Post by: Detached on April 09, 2014, 04:09:09 PM
Never, ever, under any circumstances, stop loading your muzzleloader in midstream. Always complete the process.
I took my son and son-in-law to the range yesterday. Neither of them had ever before shot a muzzleloader. Things were going well, I showed them how to measure the powder, start the ball, seat, check the mark on the ramrod, etc.
We were plugging right along when one of them asked a question. I sat the FULL powder measure down on the bench and walked over to help. (See where this is going?) When I came back, I placed a patch and ball on the muzzle, started it and seated it. But...the ramrod went too deep. That's when it dawned on me. Checked the measure. Sure enough, it was full.
Ok, no big deal, treat it as a learning experience. "Guys, never, ever, under any circumstances, stop loading your muzzleloader in midstream. Always complete the process or you could end up like this, or worse yet with a double load, or double charge."
Lesson taught, they got it. I showed them how to pull a ball, and I reloaded the gun.
SNAP. No ignition. Hmmm...SNAP. What the heck....
Crap. Thinking back, the ball came out just fine, but the PATCH didn't. So, I had a nice lubed patch between my ignition source and the powder. I tried picking through it in the hope it'd go off, no such luck.
Second learning experience: "Never ever pull a ball with a live charge behind it without first rendering the charge inert."
So, water went into the bolster, black crud came out, and we pulled the ball. The patch worm finished the job.
I am lucky to have been given the opportunity to teach TWO valuable lessons to my son and son-in-law yesterday, AND show them how to use a ball puller and patch worm.
And I'm just going to keep telling myself that.
Over, and over, and over....
Post by: Riley/MN on April 09, 2014, 05:47:40 PM
Post by: Bigsmoke on April 09, 2014, 06:22:33 PM
Those who have dry balled
and
those who haven't - yet.
Been there, done that, got the "T" shirt, read the book and saw the movie.
It sure is a good lesson in humility.
John
Post by: BEAVERMAN on April 09, 2014, 07:27:28 PM
Post by: mario on April 10, 2014, 12:14:57 PM
Mario
Post by: Hanshi on April 10, 2014, 12:42:01 PM
Post by: Voyageur on April 10, 2014, 01:32:02 PM
Post by: dmills on April 10, 2014, 05:00:33 PM
Quote from: "Voyageur"
I am pure, unsallied and have never, ever dry-balled in my entire sanctified life. I would rather commit adultery than dry-ball....yeh BS. Never, never talk or interrupt your loading procedure...."Doc"
I was mighty tempted to loose my place last weekend at the range and dry-ball. I was shooting and getting used to my first flintlock and all was fine. One of the range officers walks over just after I had run a wet and then a dry patch down the bore. He wants to tell me again (third time at least over course of last month) about this CVA kit rifle he had bought from a friend 20 years ago and never finished because he had broken the main spring, and so on. I got to the point of putting the patch strip on the muzzle and was about to push the ball into the muzzle, when a little voice said "
powder, patch, ball" and I woke up in time. I am sure my eyeballs were rolling around in my head, but I don't think any steam was coming from my ears. Range officers should know better, IMO.
Post by: prairie dog on April 10, 2014, 07:38:53 PM
After I pulled my "dry ball" I put it on the bench. The little smart azz put it in his pocket and said "next time you chew me out for screwing up I'm just going to pull this out."
He still has that ball.
Post by: Stormrider51 on April 10, 2014, 11:49:59 PM
Have you ever fired your ramrod downrange? I had just run the ball down the barrel when a gent came up and asked questions. I stopped what I was doing and talked with him for about 5 minutes. Then I picked up my rifle, primed the pan, aimed, and fired. A ramrod in flight make an interesting humming sound. It also breaks into multiple pieces when it hits the ground. And if that's your ONLY ramrod your shooting is over for the day.
