Which way did it go?

[david58]

Two kinds of muzzleloader shooters. Those that have shot their ramrod, and those that haven't yet.

 

[COTNTOP]

I found out this week how to dryball. Just did not have my mind right and made that big leap. Removed nipple dropped a little powder and thatworked just like the BPManiac video. I love it when things work out.

 

[Urban Coyote]

If that barrel had the correct twist, maybe the ramrod wouldn't keyhole. I wonder what twist that would be?

Whoops, 64Spinger already covered this.

 

[Hawk54]

I attended Civil War reenactments where the organizers running it would not let ramrods be carried during the battles just for this reason. Giant steel crossbow bolt. We just dumped the powder down the barrel and dropped the paper on the ground.

 

[oldwood]

Gary...Thanks for clearing the scoring up on the ramrod target. That was a head scratcher.

 

[TDM]

I attended Civil War reenactments where the organizers running it would not let ramrods be carried during the battles just for this reason. Giant steel crossbow bolt. We just dumped the powder down the barrel and dropped the paper on the ground.

That's what I'd heard. No ram rods allowed. They still make a lot of noise from the few I've been to.

 

[Hawk54]

That's what I'd heard. No ram rods allowed. They still make a lot of noise from the few I've been to.

Ramming the paper down on top the load does make a difference. Biggest thing is if you tip the barrel down, the powder doesn't slide down the barrel. Guys would load powder and when they went to cap the rifle they would tilt the barrel down and the powder would slide partway down the barrel. When fired it would make a big woof and a lot of burning powder flies out the barrel.

 

[TDM]

Ramming the paper down on top the load does make a difference. Biggest thing is if you tip the barrel down, the powder doesn't slide down the barrel. Guys would load powder and when they went to cap the rifle they would tilt the barrel down and the powder would slide partway down the barrel. When fired it would make a big woof and a lot of burning powder flies out the barrel.

I wondered why a lot of the guys fired with their barrels held high. Makes sense now.

 

[Billy Boy]

Could have been a chained 2-ball load for taking the rigging down on a duckboat…

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

This guy seems to be missing his ramrod. Too bad, he had a good group going!

View attachment 184716

 

[ColonialRifleSmith]

This guy seems to be missing his ramrod. Too bad, he had a good group going!

View attachment 184716

In 60 years of muzzleloader building and shooting, I have never shot my rammer down range. No excuse. Semper Fi.