Sent my ramrod downrange….

[Tanner68]

Was out shooting my 45cal Tennessee mountain rifle, a nice slim flintlock with iron hardware. Took my shot and heard an extra loud thwack on the paper (40 yards), and saw an impact at the top. But I couldn't see a hole. I was a little confused until I went to reload and realized the ramrod was missing. Called a cease fire and found a piece of the rod by the target. A solid reminder to pay better attention and be focused and not let distractions mess me up when shooting BP. Always better to check rather than shoot with doubt. If you ever loaded a ball and no powder, you know what I am talking about.

Now I am learning another lesson as I try and fit a replacement ramrod. They are tapered. The ramrod I have is the correct replacement. And it fits fine until it gets into the stock. And checking the fragment I brought home with a caliper, it is tapered. Now I am figuring out how to taper the lower end of the new rod.

Cool Starry Bra.

[DennisCA]

I just bought a muzzle-loading pistol so thanks for the story, I'm assuming you looked at the usual suspects (Dixie Guns Works, Muzzleloaders.com) for a replacement rod?

[ElvenSoul]

In the old days every part was custom fitted!

Eventually you will find a pattern and rhythm that works for you.

Bet you do a double check before squeezing the trigger from now on!

[ironhorse1]

I thought you were only supposed to shoot the ramrod after you were out of bullets.

Thanks for sharing. We can never be to careful.

irh

[a.tinkerer]

You're lucky.
Could have been messy.
Take your time fitting the new ramrod.

[Armistice]

I thought you were only supposed to shoot the ramrod after you were out of bullets.

Lol, along with rocks and nails too!

[Carsgunsandchics]

In the Black Powder Club I used to belong to, you would be the recipient of the "Boner Award". It happens, and that's why they make more. Hopefully you can find a replacement no problem.

[TKM]

From Skippy.

#36: "Combining blanks and cleaning rods in the M16A2 rifle is not an acceptable means of acquiring "meat for the tribe." It should be noted it's a ***** unpinning a squirrel from a tree and you NEVER get your cleaning rod back."

[ivanimal]

I saw that almost happen once. An old dude was about to shoot when his wifey asked if all the bullets looked like arrows. He was embarrassed but glad. I didnt notice either and I was one bench away.

Good luck with the taper. I would just chuck it in a cordless drill and sandpaper it down. slow but effective.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

You are keeping in the black powder tradition of stuffing anything down the barrel that can be a projectile. Wars were fought like that. Probably hard on the gun but effective at close range.

[smle-man]

Apparently it was fairly common during the civil war in the heat of battle to get off pace of the reloading cycle and launch the rod at the enemy.

I've never done it while shooting my musket but I've spoken to those that have. The metal rod makes a distinctive sound when it goes!

Kudos for bringing this up to remind us to stop and think while shooting. I shot the muzzle cap off of my scoped K31 once. My brain just wasn't engaged. Now I pull the bolt from each rifle before I fire the first shot at the range to make sure a moth hasn't built a cocoon in the bore or something disastrous like that!

[Tom-ADC]

I never use the ramrod that came with the rifle I have a nylon I bought from Track of the Wolf that I use, its so long I doubt I'd be able to not see it hanging out the end.
You aren't the first nor will you be the last. Glad your okay.

[knucklehead0202]

we all screw up now and then, at least no one was injured here, aside from the ramrod, and you have obviously learned a lesson else you wouldn't have posted this up. kudos! no pictures though?

[Excitable Boy]

Now I am figuring out how to taper the lower end of the new rod.

Chuck it in a cordless drill and use a belt sander.

[6mmintl]

Make an 3/8" dia. aluminum range rod and put a screwdriver handle on it.