Your TMA Officers and Board of Directors
Support the TMA! ~ Traditional Muzzleloaders ~ The TMA is here for YOU!
*** JOIN in on the TMA 2024 POSTAL MATCH *** it's FREE for ALL !

For TMA related products, please check out the new TMA Store !

The Flintlock Paper

*** Folk Firearms Collective Videos ***



Author Topic: Brass ramrods?  (Read 1745 times)

Offline Kermit

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 421
  • TMA: 3/21/17 ~ 3/21/18
  • TMA Member: 393
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #15 on: August 22, 2011, 10:21:59 AM »
Marketing names! Seems folks don't know what to do with "kerosene"  (paraffin in Britian) any more. Look in your "hardware store" in the camping/outdoor section. They'll probably have "lamp oil" by the quart or gallon. It's more highly refined for clarity and less odor. And more price. Expect between $10 and $20 per gallon!
"Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly."
Mae West

Member Number 393

Offline Pete_Sheeran

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 106
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #16 on: November 04, 2011, 03:52:47 PM »
Getting back to the Brass ram rod....  
I have been informed that other than military firearms, wood is the only correct ram rod to be period correct.
That didn't seem right but I had not seen other wise... until 2 yeaars ago when I purchased an original Jaeger in .66 cal with what appeared to be the original ram rod of solid copper!  It was made for the fire arm, and tappered from 1/2 inch + at the muzzle end,  to 0.30 inch at the breech end.  It is a little longer than the  28 inch bbl.  The Jeager was precussion but had originally been flint, about 1810 as near as I could tell.  The barrel had round bottom groves and could have been from an earlier firearm, the inlay silver pattern in the barrel seemd to be an older style.

I personally like a rifle to have some muzzle weight.  I intentionally use steel ram rods in some of my rifles that "feel light".  One is a 36" Vincent with a 13/16" bbl, and and other is a Gillespie style Southern Mtn. Rifle that has a 3/4" X 42" bbl.  I feel that they hold on target better (offhand) with the added rod weight.

Pete
« Last Edit: November 11, 2011, 05:33:45 PM by Pete_Sheeran »
#185 Expires 4/16/12

Offline FlintSteel

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 171
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #17 on: November 11, 2011, 09:05:17 AM »
I personally prefer real hickory ram rods. Been shooting flintlocks since 1974 and can honestly say have never broken a hickory Rammer. The only ram rod that I have broken was one that I tried made of some mysterious south american wood called "rammin" lookes like hickory buts is very brittle like a matchstick.

If you doubt the strength of a hickory Ram rod, try breaking one on purpose some time, they are t-o-u-g-h.
Michael Markey
TMA Member #271  Exp 07/09/2013
National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
Contemporary Longrifle Association

Online Hank in WV

  • TMA Contributing Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2045
  • TMA Member: Charter Member #65
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #18 on: November 11, 2011, 04:51:00 PM »
I've only broken one hickory rod. It happened when I caught it on the door post of my truck.
Hank in WV
TMA Charter Member #65, exp 4/30/2026
"Much of the social history of the western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good. . ." Thomas Sowell

Online Two Steps

  • TMA Contributing Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 5183
  • TMA Charter Member
  • TMA Member: TMA Charter Member #47 Expires 3/22/23
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #19 on: November 11, 2011, 05:29:19 PM »
Quote
It happened when I caught it on the door post of my truck.

Well Hank...if you'd stop trying to reload while you're driving... :?
Al
Two Steps/Al Bateman
I envy no man that knows more than myself,
and pity them that know less.  (Sir T. Brown)

TMA Charter Member 47

Offline greyhunter

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1491
  • TMA Member: Membership #291, Expires 2/11/2019
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #20 on: November 11, 2011, 06:04:38 PM »
Quote from: "Two Steps"
Quote
It happened when I caught it on the door post of my truck.

Well Hank...if you'd stop trying to reload while you're driving... :rotf  :rotf  :applaud
Pa. TMA State Representative.[/color]
Member#291  2/11/19

Offline Stormrider51

  • TMA Contributing Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 447
  • TMA: Contributing Member.
  • TMA Member: Membership #632 Expiration date, 02/05/2020
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #21 on: November 11, 2011, 06:33:27 PM »
I've never used anything but hickory rods and never broken one.  I did shoot one downrange once but we won't talk about that.  The secret to not breaking ramrods is to never grab it more than 8" or so above the muzzle when loading.  Reaching up and grabbing the rod toward the end is almost guaranteed to result in rod breakage sooner or later and possibly getting a piece of rod stuck in your hand.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against a metal rod except I find them hard to get a grip on when my hands are sweaty.  We all get to choose what works for us.

