Removal of stuck patch and hardware

[Salty]

Well after shooting yesterday and cleaning the bore, my cleaning patch remained in the bore. I retrieved the 50 yr old ramrod and a patch puller. The end of the ramrod came off and was lodged in the bore. I considered busting a cap to blow it all out but I was at home and the neighbors would throw a fit. So I pulled out the trusty compressor cranked it to 140 lbs pointed in a safe direction and it blew right out.
I put the old ramrod in the safe never again to be used for its intended use.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

That has happened to me often enough, that I use a dedicated range rod for loading & cleaning… the ram rod gets used for loading while hunting.

For cleaning, or pulling anything out of the bore…Range Rod.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I have drilled & pinned the end caps on some of my ramrods to avoid that same problem. So far so good, but if I was removing a stuck ball etc, I would definitely use a "range rod" because the wood ones, regardless of what they are made of, can only take so much stress before they give out.(IMHO). I also have a compressor, and that is usually enough, of course you need to be where the compressor is,LOL! I have one of those hand held, CO2 type emergency blowers, that I have actually never used and a "ramrod" puller that i have used. The "puller has leather pads tha

t grip the ramrod, provides more leverage to pull it out when retrieving a stuck ball etc, but frankly I have found it works best with two people, one hold the rod& puller, one holding the rifle!

 

[Salty]

I have drilled & pinned the end caps on some of my ramrods to avoid that same problem. So far so good, but if I was removing a stuck ball etc, I would definitely use a "range rod" because the wood ones, regardless of what they are made of, can only take so much stress before they give out.(IMHO). I also have a compressor, and that is usually enough, of course you need to be where the compressor is,LOL! I have one of those hand held, CO2 type emergency blowers, that I have actually never used and a "ramrod" puller that i have used. The "puller has leather pads thaView attachment 140906View attachment 140907t grip the ramrod, provides more leverage to pull it out when retrieving a stuck ball etc, but frankly I have found it works best with two people, one hold the rod& puller, one holding the rifle!

Where did you get the ramrod puller. I’d like to put one in my emergency maintenance box. That way I’ll never need it.

 

[Salty]

That has happened to me often enough, that I use a dedicated range rod for loading & cleaning… the ram rod gets used for loading while hunting.

For cleaning, or pulling anything out of the bore…Range Rod.

I agree. I was just too lazy to get the brass range rod. Wooden ramrod is now for show only. Lesson learned.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

Where did you get the ramrod puller. I’d like to put one in my emergency maintenance box. That way I’ll never need it.

I honestly can not remember since I have had it for years. But I am sure if you google it on line, some will pop up!

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

I have drilled & pinned the end caps on some of my ramrods to avoid that same problem. So far so good, but if I was removing a stuck ball etc, I would definitely use a "range rod" because the wood ones, regardless of what they are made of, can only take so much stress before they give out.(IMHO). I also have a compressor, and that is usually enough, of course you need to be where the compressor is,LOL! I have one of those hand held, CO2 type emergency blowers, that I have actually never used and a "ramrod" puller that i have used. The "puller has leather pads thaView attachment 140907t grip the ramrod, provides more leverage to pull it out when retrieving a stuck ball etc, but frankly I have found it works best with two people, one hold the rod& puller, one holding the rifle!

I'd love to find one of those metal tipped nozzles you have there.
The plastics coming with those kits today are junk.
Its almost impossible to get it over a touch hole & blow out the load.
Most of the time I trickle powder into the touch hole & shoot the load out.

 

[rich pierce]

I’d unbreech in those circumstances and push it out the breech. I worry about scraping the rifling “shooting” something like that out.

 

[rafterob]

I have witnessed a number of folks trying to use the CO2 blasters and have never seen anyone have any success. Do they actually work?

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I have witnessed a number of folks trying to use the CO2 blasters and have never seen anyone have any success. Do they actually work?

Well, good question. I have never had to use mine??

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I have witnessed a number of folks trying to use the CO2 blasters and have never seen anyone have any success. Do they actually work?

I saw one get used, just last Thursday….worked like a charm, knocked out a dryball with some authority…

 

[Grimord]

I have used my C02 discharger on multiple occasions at trail walk shoots at my club. Someone always dry balls, and once we blew out a stuck ram rod. I use mine often to unload my gun after hunting season if I am not near to my compressor.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

I am glad to hear success stories with the Co2 Discahrger. I have had mine for years and never used it!!!

 

[hanshi]

I've always cleaned with dedicated steel rods and seldom ever put a cleaning patch on the wood one. If on the rare occasion a prb resists pulling out I work a little 4F in behind it and shoot it out.

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

I have witnessed a number of folks trying to use the CO2 blasters and have never seen anyone have any success. Do they actually work?

They work fairly well for cap guns.
The lousy plastic nozzles doesn't get a good seat for flint guns.
I have removed loads using it, but, it isn't easy.

 

[Snake Pleskin]

Mine has a brass nozzle...

 

[SmokepoleSam]

I have and use both at our range for whoever needs it, sometimes for me. It's easier for me to just pull it instead of using the co2 discharger.

 

[Archer 756]

Rich pierce have not unbreeched ANY gun i over 50 yrs what a waste of time and expense

 

[gvandersluis]

Where did you get the ramrod puller. I’d like to put one in my emergency maintenance box. That way I’ll never need it.

I have one but I have never found it to work very well. Definitely a two person job

 

[Rum River]

I have witnessed a number of folks trying to use the CO2 blasters and have never seen anyone have any success. Do they actually work?

Yes, they do. I have the identical model shown in Snake's photo for my flintlocks, and another one designed for caplocks. I bought both of them decades ago when coaching 4-H.

I will add this thought though - I always used this method first. If other methods have already been tried in removing whatever object is stuck in the barrel - it might be too late.

For example:

If a hole has been made all the way through a patched ball when a screw type puller was attempted, I doubt the Co2 tool will work. If a ball was short-started with two patches (student was busy visiting while loading) and instead of using the discharger immediately the shooter decides to beat the charge all the way home with a roofing hammer (yes, he really did) no way was the discharger able to overcome such a wedged cylinder of lead.

There are other scenarios but you get the idea.

At one point I felt the need to slug the barrel of a .54 caliber rifle. Found a lead conical laying around the shop of an appropriate diameter. Pushed it all the way home with no patch or powder - just some lube. Placed a 5 qt. ice cream pail on the floor with a hand towel in the bottom, had the muzzle of the rifle an inch or so above the towel and used the Co2 discharger. Bullet ricocheted off the towel, one wall, the ceiling and a second wall before coming to rest.