rice range rods

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

HH is making a valid point.  I offer my thanks for bringing this to light, and though I rarely use a stiff steel rod for loading muzzleloaders, I do occasionally.  And I will keep this thread in mind when I use one or see someone else doing so.
I have only witnessed this phenomenon once:  a terribly hot day, after hours of shooting, shooter charged from his measure, and sent the ball onto the powder in one quick pass with his ramrod, having placed a wooden knob over the end first for hand comfort. It was a 28" T/C barrel, and the charge shattered the rod and gas cut his upper hand severely.
Complacency, here, is the devil.  So pay attention, and don't dismiss other's philosophy out of hand.

[Jerry V Lape]

Does the possibility exist that blackpowder can detonate if struck hard enough?  Does a hot barrel enhance this possibility?  Considering the small cross section of a ramrod it can deliver a substantial hammer blow to the charge. 

I believe this is what happen when an acquaintance was trying to get a screw tip to bite into a ball.  The charge went off sending rod and ball out of the rifle - pushing his hand aside luckily.  The charge had been in the rifle for more than 20 minutes when this occurred. 

[Arcturus]

Simple solution to the extremely rare possibility of a range rod causing a detonation:  never load all in one quick stroke.  I never do, always loading with a metal range rod in short strokes, just like I would with a wooden rod in the field.  I'm in charge, not the rod.  Non-problem for me.

[smylee grouch]

This topic has been hashed over many times here and other places but I wonder if it's possible that a nipple or vent could be somewhat plugged causing the rapid ramming of the rod to act as a fire piston does creating more heat as the air from the ball going down cant expel through the nipple//vent fast enough. Here I am wondering again. I too think that shorter strokes would eliminate the problem if no latent spark is present.

[Hungry Horse]

Now that you mention it, I don't recall ever hearing of this phenomenon happening to a flintlock. It could be something related to size and length of the flash channel, and possibly the size of the hole in the nipple.

  Hungry Horse

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

HH:  excellent observation!  This is a percussion rifle problem, it seems.

[hanshi]

Mostly to avoid bent metal rods and broken wood ones, I always seat slowly and a few inches at a stroke.  But then again I shoot 98% flintlocks.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Not to "stir-the-pot" but if one was to seat a load in one motion on say a 36" barrel how long of an arm does the shooter have to have ?? For me I just don't see it happening - my opinion .

[Hungry Horse]

Well, if your short starter pushes it down six inches, you only have a thirty inch stroke which is doable for many shooters.

  Hungry Horse

[hanshi]

I think that despite whether one thinks it's possible or not; much care should always be taken when dealing with black powder and the arms that shoot it.  The last thing a shooter needs is an accidental explosion (BP can't detonate, only a high explosive such as TNT can detonate) to ruin both a range day and the body.

[bowkill]

As if having to worry about our 12L14 barrels bursting on us wasn't enough.  Now we have to worry about our steel range rods too.  I imagine the consequences of using both together would be like pressing a plunger detonator on a bundle of dynamite. 

LOL.......

[Marcruger]

With my tight patch, ball and lube combination (at the range), I cannot imagine driving the range rod home with one stroke!  Or one hand for that matter.  Shoots tight groups out of its flat-bottom Rice barrel though, so I feed it what it likes. 

In the woods with my wooden ramrod I wouldn't use this combo.  Too tight and slow to reload. 

Best wishes and God bless,   Marc

[Smokey Plainsman]

For my .54 rifle, I use a solid brass 3/8" brass ramrod with brass muzzle protector and use short strokes. I swab between shots and I can usually just "press" the ball down a few inches at a time instead of having to hammer it with the rod. I have not had an explosion yet but will be sure to not load in one large movement. As someone else said it seems like it would be hard to do that but I don't even try, I use short strokes to get that little ball gently onto his powder.

[galudwig]

I always use my steel range rods in the same manner as I use my wooden ones; with short controlled strokes.  I don't understand why someone would believe that anyyone who uses one is only concerned about speeding up the loading process?    One reason I like the ball or handle-end range rods is that I can feel the powder compact as I press the ball down on top of the charge.  I believe that helps me compress the powder charge more consistently. 

I also prefer to keep my roundball's as round as possible, so I never pound on the ball down the barrel by ramming a range rod down on top of them.  Even when using wooden ramrods in the field, I will place a piece of deer antler with a ramrod-sized hole drilled in it on the end of the ramrod to get that same "feel" for final seating of the ball on the charge. I prefer to do that over "bouncing the ramrod" when I have the time.

[hanshi]

Galudwig, I made something similar from a piece of deer antler that's almost palm size - I have small hands, too - that I just refer to as a "palm saver".  It does indeed allow for a better "feel" for powder compression.  I seldom use it in the bush but do use it frequently at the range.  Out in the bush I never try for a rapid reload so don't mind a little bit at a time seating.