Who uses short starters?

[AZ-Robert]

A member of this forum kindly provided me with the opportunity to acquire my first muzzle loader (.40 flint longrifle) and I'm now looking at the long list of things I think I need to get started shooting. Hovering near the edge of the list is the short starter. It is not that I fret over coughing up the few dollars it costs, or the time I might spend making one from scratch - it is more a question of avoiding the 'newbie fever' that would have me acquiring now a bunch of things that might later see only limited use.

How 'bout it? How many of you guys and gals regularly use that short starter? Or does it end up just wallowing around in the bottom of the bag most of the time? If you use one, what style do you like (T-handle or ball-handle or something else)?

 

[Stumpkiller]

I have a little 1-1/2" stub starter attached to my loading block. The block slips in a sheath on the back of the bag and I tuck the starter in under the bag's flap. Usually, I just grip close to the end of the rammer and don't bother with a short starter at all. My new flinter has a tapered wood rammer and that makes it easier still.

That one's whittled out of a single piece of curly maple (from Lowe's trim wood isle).

 

[doverdog]

I shoot quite a bit in a years time and every shot is loaded with the use of a short starter. I'm not one of the "pound the ball down the barrel with a mallet" crowd, but my ball-patch combo is tight enough that the use of a short starter makes life a lot easier. Try shooting a bit without one, then try it with one. Then go with whatever you liked best.

 

[Black Hand]

I stopped using one years ago. It was just one more thing to carry or lose. My patch/ball combo is fairly tight but I can still thumb-start it. If it is being difficult I place the flat of my knife handle on the ball and give it a whack with the palm of my hand. The loading is accomplished with the ram-rod, first by choking up short and getting it down tha barrel enough to use the whole rod. With a tight combo on a small caliber gun this method may place too much strain on the rod, so a short starter may be safer. Whatever works for you.....
Black Hand

 

[riarcher]

Always (almost) use one. The new one I made for my Bess is also the stopper for my ball bag.
Wish I knew how to post pictures (again).
It's "whittled" from a branch section of suger maple.

 

[roundball]

How 'bout it? How many of you guys and gals regularly use that short starter? Or does it end up just wallowing around in the bottom of the bag most of the time? If you use one, what style do you like (T-handle or ball-handle or something else)?

I use a short starter 100% of the time at the range...snug fitting ball & patch combos are easier with a short starter laying on the bench in front of me rather than trying to thumbstart 40-50 shots during a range trip...the type I lke are "Uncle Mike's" and/or "Warren's" Deluxe Short starters.
They have a 2" ball, stainless shaft, brass muzzle guide on the shaft, and different size brass tips for different size/caliber balls.

Conversely, I never use a separate short starter while hunting...while I shoot flintlocks now, I am still not a purist and I take advantage of what I think are the best pocket reloaders available in the industry: TC's '4-N-1 Quick Shots'...in addition to containing the powder and patched ball, the 4-N-1 Quick Shots have a built in short starter so everything is in one simple device in your hand while reloading...I use them in .45/.50/.54/.58cals...slip a couple into an inside shirt pocket and head for the woods

 

[musketman]

I use a plunger from a wine bottle corker...

This works well with large bore guns, those small diameter starters look like they'll fall down into the .75 caliber bore... :haha:

 

[Java Man]

Every shot. I like a nice snug fit, so it takes a short starter. Far less risk of breaking your ramrod that way too.

 

[wilded]

I cut my patches at the muzzle so all balls are short started.

 

[scott k]

My hands and fingers are not to good at 40 yrs old(jack hammers and wrenching or cars and at work every day is taking it toll) and would have a hard time not using a short starter. The one I have is in the shape of a lolly pop instead of round and is used on every shot.
Lehigh...

 

[Trina]

I have always used one...mine is a T shape...deer horn handle...I tried the round ball ones but didnt care for the shape...to big for my hands.

 

[oldmaster]

A good investment. Saves wear and tear on your ramrod and is just easier. Mine is also T shaped just because I like the look. :imo:

 

[susie s]

I use a fairly snug patch and ball, so I always use a short starter. I also use a strip of patching, rather than pre-cut, so I put the ball on the patch, push it even with the barrel, cut the patch, then short start it. Then I finish the job with my ramrod-saves ramrods, too. I've broken a few. Since my hand is somewhat fragile I have a nice wide, smooth end on it so I don't hurt myself. However, be sure you don't leave the ball short-started and forget to ram it home-not good. Susie

 

[B.Habermehl]

I use T shaped starters made from pieces of large hammer handles and a piece of scrap ramrod. The piece of hammer handle makes a very hand friendly starter. See if this helps. The ball and peg type starters are the least comfortable in my opinion. BJH

 

I thought after I coned my barrel that I wouldn't need a short starter but for my jaeger to group well I need a very tight ball/patch combo so I'm still using one. I made mine to be very easy on the palm. As a therapist I try to make things like this to be ergonomical which is very easy on the hand. I used a piece of antler that fit the curve of my palm, drilled a shallow hole that provided a tight fit for a length of left over hickory rod and epoxied it together. The section of antler is at the fork and is fairly wide and comfortable as the pressure is evenly distributed throughout my palmer surface. I stained it all with some wood stain and there you go. Here's a crappy picture of it.

They may or may not be authentic but mine looks the part anyway and it was dirt cheap to make. It's a great little project for those who like to make their own gear.

 

[Craig]

I have done very little shooting (14 rounds from my Bess Trade gun) and have never owned a short starter. At first it was because I figured it wasn't historical. I tend to think military when I think flintlock. I have been thinking about getting one or making one, but I don't like the idea of one more thing to put in my shooting bag. This summer sometime I plan to shoot my Kentucky rifle. We will see how I feel after that.

 

[LRB]

I use one when target shooting, but not when reloading after shooting a deer. Mine is a 1"x1" piece of antler with about a 3" shaft. Small, and takes up very little room in the bag.

 

[susie s]

I have a loop on the end of my strap next to the top of my bag and stick it in there so I don't have so much stuff in my bag. Works for me. Susie

 

[Cruzatte]

It all depends on which gun I'm shooting. If I'm shooting my rifle, I just thumb start the ball. The muzzle is coned. And the ball & patch combination is fairly tight. I use a .530" ball and a patch that measures .012" Patching is a strip of cloth, usually left over linen from a recent sewing project, and is trimmed on the muzzle. I finish up the loading with a wooden rod. I take short strokes on the wood rod so that it doesn't bow.

If I'm shooting my trade gun, I use a short starter. The muzzle on this piece is not coned, and so the ball and patch need a little more help getting down the first four to six inches.

Cruzatte

 

[Landngroove]

I wouldn't be without one. A must for loading!