25 caliber lovers unite

[Ridge]

...and give me some help!   

Does anyone know where to find jags/ramrods tips, bullet pullers, etc for the little 25 caliber rifles?  I've turned up empty.

Mine has a 1/4 inch ramrod and I am going crazy trying to find a source.  The builder is no longer in business, but he included a jag with the gun so I know he found it somewhere.

I have turned down my own hickory rod but that's an experience I'd rather not have again!

Anyone?

[WadePatton]

I have a .30 bbl, and expect to make most of those things.  I did get a 6'x.250" rod from work (1018) to make a range rod. 

And don't "turn down" a hickory rod, split it out and scrape it down-minimizing grain severing.  Straightest grain rules.  I have some Ash firewood now with laser straight grain, but alas it's only 18" long.  It will be split out for handles and sech.  Some "un straightness" in your finished rod helps it say in the loops.

Interested in the replies you get.  Have you searched the topic?  Been plenty of "sub-bore" (from .20-.30 and all in between) discussion before.

[Ridge]

I have a .30 bbl, and expect to make most of those things.  I did get a 6'x.250" rod from work (1018) to make a range rod. 

And don't "turn down" a hickory rod, split it out and scrape it down-minimizing grain severing.  Straightest grain rules.  I have some Ash firewood now with laser straight grain, but alas it's only 18" long.  It will be split out for handles and sech.  Some "un straightness" in your finished rod helps it say in the loops.

Interested in the replies you get.  Have you searched the topic?  Been plenty of "sub-bore" (from .20-.30 and all in between) discussion before.

Thanks for the tips on building ramrods.  I took a larger rod and drove it through a steel plate with a series of smaller and smaller holes.  Let me tell you, driving it into that last quarter inch hole was a trip.

I have researched the topic.  The web itself is remarkably short on info for the little 25's.  I did find quite a few posts here from guys who shoot that caliber.  I'm hoping they chime in.

A normal screw type extractor should work if I dry ball.  There isn't a lot of "wander room" in that barrel.  The problem is that the tip I have now is one piece.  You can't unthread the jag.

It's a nice gun.  Very fun to shoot.  I just wish I could find quarter inch ramrod tips.  And a worm!  I'm pretty sure I can put a 32 caliber jag in a drill and turn it down to 25 with a file.

[Virginiarifleman]

Contact Larry Callahan Moulds and Accoutraments. he makes Jags for any caliber.  www.Callahanmoulds.com

[Militant_Hillbilly]

.243 cartridge rifle cleaning jag, you may have to reshape the tip.

[EC121]

Be careful using those centerfire jags.  Most of them don't have steel threads.  The threads will break off.

[trentOH]

Contact Larry Callahan Moulds and Accoutraments. he makes Jags for any caliber.  www.Callahanmoulds.com

I think that should be bagmolds.com .

[WadePatton]

Be careful using those centerfire jags.  Most of them don't have steel threads.  The threads will break off.

Haven't had a use for a jag since i started using tow.  One of the great things about tow not having to have a specific size hook (so long as it'll go down the bore) or thickness of patch--or any patch ever except for shooting.

[Ridge]

Be careful using those centerfire jags.  Most of them don't have steel threads.  The threads will break off.

Yep.  I have already found this out.  They are quite flimsy.

So, no one knows where I can find quarter inch ramrod tips?  I suppose I could get by with a friction fit worm and a CO2 discharger.  That would cover 90% of my needs.

I hate to go with the discharger though.  I'd rather have ball extractor for the field.  I hunt pretty deep in the National Forest.

[Long Ears]

Most anyone with limited experience and a metal lathe can make all the parts you need. Same goes for a ramrod. Just remember how much of a PITA making the one you made turned out to be. Expect to pay for that with your maker. Bob

[Kermit]

I bet "davec2" could make some real pretty quarter bore tools!

Wade's suggestion is good. I used a commercial .25 cal rod very briefly, but soon made a brass range rod  with a "jag" turned as part of the rod. I also made a lighter rod from brass tube as a field rod. The wood rod looks right, but I regard the tiny wood rod as too fragile for field use.

[Jerry V Lape]

I don't understand why you resist the ball discharger.  Safest quickest way to remove a load or a dry ball.  I hunt deep too with a .54 and works for me.  Also, best way to keep that .25" rod intact. 

