Ramrod for Hawken

[Walker6]

I fired my first shots from a muzzleloader today. I laughed out loud it was so fun. I was hooked after one shot.

My rifle is a Pedersoli Missouri River Hawken .50 cal., 1:24 twist. It's made to shoot heavy conicals, but my first few shots were PRB's over 50 grains of 3f black powder. It was absolutely a joy to load and shoot.

After a few PRB's, I switched to 385 grn Hornady Great Plains and Pyrodex 2f. These bullets were much harder to load, especially when starting them. My lightwieght plastic short starter got all chewed up, the heel of my hand is sore, and my ramrod snapped off right where the little threaded thing attaches.

My question is: What's your loading system? I'd like to find a short starter, ramrod, and some basic threaded attachments to cover cleaning and loading of PRB's and conicals.

I'd eventually like to use this setup for back country elk hunting, so I'm not real interested in range-type rods, or anything too bulky or heavy. Just some simple, durable, versatile tools for loading and cleaning, that I can use for range work and hunting.

It took me one trip to the range to find a few things that don't work, and I'd like to save myself some aggravation by hearing what some of you experienced hunters have ended up with. I'd like to hear what materials, brands, styles, etc that work for you.

Thanks.

 

[TNGhost]

Welcome Walker6. I am guessing you had a wooden rod that broke? I have had good luck with the fiberglass rods available from several makers.

I use these with any gun I hunt with(except one unmentionable that I hunted elk with that came with an aluminum rod, worked well, but it has been inactive a while. :grin: )

Never had any break on me, long barrel or short, and the ones I have came with all the standard fittings/threads for attachments. They are brown in color so don't stand out terribly if that concerns you, and are available from most of the usual suppliers.

For attachments, a patch worm is valuable, along with the usual cleaning tips. I have a bullet puller but thankfully haven't had to use it yet. One of those CO2 ball dischargers can come in handy if you have the room and need to clear a barrel without firing it.

As far as a short starter, I use a simple wooden ball type with brass rods. Don't know where I got it, had it for years and works for me.

Happy hunting.

 

[Walker6]

Yes TNGhost, it was a wooden rod. In fairness, it broke due to misuse. I was using it to do something my cheesy plastic short starter couldn't do.

I would entertain using one of those delrin rods. I did pick up a worm already. Do you use a combo loading/cleaning jag in the field?

 

[palonghunter]

I have a synthetic rod for my CVA Plainsman. I think I got it at our local Gander Mtn.

You might want to look for a bullet that's easier to load. I don't like having to pound them down the barrel. T/C maxi hunters have a shorter drive band that engages the rifling, so they go down a little easier. You could also try a minie ball. Track of the Wolf has them.

 

[Mad Mucus]

http://www.aramrod.com/index.html

BH Tool Company

IMO quality aluminium product & service..... field rods, range rods, ball starters & brass accessories

 

[Don Steele]

Walker6,
Your report of your first BP experience looks a LOT like mine. :redface:
When I got the bug to shoot a sure'nuff "Hawken", I placed a mail order for one. It was in the mid-1970's. :v
NOBODY I knew at that time had any experience with ML/BP shooting. I also bought the "accessory kit" offered, so I had everything I needed (balls, patches etc.). Fully equipped with everything I thought I'd need..(except KNOWLEDGE..!!!) I just bought some powder, took her out to the farm and commenced to shootin'. :youcrazy:
As I pro-ceeded to load...fire...reload...fire, I noticed she was getting harder to load so, being young and strong( and IGNORANT)..I just PUSHED HARDER. :shake: :nono:
Of course, the really pretty ramrod that came with my T/C "sure 'nuff Hawken"...didn't survive that first foray.
On the plus side...I DID survive,and without wearing a piece of that ramrod as a weird body-piercing hand ornament. :wink:
So....the take-away is that I didn't know ANYTHING about fouling build-up, matching up a reasonable ball/patch/lube combo, or any of the other fine points to enjoying these things. :surrender:
Pilgrim...you got some learnin' to do.
This here is the best place for it, so keep reading...keep shooting, and you'll go far. :wink:

 

[longcruise]

Aluminum is notoriously abrasive so you would want to have a coating on it. I use a solid steel rod on one gun and a solid brass on another. Granted, the are not light, but I don't feel any difference in the carry ability over the lighter rods.

some people here have hollow brass rods that would be lighter.

for one extensive back country hunt I fashioned a 5/16 steel rod with 3/8" ramrod tips at each end. Length was made so that with the jag screwed into one end, it matched perfectly with the end of the bore. You don't want it to extend beyond as it would then interfere with your short starter.

Here is the reason for a threaded ramrod tip at each end. You can take a file handle and drill it about four inches deep. Then epoxy and pin a six inch length of rod material into the handle. Then epoxy and pin a ramrod tip to the end of that rod. Next, take a machine screw with matching threads, either 8:32 or 10:32, and cut a piece off. Then thread it as far as it will go into your handle rod tip with a spot of epoxy on the threads. Now you have a handle that allows you to use your field rod as a range rod if needed.

You can do this with any rod material including wood.

 

[BrownBear]

Hope you got to my post before it disappeared. In a nutshell, go to a brass ramrod or really good straight-grain hickory. Same for your short starter.

PM me if you want the links to the products I mentioned.

 

[wpjson]

Back in the 80's I inherited my dad's T/C Hawken and the first thing I did was break the wooden ramrod. About 25 years later, I thought I would try it again and bought a fiberglass rod. That really sucked. It was like trying to push a chain. Finally I got ahold of a brass rod on Ebay and I have been happy as hell with it. When I picked up a second T/C Hawkin in .54 cal, I ordered a brass rod for it too. I use 'em for hunting and shooting. I have never been in a competition so I do not know what kind of rules they have, but for deer and elk the brass rod works great. Had a shot today at an elk, but it was a spike, the only elk that is illegal in the area. Oh, well. Good luck, you'll enjoy the sport. :thumbsup:

 

[Shifty]

Split you one from Hickory ,all of mine have one except my 32 it has a brass .

 

[Walker6]

Thanks, all.

I'll be ordering a better short starter, for starters. I haven't decided on brass or straight grain hickory for ramrod.

 

[grey8833]

Heel of the hand sore? Solution: get a wood short starter and drill a socket hole in it for the ramrod to fit into. Drive her home by putting the rod end into the socket and save the heel of your hand.

I went one better and just made a range rod (hickory) with a big handle on the end. I leave my "mounted on the gun" rod mounted on the gun.

Mike F

 

[Col. Batguano]

In the field, I've used trees to push the field rod home that last little bit to help save my palm. Just hold the gun and push it with the rod in the barrel against the tree to fully seat the ball.

You're going to want to get a separate range rod eventually though. They're so much easier on your hands.

 

[longcruise]

In the field, I've used trees to push the field rod home that last little bit to help save my palm. Just hold the gun and push it with the rod in the barrel against the tree to fully seat the ball.

I did that once when reloading after a shot on an elk. My patch/lube combo required wiping between shots and in the excitement of the moment forgot to wipe. By the time I got the ball seated the end against the tree had it's threads stuffed with spruce bark and sap! :redface:

But all ended well with many pounds of fat cow elk!