Brass ramrods?

[Kermit]

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!

[Pete_Sheeran]

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

[FlintSteel]

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.

[Hank in WV]

I've only broken one hickory rod. It happened when I caught it on the door post of my truck.

[Two Steps]

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

[greyhunter]

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  

[Stormrider51]

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

[forest]

 I did shoot one downrange once but we won't talk about that.Storm

   :rotf        Been there done that.

[Stormrider51]

 I did shoot one downrange once but we won't talk about that.Storm

   :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

[Bigsmoke]

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.

[Kermit]

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.

[Sir Michael]

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.

[jbullard1]

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....

[Stormrider51]

On the other hand, pardon the pun, I've been using hickory rods exclusively for more than 45 years and never broken one.

Storm

[Pete_Sheeran]

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