Stupid, stupid, stupid

[springfield art]

I always carry a ball puller. Not that I would ever dry ball load!

Riiiight! That's just in case some OTHER guy needs it!

 

[Grenadier1758]

That's correct, @springfield art. It just goes to show how helpful we are. Not that we would ever need a CO2 discharger or bullet puller.

 

[Blitz]

well! what is wrong with all of you?? none of those things ever happened to me

YET! Buzz
p,s, good luck

 

[deerstalkert]

i think i will mount these and put them on my shooting bench.
probably twice this amount blown out with air or pumped out with grease. this is the last 30 years collection.

 

[Dale Lilly]

I don't remember ever dry balling but, then, my memory is lousy.

 

[Trooper]

I was at a shoot many years ago and watched someone’s ram rod fly down range. Hmm looks like a new fangled long conical.

 

[TGJaeger]

P P B = Powder. Patch. Ball
recite it yourself as you load
P - Powder
P - Patch
B - Ball

PPB
PPB
PPB

@$&###**%@#…and then you still dry ball

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

well! what is wrong with all of you?? none of those things ever happened to me

... YET.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

Some while back I THOUGHT that I had dry-balled. Spent ten minutes trying to pull the breech plug out out of the barrel, but that ball puller just would NOT engage the steel for some reason.

 

[Steve Martin]

I have learned to carry BOTH a C02 discharger and a ball puller attachment in my range box and yes, I have actually had to use BOTH in a single day at the range in the past. Clearly - my shooting buddy and I like to chat too much!

 

[Vtmountaindeerhunter]

I am really an expert at stuffing powder in and re installing nipple to shoot out the bore brush, works on dry balls.

 

[jdbama80]

I shot my first flintlock yesterday. I was so excited after I loaded the rifle and shot it successfully. I was thrilled, thinking that I’m going to love this new hobby. I quickly lubed up another spit patch and started the ball down the barrel when I realized “Dang-it” I forgot the powder. My first dry ball. I thought my day might be over until I realized I had my ball puller with me. I had never used one so I wasn’t sure how it would work. The ball came right out after screwing the ball puller in as much as I could. I thought to myself “I’m an official flint locker now”.

Over all, the day of shooting was good. My accuracy sucks but I think it’s because my vent hole is to small and it ignited slow with a lot of failure to fires on first pull but I was most proud of overcoming my first dry ball.

 

[Mtman725]

Easy fix, nipple out pack a little powder in blow it out keep shooting. We've all done it no matter what they say.

 

[vintovka]

POWDER FIRST AND THEN THE BALL OR YOU WILL GET NO BANG AT ALL.

 

[flconch53]

I shot my first flintlock yesterday. I was so excited after I loaded the rifle and shot it successfully. I was thrilled, thinking that I’m going to love this new hobby. I quickly lubed up another spit patch and started the ball down the barrel when I realized “Dang-it” I forgot the powder. My first dry ball. I thought my day might be over until I realized I had my ball puller with me. I had never used one so I wasn’t sure how it would work. The ball came right out after screwing the ball puller in as much as I could. I thought to myself “I’m an official flint locker now”.

Over all, the day of shooting was good. My accuracy sucks but I think it’s because my vent hole is to small and it ignited slow with a lot of failure to fires on first pull but I was most proud of overcoming my first dry ball.

What are you shooting for powder?

 

[Mike in FL]

Yep, you have been initiated. Welcome.

 

[vintovka]

I wrote it wrong. As chided by a long passed member of the FORT SUTTER MUZZLEBUSTERS. This is right way:

"Powder then ball or no bang t'all!"

 

[jdbama80]

What are you shooting for powder?

Schuentzen 3f with Goex 4F in the pan. I drilled out my vent hole to 1/16 today. We'll see if that helps.

 

[Don Steele]

Depends. If you have the chambered breech described by @bubba.50, there's plenty of room for powder. Even with the traditional breech situation described by @necchi, there is room for some powder. Maybe not enough to shoot the ball out, it will be moved. Then add more powder, seat the ball. It only takes about 5 grains (volume) to have enough force to kick the ball out.

Pay attention, the ball may be blown out with little or no sound. I am personally aware of an attempt to remove a ball after about 4 attempts. The ramrod still seemed to contact an obstacle at the breech. Apparently the ball was gone after the first shot and the obstacle was the breech.

Which is why we mark the ramrod. One mark when it’s bottomed out in the empty rifle, another when the rifle is loaded and the ball is seated against the powder.
Removes all doubt.

 

[Mike in FL]

Don, since the incident I have done that very thing.