AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Black Jaque Janaviac on December 29, 2009, 10:38:22 PM
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I'm thinking of building a .32 caliber for plinking and squirrels.
But my experience with a previous .32 has me a bit nervous. I had a Pedersoli that had a 5/16" ramrod. The rods kept breaking on me. So I got one of those brown rubbery rods (oh the shame!).
After a few years, the muzzle eroded so badly that I couldn't hit a squirrel 10 feet away!
Was it the rubbery rod?
Or was it the snug fit of the 5/16 inch ramrod?
In other words, would I have experienced the muzzle wear had I stuck with 5/16" wooden ramrods? The 5/16 makes for a just-barely fit in the .32 bore. No room for a muzzle protector. Any sand on the rod will surely abrade the bore.
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I personally find that the 5/16" rod is a little snug for a 32. for the very reasons you mentioned. I am sure that the rubbery rod didn't do you any favors at all. Get a good straight grained hickory rod for hunting and a good stainless rod that is smaller than 5/16" for plinking. Yes, don't forget the bore muzzle. I have the same problems with a 40cal. To me, the 3/8" rod is just too snug to be used in that cal. Your mileage may vary.
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I used 1/4 inc rods in my 32's. Some of the synthetic rods played havoc with muzzles unless used with a bore guide. You can get 1/4 muzzle tips and accessories now. You also might go a strong 1/4 inch by sanding down a 5/16.
DP
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I second the "good straight grain hickory" rod. I copied a rifle a couple years ago. The original was a .36 but I made mine a .45 and used a 5/16 rod. It worked fine until I sold it. When loading, only have you hand about 8 - 10 inches up from the muzzle when pushing down a ball. Takes a little extra time but when in the woods a few more seconds is worth saving the hunt.
Brain
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Well when I had the Pedersoli, I did use a 1/4 brass range rod and bore guide, but generally I use metal rods for cleaning and getting myself out of trouble. I like to shoot "off the body". I've learned that a good routine avoids dry-balling. Something as different as reaching to the bench for a ramrod can throw me off especially if I'm shooting with a friend who is asking questions.
So it appears that the recommendation is to go with a 1/4" hickory rod. Now, can you find a kit that has a 1/4" ramrod channel. I tried the 1/4" rod with the Pedersoli and it would fall out of the channel.
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I would scrape down a 5/16" rod to maybe .275, or thereabouts, then follow Brians advice above, take short strokes when pushing that ball down..........Don
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I don't think that you will find a kit with 1/4" rr channel, but if you follow the rule of thumb to allow 1/2 of the rod to be exposed, you are looking at a depth of only .125". I would not think that a 5/16" radius in the channel should be noticable, although you should be really careful with the location of your pipes.
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Don's point about the .29" hickory rod is a good one. My pipes are 5 1/6" and will be loose with a smaller rod, so I'm using a 5/16" hickory. There is hickory, and there is hickory. Gotta be straight grained. I've a couple I'm 'saving' for hunting.
I find the .32 to load so easily, that I don't have to choke up on the rod for it as much as my larger bores using 3/8". I have been using a steel 5/16", but am concerned about bore damage - some. The 5/16" steel rod is a snug enough fit, as to centre very well and not scrub the muzzle, in any event. I do like the weight of the 38" long steel rod in the gun, but might go with a 9/32" if I could find one and put some sort of tightener in the hole or on the rod, itself - just a ring of brass or something to centre it and take up the slack in the rod hole.