The Dry Ball isn't a new invention.

[Eterry]

Having more spare time on my hands of late I've been doing more reading, always a great pastime.
In reading Captain Randolph Marcy's book, The Prairie Traveler, circa 1859, he speaks of the dreaded Dry Ball on page 152.
"As incomprehensible as it may appear to persons accustomed to the use of firearms, recruits are very prone, before they have been drilled at target practice with ball cartridges, to place the ball before the powder of the piece."
So it isn't a new problem, far from it. I always figured it was a common occurrence, but to see it in writing is another matter.

 

[Eterry]

Has anyone come across other writings regarding military troops and dry ball? Surely someone saw it before the 1850s.

 

[tenngun]

I don’t know of a written reference but ball screws are seen back to fifteenth century

 

[Notchy Bob]

Has anyone come across other writings regarding military troops and dry ball? Surely someone saw it before the 1850s.

This isn't military, but it dates to some time between 1834 and 1837:

This was from Four Years in the Rockies, or, the Adventures of Isaac P. Rose, written by James B. Marsh, published in 1884. Marsh wrote the book based on conversations with Isaac Rose, and from notes Mr. Rose had made and shared with him. The "Indian fight" described here (page 79, I think) involved the Blackfeet and one of the Nathaniel Wyeth expeditions to the mountains. This book is a great read, but is probably less widely known than some of the other references of the period. That link will take you to the digitized version on the Babel/HathiTrust website.

In any event, the native man who borrowed St. Clair's rifle "dry balled" it in the heat of battle, as described in the text. Rose didn't say how they cleared it, but it was apparently more than anybody wanted to deal with during the battle, when others had functional weapons.

We've all experienced the dry ball phenomenon at some point, I'm sure, and I doubt the old timers were immune to the problem. There are bound to be some more examples in the literature.

Good thread, @Eterry !

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[hanshi]

Maybe the invention of dry ball started centuries ago and is in no sense "new". I will point out, however, that myself and a few others worked diligently to perfect the process of "dry-balling"; and you're welcome.

 

[windini]

So, I guess this makes me a "Historical Reenactor!"

Just joined the club last range trip...

 

[Notchy Bob]

So, I guess this makes me a "Historical Reenactor!"

Just joined the club last range trip...

Now the only thing left is to shoot your ramrod. Then you can join the elites!

Notchy Bob

 

[Eterry]

Now the only thing left is to shoot your ramrod. Then you can join the elites!

Notchy Bob

That I have done, but on purpose.
At the range with a new 54 cal fast twist carbine with synthetic rod.
Stuck the rod, jag, and cleaning patch at the breach. I pulled the nipple, dribbled in a few grains of ffg, replaced the nipple, capped her and aimed at the 50 yard target. The rod hit the ground about 40 yards and bounced over the berm. We found it in fine condition. It's still being used.

 

[windini]

Ta Daa!

Back in bidness. Very glad it was so easy only a tad difficult.

 

[Whitworth]

Military loading with a prepared paper cartridge would have greatly reduced dry balling. I'm sure the first muzzleloader was dry balled shortly after it's invention.

 

[cornstalk]

On Saturday September 25, 1830 a party of Blackfeet attacked a small group of trappers that were part of John Work's Snake Country Expedition. Almost all the trappers were killed including an Indian slave trapper belonging to Louis Kanota. The slave fought fiercely before being killed and scalped. "A gun was found near him broke off at the guard, and loaded with two balls but no powder."

The editor of the journal of John Work notes "A common mistake with muzzle-loaders in action. Studies of the American Civil War have shown this to be an amazingly frequent error in combat, even among experienced troops."

 

[Notchy Bob]

I just ran across this not too long ago, and it is pertinent to this thread. The quote is from Col R. B. Marcy's Thirty Years of Army Life on the Border:

This book was published in 1866. Marcy (1812-1887) served almost fifty years in the Army. Up until the War Between the States, he served primarily on the western frontier, or the "border," as they said in those days. He was a good soldier, and was evidently well liked by his men. However, new recruits in those days must have been pretty green, if they thought the ball went in before the powder!

Col. Marcy is probably best known to folks like us as the author of The Prairie Traveler: A Handbook for Overland Expeditions. Both of his books are classics of the early 19th century western frontier.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[oldwood]

Judging the amount of times mentioned in actual accounts , of guns that failed to fire in times of extreme duress , it must have been some what common. I don't feel alone with this occasional mishap , at the range.

 

[Idaho Ron]

The only dry ball I have had was the onebi did intentionally to show how to remove one with a grease gun.

 

[BlazingIron]

Ta Daa!

Back in bidness. Very glad it was so easy only a tad difficult.
View attachment 97921

very nice. I never actually saw a dry ball pulled with a ball.screw.

 

[rafterob]

The only dry ball I have had was the onebi did intentionally to show how to remove one with a grease gun.

There is still plenty of opportunity ahead.

 

[mushka]

I know for a fact as well as anybody here that dry balling has been around as long as MZ guns have been in use. I have had the misfortune of doing it several times and it is little less aggravating than a bad head cold. Really aggravating.

 

[PastorB]

I did the opposite with my original 1861 Springfield musket. Powder, Minie Ball, then another load of powder and Minie Ball. I was talking to a guy who was interested in my gun, and I was showing him how to load. Fortunately I noticed that my ramrod was sticking out further than normal. I don't do that anymore. Couldn't pull it, the vacuum seal prevented that. Had it been a reproduction, i would have chanced it and fired it remotely from behind a barricade. I ended up having to remove the breech and ram the loads out. Ugh.

 

[Baxter]

"Confession is good for the soul."

 

[COTNTOP]

Had my first dryball experience that I had the opportunity to handle just the other day. Helping a fella with his rifle that forgot the powder. So I acted like the expert and removed the nipple, then trickled a little powder in the hole just like an expert. Then shot and just a little pop and out came ball and patch. He asked how I knew how to do that and as bad as I hated to not take credit told him about this forum. He said to thank you guys because he had no clue what to and not that long ago I didn't either. I also learned here not to start a new ball stuck thread. HAHA