Stuck ramrod while in ramrod channel

Has anyone had a problem having their ramrod getting stuck while in storage in the thimbles under the barrel?I have a fibreglass ramrod on a blueridge flinter,and after firing 10 shots while it was sitting under the barrel,(I used a range rod),I had a awful time trying to pull it out,like it swelled up while in there.I managed to remove it,but I couldn't get it all the way in again,about 5" stuck out.The next day it was fine and went all the way like normal.It wasn't all that humid out,and I don't think I got it wet,but my buddies think that since the ramrod is fiberglass,the wood in the channel must have got damp somehow and swelled,and when it dried out it was alright again.Is there anything else that would cause that to happen?I hope I have this in right catagory,if not,sorry.

 

[gmww]

Sure sounds like something was expanding. Stock or barrel.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

This problem can often be remedied by simply rotating ramrod to find the sweet spot where insertion/extraction is easy. Doesn't take much to interfere with things.

 

[dlemaster]

Sounds like the wood in your fore stock swelled. Was it raining or high humity?
The cure is to run a correctly sized ram rod drill into the fore stock. For a 3/8" ram rod your drill should be 25/64".

Regards, Dave

 

[roo shooter]

Maybe there was some manure stuck on the rod and that caused it to get stuck.

 

[Zonie]

Maybe there was some manure stuck on the rod and that caused it to get stuck.

I don't think I want to know what it was being used for if that's what got it stuck. :rotf: :rotf:

 

[musketman]

Might I suggest a light coat of wax on the ramrod, this will help make it slide easy through them guides and the rod's channel...

Speaking of guides, are they in a alignment with each other, if one is off center or cocked slightly it'll make extraction of the ramrod a binding experience...

Is the ramrod pinned? If the pin was to work it's way out it would act as a gouge and grab anything in it's path...

Lastly, just because the ramrod is fiberglass doesn't mean it's perfectly round, it the diameter uniformed throughout it's length?

 

[roo shooter]

Maybe there was some manure stuck on the rod and that caused it to get stuck.

I don't think I want to know what it was being used for if that's what got it stuck. :rotf: :rotf:

:rotf: :rotf: :applause: :applause: Very good

 

The humidity was less than 50%,which isn't bad,the thimbles are lined up as far as I can tell,and there wasn't any manure on the ramrod,as it was never used,as I was using a loading rod.
One of my club members also suggested coating the channel with oil.wouldn't coating the ramrod with wax or the channel with oil make the ramrod pretty slippery to hold onto when trying to seat a ball with it?

 

[gmww]

I was wondering if it would get too slick to pull too. Thinking out loud now. How about taking some fine grit sand paper and lightly sanding it to make a smidge thinner. Also before you do this see if you can borrow someone elses rod to see if it does the same thing. In the end it would be cheaper if they fix it on warrantee.

 

[Zonie]

If the ramrod is sticking in the forestock, the last thing you should do is to pour oil down in there.

The wood will absorb the oil and swell, making the hole smaller.

IMO, sanding the outside to reduce the diameter will help and a good paste wax, applied to the outside of the rod and buffed off will help keep it from getting stuck again.

If you sand it, you should wear a breathing filter. IMO, those glass fibers probably aren't real good for your lungs.

Zonie

 

This Thursday is supposed to be a nice day,high 70's low humidity.I think I'll take it out again and take the ramrod out before firing it,rather than leaving it in like last time,and when i'm through see if it still goes in ok.If not,the channel must be swelling up,and then I'll have to decide on a plan of action.Thanks for all the suggestions.Will let you know how it all played out.

 

[Smokey in Oz]

No-ones mentioned the barrel heating up after shooting, possibly tightening things up elsewhere.
Is that a possibility? Even so the solution would be the same, a little emery paper rubbed in the right spot.
Smokeys 2c worth.

 

[gmww]

No-ones mentioned the barrel heating up after shooting, possibly tightening things up elsewhere.
Is that a possibility? Even so the solution would be the same, a little emery paper rubbed in the right spot.
Smokeys 2c worth.

:shocked2: Actually I eluded to the barrel heating up earlier. :hatsoff:

07/01/06 09:36 AM - Post#281639
In response to Indiana immigrant

Sure sounds like something was expanding. Stock or barrel.

 

Went to the range today like I said I would,Temp was 79,very low humidity,and I took the ramrod out of the barrel before I started firing.Fired 10 shots,same as I did when my ramrod got stuck,and it went right in all the way,no problem.When I got home I removed the ramrod and cleaned it with soap and water,got a little water in the ramrod channel,and guess what,ramrod would not fit all the way down after I had finished.
One of the guys at the club said that he had the same problem,and he took a coat hanger bent straight with a patch with some oil on it,and oiled the channel a little every 3 days or so for a week or so and it soaked in enough so that it would not swell every time it got damp or wet.Said it worked,and he was shooting the rifle that he was talking about.Think that I might try it.

 

[Rebel]

Instead of a coathanger it might be easier with a .22 cal cleaning rod with a brush on it. Put a patch on the brush and some beeswax and lube the inside of the ramrod channel.

 

[Slake]

ya haven't taken the little spring out of the channel have ya? There's a curved spring steel piece that will catch that rod big time if it's in the wrong way

 

[Stumpkiller]

I have seen some guns with locks taking two screws where the forward screw/bolt had to have a "bite" ground out of the shank because it intruded into the rammer channel. If the lock was reassembled with the screw not lined up the rammer sticks - sometimes just as though it was pinned in place. Remove the forward lock bolt to see if that might be the problem. If it's a single-screw lock, it ain't that. :winking:

 

Rebel,thanks for the tip about the .22 cleaning rod.Tried it out to see how it would fit,and its perfect.I'll put a slotted patch holder on it and see if a little oil inside will take care of the problem.

 

[Rebel]

Hope it helps ya. Take care.