Ramrod "turtle"

[oomcurt]

Not sure if I read this on here a long time ago..at any rate..kind of curious about using a block of hardwood so shaped that it is comfortable to hold in the palm of one's hand and used for that final push to seat the ball when using the ramrod that was furnished with the rifle. Anyone use or know anything about such a thing?

 

[Pork Chop]

Sounds like you are describing a Palm Saver. I have seen them advertised at a number of suppliers in all sorts of configurations.

 

[gordy]

They are a great item to use on the range,I think it gives a little more consistancy on compressing the powder.Some claim that it is more dangerous to have Your palm directly over the bore,I don't think so.As far as their use in hunting ,it's just one more item to fool with. :front:

 

[BrownBear]

I bored a hole in the side of the ball on my short starter, just larger than the diameter of my rod. Nothing more to carry, and really useful in cold weather. It also gives me a better "feel" when seating the ball on the powder. Lots more "oomph" when you discover that you really should have cleaned the bore, rather than taking "just one more shot."

 

[Bob Riegl]

Michael's and other Craft stores sell hardwood "balls" of different sizes----just drill a suitable hole to fit the end of your ramrod and finish to taste---et Voila---a Palm Saver.

 

[AZ-Robert]

Not sure if I read this on here a long time ago..at any rate..kind of curious about using a block of hardwood so shaped that it is comfortable to hold in the palm of one's hand and used for that final push to seat the ball when using the ramrod that was furnished with the rifle. Anyone use or know anything about such a thing?

I used one belonging to someone else then almost immediately went out and made one of my own. Started with a trip to Home Depot, bought a wooden drawer pull (round, flattened oval profile) and simply enlarged the hole intended for the mounting screw.

Still have that, but don't use it anymore. Instead, I flipped my short-starter over and put a 3/8" deep hole on the side opposite the little brass nub.

In both cases, I made the hole just a hair wider than the diameter of the rod... too much wiggle room might be asking for a break.

 

[BrownBear]

We're on the same page, Robert.

In a "fine tuning" of the method, a friend has drill bits that produce a flat bottom to the hole. I don't remember what they are called. I used one of his because the slight taper at the bottom of the hole from a conventional bit can grab the ramrod a little, even with a hole amply large for the rod.

The same friend made his own short starter using the butt of a shed deer antler as the "knob" and a length of hardwood dowel for the shaft. Looks great and works well because of the smooth, slightly rounded base of the shed. After seeing the results of my drilling, he drilled the flat on the shed antler. Works just as well as my wooden version without detracting from the looks.

 

[dodgecity]

I counter drilled the shaft on my tompion to accept 2" of ramrod. Nice 2 3/4" ball gives a nice firm grip without any need to put your palm over it.

 

[AZ-Robert]

In a "fine tuning" of the method, a friend has drill bits that produce a flat bottom to the hole. I don't remember what they are called.

Those were probably "Forstner" bits -- nice equipment made for cabinet work. Similar results can be had from a spade bit, but it leaves a bit of a pilot hole behind.

 

[Riley/MN]

When my oldest son started muzzleloading, he had a hard time with the short-start hurting his hand. We had just moved into an old farmhouse where we found an old porcelien doorknob buried in the field. We cleaned up the metal part and epoxied in a short length of fiberglass ramrod. Worked great.