ram rod pipes, size variance on rifle?

[bob in the woods]

I usually taper my ramrods, but wonder how many original rifles, if any ,  used progressively larger pipes from the entry to the muzzle?   It was suggested to me that this was the "right way" to do it, but it's not something I've found to be common.  I've seen the occasional larger pipe used near the muzzle, but that's about it . 

[Daryl]

Or were the rods only tapered down from the entry-pipe to the tip inside the forend?

[blienemann]

I built rifles for years with same size pipes - hey, they sell them in sets, right? 
Then someone pointed out to me that larger bore rifles have tapered rods and the pipes vary in diameter - sometimes in length as well.  When I started looking, I think most old rifles over .45 had different sized pipes, and the front end of ramrod was often not much under bore size.  I've seen this on early guns all the way through Henry and other trade rifles - 1770 - 1830.
Yes, the ramrod usually tapers smaller from entry pipe to breech.
Another detail I began to see is that the front pipe on many rifles is double pinned - and makes sense if you snag it in the brush.
The opportunity to see and handle the old guns is special.  And you can sometimes pick this up from photos with a careful look. Bob

[bob in the woods]

My ram rods are tapered , however on the larger bore guns the muzzle end actually flares out to a larger size  .  The rod fills the forward pipe completely and flares out from there, if that description makes any sense. This is much to pronounced for my liking, especially on my  Chambers 10 bore, so I'm thinking about retro fitting the pipes to better accommodate  this. Looking through RCA 1 and 2 it's not really apparent what was commonly used ....at least to my eyes.  Thanks for the reply.

[flehto]

I  try to have the largest dia. possible for the RR...but sometimes because of an  errant drilled hole, a smaller dia. RR is the result. My home made RR pipes are all the same ID but also found that not inletting the pipes too deep helps.....the IDs are a few .001s above the RR channel.

Sometimes a badly warped RR can't be straightened and I usually avoid these...but, even the Bailey  RRs warp after a time.  So, I don't buy too many at one time and suffer the addt'l shipping charges.

A RR is a functional part of a MLer and having experienced a serious, painful stab from a broken RR, my  LRs have good hickory RRs....Fred 

[bob in the woods]

I split my ramrods from ash I cut on my property. From what I've seen , most contemporary builders install one size pipes on a gun, and many do not use a tapered rod.
I just wondered what the originals commonly used.

[Mike Brooks]

I graduated the pipe size on a few guns years ago. Didn't really care for the look. I always taper my rods so they don't stick in the gun and so you have a "large" end to load with.

[EC121]

The large end also helps take up some room under the nosecap  if the web is a bit too deep.   

[B.Habermehl]

The nose cap gap is precisely the problem I have with a recent build for myself. I got lazy and used a off the shelf nose cap regrettably. I'll soon be breaking out my Mike Lea ram rod tapering tool and make a new one from 1/2 inch dia hickory. That will do away with the gap. BJH

[smylee grouch]

I have on a couple of rifles that I used factory made pipes, I soldered thin tabs of brass between the tab that you run your pin through. This opened them up just a bit to allow the ramrod to pass or use a slightly larger ramrod.

[Mark Elliott]

On 45 caliber and above rifles, I use a set of graduated mandrels for the thimbles; 13/32", 12/32", and 11/32".   For smaller calibers,  I only use the smaller mandrel(s).    I flare the muzzle end of the ramrod to be as close to the bore size as possible.   I put a 5/16" threaded  iron/steel ferrule on the other end.   

As I use a steel range rod and often provide one with a rifle,  the hickory ramrod is mostly for show on rifles that I build.     

[elkhorne]

Mark,
I have been wanting to do some tapered rods but it seems all MLB or TOW have are up to 7/16". Do you have a recommendation for a possible supplier of good larger hickory ramrod blanks for the larger calibers like .54 or .58? Thanks.
Gary

[Mike Brooks]

I think Dunlap has some 1/2" or you could just split some rods out of a hickory log.

[Mark Elliott]

I have been buying ramrods from Dennis.    I usually start with 7/16" or 1/2" blanks.  I don't know where Dennis gets them.