[Gun_Nut_73]

This is just my opinion and NOT historically correct:  Buy two M16 cleaning rod sets.  The extra sections will let you use it as a range rod and cleaning rod.  A 1 1/4 inch square patch should be enough to clean with, and the folding T handle is a great help in getting the rod in and out of the barrel.

[Ridge]

I don't understand why you resist the ball discharger.  Safest quickest way to remove a load or a dry ball.  I hunt deep too with a .54 and works for me.  Also, best way to keep that .25" rod intact. 

I  would like to stay as traditional as I can. I wouldn't be against having a discharger at the house, or even the range.  I'm just not crazy about carrying one hunting.

I'd just like to have the more traditional tools in my shot pouch.

Maybe I'll contact Davec2 and see if he can help me out.  Sorry, I don't know you guys, I'm assuming he is a metal lathe kinda guy?

[davebozell]

More like a magician.  His work is stunning!

[EC121]

I have a .30cal. flinter that I made jags for by buying a .32cal. jag and turning it down with a drill press and file.  Takes a little work but it should work for a .25.  I also turned down a plastic 48" 5/16" rod to fit the .30.  No more than I will shoot it, I'm not worried about it rubbing the bore.

[FDR]

Your local welding supply will have a selection of brass rods. 1/4 inch is common.

[Long Ears]

Ridge, I can turn what you need if Dave is busy. His will be way better than mine. I'll need a little more info for building the ram rod tip and the thread size you want. Just PM me. The only problem is I'm in the best state of Idaho. Bob

[Dennis Glazener]

Your local welding supply will have a selection of brass rods. 1/4 inch is common.

I would be more inclined to use a hard steel rod rather than soft brass. Crud can embed in the brass and act as an abrasive lap on the lands of the barrel.
Dennis

[moleeyes36]

Your local welding supply will have a selection of brass rods. 1/4 inch is common.

I would be more inclined to use a hard steel rod rather than soft brass. Crud can embed in the brass and act as an abrasive lap on the lands of the barrel.
Dennis

MCS Industrial Supply Company has ¼ inch by 72 inch steel rods.

Low carbon steel
http://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/52418308

Stainless steel
http://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/52417425

Mole Eyes

[FDR]

Your local welding supply will have a selection of brass rods. 1/4 inch is common.

I would be more inclined to use a hard steel rod rather than soft brass. Crud can embed in the brass and act as an abrasive lap on the lands of the barrel.
Dennis

Brass embeds amd steel flexes and rub the barrel inside as you load. Pick your poison!

[davec2]

I don't have anything in .25 caliber, but, having made several tools for other calibers, I think you will need something under bore diameter to work well.  That is, if you try to use a .250" rod (of whatever material) in a .25 bore, even the least little bit of fouling will make it nearly impossible to use.  I usually make jags 0.030 inches under bore diameter.  The same with worms.  Personally, I would not use a ram rod for a .25 any larger than 0.22 inches in diameter. To me, that means you can't buy off-the-shelf rod the correct size most places.  However, some industrial supply houses (like McMaster Carr) do sell 7/32 (0.219) rods in brass and some steels.  I use .250 diameter rods in a .32 caliber rifle and .312" (5/16") diameter in a .36.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-brass-alloy-rods/=woygn8

[Dennis Glazener]

Brass embeds amd steel flexes and rub the barrel inside as you load. Pick your poison!

What keeps brass from flexing?
Dennis

[sqrldog]

Last time I was at Friendship there was a vendor there that had all the fixins for a .25 cal. They were also abusiness that sold cast roundballs can't remember their name but perhaps someone on the site can. I bought a ramrod for a .25 cal with the brass tip from them. It went with the barrel and blank when I sold it. I was there in 2011. Tim

[WadePatton]

Brass embeds amd steel flexes and rub the barrel inside as you load. Pick your poison!

What keeps brass from flexing?
Dennis

Yes precisely.  According to information found here: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/young-modulus-d_773.html with regard to (WRT) modulus of elasticity.  Brass (a copper alloy) is generally 2x more flexible than steels.  They both flex.

So, assuming you'll get some flex and bore contact, choose the harder surfaced material to reduce abrasive action.

The longer and skinnier the rod is and the more forcefully one uses it, the more flex he is likely to experience.  Some shooters here have found the mid-sections of bbls to be "shot out".  That is no doubt from such action.

and then you can fresh-out to a 27 or 29!