As long as I'm confessing my sins I might as well add this one. I don't ALWAYS have curious bystanders to blame for my failures. I'm sorry but it's true. I got up slightly late one morning to go deer hunting. I arrived at my stand and loaded my rifle as quickly as I could. I was ready. Or so I thought. A little while later a decent buck sauntered into range. I cocked the hammer and slowly raised my rifle. I gently squeezed the rear trigger to set the front. I have the front trigger adjusted down to a matter of ounces so a slight twitch of my finger is all that is standing between me and venison in the freezer. Well, that and the fact that I had failed to pour in a powder charge.
John
Post by: TallTexan on April 11, 2014, 09:43:34 PM
Quote from: "Hanshi"
Because of a few, ahem, lapses, I've discovered a couple of great ways to get stuck patches out of bores. First off I found ball-puller screws to be very effective, more so than worms. Second, an undersize bronze brush never fails.
I too have found that the ball puller screws work well to remove errant patch material.
Post by: Muley on April 11, 2014, 11:57:44 PM
I did it twice.
Post by: Kermit on April 12, 2014, 08:24:30 AM
Post by: kb on April 12, 2014, 08:35:16 AM
Post by: Axe on April 12, 2014, 09:12:38 AM
Axe
Post by: kb on April 13, 2014, 07:42:49 AM
Post by: Stormrider51 on April 13, 2014, 10:31:28 AM
John
Post by: kb on April 13, 2014, 10:57:51 AM
lol
Post by: Detached on April 13, 2014, 11:48:36 AM
Quote from: "kb"
Here in NY it would probably be considered an assault weapon, and need to be registered for future confiscation....
lol
Only if it held more than 10 ramrods.
Post by: Uncle Russ on April 15, 2014, 11:23:42 PM
Quote
A ramrod in flight makes an interesting humming sound.
FWIW; Stormrider51 is right on the money with this one.
In fact, if you're on the range when it happens, you can definitely tell what just happened from the sound, especially if you are wearing electronic muffs..
I've done it, and I've witnessed it happening several times over the years. And every time it happened I could hear that "hum".
I think the one that made the most racket was a metal rod from a CW Musket, and that particular one was very interesting. The guy shooting quickly picked up the handle of "Ol' Hummer".
Uncle Russ...
Post by: greggholmes on April 16, 2014, 01:09:35 AM
Post by: Ron T. on June 02, 2014, 11:16:54 AM
I cut the patch at the muzzle which leaves a nice, round .50 caliber hole in the 2-inch wide stripe of patching-cloth I use (.016-inch washed, cotton denim). Since I use either Swiss or Goex black powder in their metal cans, I bought a nice "screw-on" cap made outta what looks like a .223 center-fire cartridge case soldered to a screw-on metal cap with a hole "punched" in it to hold the .223 cartridge's body.
Of course, when I'm shooting black powder, the can of powder sits on the shooting bench next to me along with all the "other stuff" we need when using black powder and muzzle loaders.
And so, I decided that hanging the "hole" in the strip of cloth I use as my "patching" material over the spout created by the mouth of the .223 cartridge would keep me from trying to put a "patch" under the ball sitting on the mouth of my rifle's barrel because I'd have to take the patching material OFF of the spout of the black powder I was using. I.E., in order to use the patch-material, I HAD to literally TOUCH the can of powder which SHOULD (and "does") cause me to realize I hadn't put ANY powder in the rifle. Right? RIGHT !!!
AND... believe it or not, it WORKED !~!~! I haven't "dry-balled" since I began hanging the strip of patching material OVER the "spout" on my black powder can 5 years ago !~!~! Shucky-DARN... it's the TRUTH !!!
So give this thought a "try" if yer havin' "dry-ball" trouble... 'cause it WORKS (for me, at least)!~!~!
Strength & Honor...
Ron T.
Post by: Geezer in NH on September 27, 2014, 07:28:33 PM
Quote from: "kb"
I wonder if we can use black powder launched ramrods during archery season? All we need to do is fletch the RR for stability! LOLClose enough no need for fletching
Post by: Jack Ryan on December 08, 2014, 08:16:29 PM
Post by: Fletcher on December 09, 2014, 09:46:41 AM
We were shooting at a wooden log crib we made for a backstop. At about 30 yards the
polymer rod curled up like a horseshoe. You don't load anymore with that. Became a
'wall hanger' reminder