Short Starter Makers?

[rodwha]

Will you be posting a pic when you get it? I'm a little curious.

I thought Ohio ramrod made me the perfect starter until Richard mentioned the commercial starter being threaded to use as a T handle. I had OR make me one of those too...

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Yes I'll post a picture tomorrow, it's set to arrive in the mail then.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Got it!

Here it is compared to my generic "ball end" starter for my .54 cal rifle. It is wonderful! Very compact and with the brass ends should be extremely tough, handsome antler, ends cupped perfectly to cradle .350" round balls. Exactly what I was looking for, should tuck away nicely in my shooting bag. Ohio Ramrod is awesome!!! :hatsoff:

 

[rodwha]

Nice and compact.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Well, if you think you need one, might I suggest a...,

Crab Mallet!

Crab Mallets work well, you simply use the tip of the handle against the ball, and apply pressure using the palm of the hand on the top of the mallet. It also serves as a light impact device coupled with a punch, to drive out barrel pins when necessary, and with a drift, to move sights when needed. Pouring ball and you need something to tap the side of the mold for the ball to fall free..., you're good to go there too.

You can reinforce the handle tip if you find it necessary, with a ramrod tip from a muzzle loader supply store, or some folks simply cut a piece of brass from a modern cartridge case and use that for reinforcement. AND they are cheap.

Of course, should you encounter some cooked crabs along the way, you are prepared for them as well. :haha:

LD

 

[Mickc01]

Very, very nice!!!! :hatsoff:

 

[B.Habermehl]

It takes a fellow seafood fanatic to think of using a crab mallet! I remember being a kid in a resterant with my parents whacking on a tough crab claw, when it finally cracked the juice squirted a lady at the next table. I wanted to disappear under our table I was so embarrassed. I can see how one could be useful as a short starter. I prefer a brass tipped peg,mounted in the middle of a 3" piece of hammer handle. It's the most comfortable starter I have used. BJH

 

[Billnpatti]

I need it to be compact to fit in my small hunting bag...

One solution is to not carry it in your bag but on your bag. I have a loop on the shoulder strap of my bag in which I carry my short starter. It keeps it very handy and not inside my bag. I also have a sheath for my patch knife on my shoulder strap. Both will fit there very nicely and be very handy when needed. I do have more than one patch knife, one of which is a neck knife. When I am using it, I do not put the other knife in its sheath on my shoulder strap. I had a friend who had the loop for his short starter on the outside of the flap of his bag. As they say "There's more than one way to skin a cat."