Ramrod Question

[tsmgguy]

Probably a really stupid question, but this is my first flinter!

About two years ago I lucked into a Rifle Shoppe .62 Baker rifle. One end of the ramrod flares to a flat, and the other is threaded for for a cleaning jag, ball puller, etc. Like the rest of the rifle it's beautifully made. The flared end is bigger in diameter than the bore. The threaded end will not stay centered on the ball during loading. I've taken to using a separate rammer.

Was the flared end meant to offer purchase for one's thumb while loading, or should it have been turned down a bit smaller so that it can be used to seat the ball? If so, how much smaller than the bore should it be?

Thanks!

 

take that flared end onto a belt sander and sand it to just under bore dia., for seating cards and such. :v

 

[hanshi]

I have no experience with a situation such as yours but will offer these suggestions. The flared end is "usually" used for pushing the ball/shot charge down the bore. If it is larger than bore diameter I'd think it should be turned down to fit loosely. When using either end of the rod in the bore you should probably use a muzzle guard on the rod. I have a US M1841 .54 with a steel, flared tip rod. I made a nylon muzzle guard that stays with the rod at all times even when in the rifle. Extensive use of almost any rod without a guard will, over time, cause wear at the muzzle possibly affecting accuracy.

 

[Mike Brooks]

There is supposed to be a cupped brass piece that screws on to the threaded end that is just smaller than the ram rod pipe size. This is the end you run the ball down with. the larger part that doesn't fit down the bore is what you push on with your palm to run the load down the bore.

 

[bob308]

first never put your thumb or any part of your body that you want to keep or don't want a hole in over the end of a loading rod.

 

[tsmgguy]

Thanks Mike: I'll look for such a thing.

The whole question came about while reading Bernard Cornwell, where one of his "Sharpe's Rifles" loads his Baker by drawing out the ramrod, giving it a half spin, seating the bullet, and then spinning it yet again to quickly return it to its stowed postion under the barrel.

If there had been an additional brass attachment screwed on the rod for seating the bullet, he would not have been able to immeditely stow the rod.

I know, I know, it's fiction! :surrender:

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

A question about your Baker ramrod. `I also have a Baker Rifle built from TRS parts many year ago.
The ramrod tip on mine does fit in the barrel. It is am unusual ramrod. Mine has a big hole about 5/16ths under the big head of the ramrod. This is to accomidate the "torque" Bar which is stored in the patchbox. This bar is slipped in the hole giving a "T" handle grip for using the ball puller and cleaning jag also carried in the "box" Centered six inches below the tip is a very wide area which would seem to indicate the small end was used for loading. The wide area is a perfect handhold for pushing down a tight "Forced Ball"
The ramrod at the small end has a raised collar
1/2 an inch long. The ramrod is very sturdy. If your ramrod does not resemble this perhaps your
ramrod is not a Baker Ramrod.
:thumbsup:

 

[tsmgguy]

The ramrod on my Baker is exactly as you describe. I'm certain that it is the correct ramrod, except that the flared flat is too lage for the barrel. I believe I'll turn it down to .60 and have done with it.