Storm
Life is an adventure.  Don't miss it.
Member #632

Offline forest

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 50
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #22 on: November 18, 2011, 07:52:28 PM »
Quote from: "Stormrider51"
 I did shoot one downrange once but we won't talk about that.Storm
:lol sign  :Doh!  :rotf  :rotf      Been there done that.
YBIC.  Forrest
    TMA # 640
    valid till 9/5/14

Offline Stormrider51

  • TMA Contributing Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 447
  • TMA: Contributing Member.
  • TMA Member: Membership #632 Expiration date, 02/05/2020
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #23 on: November 18, 2011, 08:54:46 PM »
Quote from: "forest"
Quote from: "Stormrider51"
 I did shoot one downrange once but we won't talk about that.Storm
:lol sign  :Doh!  :rotf  :rotf      Been there done that.

Yep, and I've managed to run a ball down without pouring in a charge of powder AT LEAST ONCE plus a host of other misdemeanors over the years.  Most were when I was in a timed match that required me to fire a certain number of shots in a given period of time.  No pressure there.

Storm
Life is an adventure.  Don't miss it.
Member #632

Online Bigsmoke

  • TMA Contributing Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 4271
  • TMA: Charter Member #150
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #24 on: November 19, 2011, 10:41:30 AM »
Went to a rendezvous once a long time ago that had an interesting event - the ram rod shoot.  Camas Meadow, WA.  1980 something.
Seems like the local hardware store had a bunch of 3/8" dowels that they didn't want and so they donated them to the event.  Nasty, crooked, warped, 48" dowels.
So, everyone was issued a rod and a 100 yd rifle target.  You posted the target at 25 yards, loaded the rifle, put the rod into the barrel of the gun, and shot the rod at the target.  A few people actually even hit the paper.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest Up to God.

BigSmoke - John Shorb
TMA Charter Member #150  
NRA - Life
Coeur d'Alene Muzzleloaders - Life

Offline Kermit

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 421
  • TMA: 3/21/17 ~ 3/21/18
  • TMA Member: 393
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #25 on: February 27, 2012, 01:33:28 PM »
Ah, Camas Meadows! My first exposure to "rendezvous." Me in my bright yellow backpacking tent, my remade Aussie navy fall-fronts, a "Tru-man Ca-poh-tee" made from an OD surplus blanket, and my venerable TC Renegade with Lee REAL bullets. And my 5-year-old daughter.

She's now 40 (how'd THAT happen!) and still talks about it. We all started somewhere.
"Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly."
Mae West

Member Number 393

Offline Sir Michael

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2754
  • TMA: TMA Store
  • TMA Member: Charter Member #132
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #26 on: February 27, 2012, 07:11:57 PM »
I'm a little late chiming in here but I would second the recommendation to go with

http://www.periodramrod.com/

A way to have a wood ramrod and and the strength of metal.
Sir Michael
Charter Member #132

Offline jbullard1

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 955
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #27 on: February 27, 2012, 07:44:44 PM »
If you have ever had the luxury of skewering your palm with a splintered Hickory ramrod you will understand why I have hickory for show and brass for go....
Mississippi TMA State Representative
Member #318  Valid until Jan 15, 2011
Hatchie Run Longrifles Member

Offline Stormrider51

  • TMA Contributing Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 447
  • TMA: Contributing Member.
  • TMA Member: Membership #632 Expiration date, 02/05/2020
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #28 on: February 27, 2012, 08:24:11 PM »
On the other hand, pardon the pun, I've been using hickory rods exclusively for more than 45 years and never broken one.

Storm
Life is an adventure.  Don't miss it.
Member #632

Offline Pete_Sheeran

  • TMA Forum Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 106
Re: Brass ramrods?
« Reply #29 on: February 28, 2012, 12:55:43 AM »
If you're looking for good straight grained hickory ram rods, Steve Bailey in Perryville, Missouri makes them.  He has a saw mill and the ramrods are a side line.  He has them in 5/16, 3/8, and 7/16 inch.  They are 48 inch length.  $3 each for premium and $1.50 for seconds.  Minimum of 10 + shipping.  (573) 547-4540   The last time I bought rods from him was over 10 years ago and I still have some and I build at least one rifle a year.  He has the best comercial hickory rods!  

Pete
#185 Expires 4/16/12