Solid Brass Ramrod

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PreserveFreedom

40 Cal.
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Aug 13, 2011
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I was thinking of stuff today, and one such thing was what would make the perfect ramrod. I got to thinking about how a wooden rod is usually brass tipped and threaded to accept accessories that are usually brass. So...why not just get a solid brass rod, machine and tap the end(s) appropriately, and call it a day? It would cost a bit more, but I am thinking it would never need to be replaced, just polished. Thoughts?
 
My short starter is brass as well, I have about 16' of 3/8 brass for future projects including a range rod for my pistol. Love the looks. Still have wood for them too.
 
There's a school of thought that say's the added weight of a brass rod can steady your hand a bit for target shooting.
The idea does have merit.
 
It does add weight, and it does steady the gun. The way I was taught to hold the gun, it works marvelous.... I bought 32' of brass rod for roughly 100 bucks and gave a couple of rods to my buddy for helping me get started in this sickness and he made me a short starter, range rod, and a RR for my gun and kept the rest for custom short starters he is going to start to make.

I need to make one for my Traditions Trapper pistol.

Now I don't have nothing to blame if I miss my target.....

But, at a rendevous I was at, I was not the lowest scoring person and that made me feel better!

I still have wood RR's for when I store it as I polish my brass when done, RR, Range Rod and brass on my gun with Meguiar's NXT metal polish.
 
Brass under barrel ramrods are all I've used for years, both solid and strong rigid tubular rods for a little lighter weight depending on the gun I'm putting them on...and all my range rods are brass.
 
PreserveFreedom said:
So...why not just get a solid brass rod, machine and tap the end(s) appropriately, and call it a day?

Too heavy to carry around all day under a long barrel; especially with a nice light fowler.

And it's right up there with synthetic stocks and rubber recoil pads as to the other why nots. :wink:
 
After breaking my wooden ramrod far away from home during a hunt and having to make a replacement out of a sapling for the rest of the hunt I made one out of brass tubing. Works well, hasn't broken. On the other hand it isn't authentic and is a bit heavy, On the other other hand :grin: its "more" authentic than a fiberglass rod and lighter than a solid brass rod. For what it's worth, i like it.
 
Ok for range work but not to carry a 'vous or in the woods. If one piece how would you change to a breech scraper, patch puller corkscrew or ball puller screw? Use the brass OK but do have end threaded to accept accessories. Besides, jags do wear out and need replacing every decade or so.
 
A one piece simply has both ends drilled tapped...used them for years, nothing beats them in terms of strength and ruggedness.

For rifle/smoothbore situations where I want something stronger and more reliable than wood, but want less weight than a solid, I have October Country make them out of rigid tubular brass with .060" thick walls, and the solid inserts are glued/pinned/drilled & tapped 10/32".

I never use wood rods of any kind, brass all the way whether with TC Hawkens, Virginias, Dickerts, Lancasters, etc...not worth it to me trying to be "HC" vs. the risk of breaking one and injuring a hand/arm...or spoiling a hunt, etc.

Others mileage may vary...
 
Stumpkiller said:
Too heavy to carry around all day under a long barrel; especially with a nice light fowler.

And it's right up there with synthetic stocks and rubber recoil pads as to the other why nots. :wink:

:thumbsup:
 
Stumpkiller said:
And it's right up there with synthetic stocks and rubber recoil pads as to the other why nots. :wink:
And why would we want to use what the old-timers used? Heck, we have all kinds of modern stuff now. :wink:
 
I use a brass rod with a hardwood ball on one end for a range rod. I use an aluminum ramrod for hunting with. Drilled and tapped both ends and knurled both ends for griping. Stronger than wood, lighter than brass... and definitely not PC. :wink:
 
I have 2 TC Hawkens, One has a 32" GM barrel and balances very well, easy to hold steady. I use a wooden rod on that one. My other has the stock 28" barrel and feels better with a solid brass rod under it. Makes it balance like a longer barrel. I would think on a longer barreled rifle a solid brass rod would make it barrel heavy, but I haven't tried it.
The rod I use has a tulip-shaped tip for seating balls on one end, and a threaded tip for accessories soldered on the other.
 
I would like a brass ones on my guns maybe not the 1" green Mountain in 32 cal that is a workout to carry in the timber.
 
I used to drive past a recycling lot (the lot is closed now ) on my way to and from work. I bought all of the 3/8 brass rods they would get in and made many solid brass rods for myself and friends. Add a Cleaning/loading jag on one end and tap the other for a "T" handle and you have a ramrod/range rod that is historically correct and strong . :idunno:
 
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