipe have a skirt if not I just built one of his kits and I had to taper the ramrod for about 10" to make it work. The one I have has a rice barrel.

 

[Java77]

While that is a very nice looking rifle, I kind of meant pics of the problem. Can you show us a close up of the ramrod ends, both of them, and maybe of the rod as far into the gun as it will go.

Was the ribbed jag on the rod when you received the rifle?

Oh ok got it. Will try to take more pics. It didn’t come with any jags. Just the bronze tip drilled for jags.

Nate has been trying to help me figure out why the ramrod went in and out fine before and after the shooting session but once I cleaned it, the ramrod wouldn’t go in.

He suggested I run a worm down there to see if maybe something fell in and got stuck.

Worst case is he wants it back to take it apart and look at it. He suggested I could take the entry thimble out and take a look but I’m worried about messing something up if I did that.

 

[Brokennock]

Not trying to be condescending or insulting, but just to cover the bases, have you tried unscrewing the jag and putting the rod in with the brass ferrul in the gun? Is the ferrul tapered, maybe with a slightly bulbous wood end.

 

[Java77]

Not trying to be condescending or insulting, but just to cover the bases, have you tried unscrewing the jag and putting the rod in with the brass ferrul in the gun? Is the ferrul tapered, maybe with a slightly bulbous wood end.

Yup no jag on it. The wooden end on the ramrod does not look tapered.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Ok! Now to get at the problem.
Remove the barrel from the stock, attach a drill bit the same size as your ramrod, a little smaller is better.
Now carefully turn the bit "by hand" listen for any metal scraping ( maybe a screw has shifted, not likely but it could happen )
Do not turn the drill bit under power, something bad can and will happen.
After your shooting session, a small piece of wood may have shifted. Turning the drill bit by hand should loosen it.
You will not find a looong drill bit at your corner store. But you can buy long drill rod at your local NAPA automotive supply store, perhaps even extra long drill bits.
If all you can get is round drill stock, you can get it 48" long it is easy to grind a working drill bit.
Just Google a spade drill bit.
It is relatively easy since you already have the hole drilled.
Fred
GO SLOW!

 

[lowcsp]

before you do the drill bit deal take a 1/16" punch and knock out the pin holding the entry pipe in an remove it then try your ramrod if it still wont go you can run a rat tail rasp down but somtimes when I dill my ramrod holes an inlet the pipe there is a small ridge on the backside of the pipe so if the ramrod is a tight fit it will not go in with out tapering the rod

 

[hawkeye2]

Ok, so it happened after you cleaned not before. Is it possible some water/cleaning solution ran down the channel and soaked into the stock causing the inside diameter of the hole do close up a little? It wouldn't take much as the wood isn't sealed inside and the solution would be to drill, ream or sand the inside of the ramrod hole in the stock. I had something like that happen once.

 

[Brokennock]

I was asking if the brass ferrul is tapered.

Most of these guys have more experience than I fixing or building these types of guns. That said, I would be reluctant to start drill and scraping things if I couldn't see exactly what and where material needed to be removed, until the builder has a chance to look at it. He has already expressed a willingness to do so, that might change if you go messing with his work.
Again, my feeling on that might be different if you could see what the rod is hitting.

 

[Java77]

I was asking if the brass ferrul is tapered.

Most of these guys have more experience than I fixing or building these types of guns. That said, I would be reluctant to start drill and scraping things if I couldn't see exactly what and where material needed to be removed, until the builder has a chance to look at it. He has already expressed a willingness to do so, that might change if you go messing with his work.
Again, my feeling on that might be different if you could see what the rod is hitting.

Sorry I thought you meant the ramrod. Anyhow it doesn’t look tapered.

I’m going to see if I can find a way to see what is causing the obstruction. If I can’t find it, I’ll send it back to the builder for his expertise. This is too nice of a rifle for a rookie like me to mess around with.

Many thanks to all if you for trying to help. I posted a similar question on another forum and didn’t get the level of response as I have here.

Btw I was incorrect about the barrel. Nate corrected me and said it is a Rice barrel southern style. The lock is a Chamber late Ketland style.

 

[Col. Batguano]

The builder knows this gun a LOT better than you do. He sounds like a conscientious guy. I know If I were the builder I would want to make it right if an issue like this popped up for my customer, especially so soon after his purchase.

He might want to handle it personally and directly, or try to talk you through a fix on the phone and save the trouble and risk of damage in 2-way shipping. Either way, he sounds like a stand-up guy you can deal with, and would actually WANT to.

 

[timothy prouty]

WELL you can try to go to Lowe or home deport and pick up a3/8inch wood rod and see if that can go all the way down and if not then you can sand the rod down to fit the hole hope this helps

 

[Rifleman1776]

Do not turn the drill bit under power, something bad can and will happen.

Say that again but louder:

Do not turn the drill bit under power, something bad can and will happen.

 

[Rifleman1776]

WELL you can try to go to Lowe or home deport and pick up a3/8inch wood rod and see if that can go all the way down and if not then you can sand the rod down to fit the hole hope this helps

Over the years I have had several extra long drill made by welders putting a regular bit onto the end of a piece of steel rod. Works but must be pulled back out to remove chips as the rod doesn't have flutes to help clear as you get deeper.

 

[Old guns are better]

Very nice gun you have.
Nate builds a great gun, i have a 36 cal from him.
Try a round file, bend the end up as a handle.

 

[Snakebite]

WELL you can try to go to Lowe or home deport and pick up a3/8inch wood rod and see if that can go all the way down and if not then you can sand the rod down to fit the hole hope this helps

That's a good idea, sand on an alternate wooden rod before you go altering the ram rod that came with it. And definitely before whacking on that pretty rifle itself. (Like drilling out the ram rod channel)

Best bet IMHO is to contact the builder and see what he says.