Loose Ramrod

[Randall Steffy]

I am requesting input as to historically correct solutions to a ramrod which is loose enough to work it's way out in normal carry and use of the long rifle. It seems that during cold, dry weather my ramrod is too loose but appropriately snug during humid summer weather. Was there a mechanical "tightener" ever used in the day to keep the rod in place? When splitting a hickory rod which has enough run out or crook it seems this is not generally a problem but this rod I speak of is too straight and wants to back out. Could you describe or picture ways of addressing this issue as achieved by the early gunsmith? The rifle in question is a contemporary early Reading.  Thanks.

[elk killer]

Tie a leather thong through a thimble to take up slack,
no idea of how period proper but it works

[smylee grouch]

I have one rifle like that so I took a strip of brain tanned deer and tied it around the barrel behind the front sight, it was thin enough so it didn't obstruct the sight picture but thick enough to help hold the RR on the half stock gun.

[frogwalking]

I usually use a slightly bent ramrod.  It works fine, and stays in place.  You might be able to put a bend in a straight ramrod by heating or steaming and bending.

[Mike Brooks]

Run it over and under the rungs on your kitchen chair and leave it for a couple days. It will take on just enough bend not to fall out.

[SingleMalt]

The split hickory ramrods I've made had enough "crooked" in them to prevent any looseness.  What would be historically correct?  I've no idea.  As crazy as it sounds, I'd be tempted to make another ramrod that was slightly larger or slightly crooked.

[WadePatton]

As Mike and Froggie said, bend it. Make and bend another one if you don't want to bend that one.

Mike's method is simple enough, and the more active route would be to steam and bend it.  It won't take much.

[Gaeckle]

You can also bend it wih a propane torch and a spreader tip on the torch. The rod will bend towards the heat just enough to add pressure and keep it in the thimbles.

[Mike Brooks]

As Mike and Froggie said, bend it. Make and bend another one if you don't want to bend that one.

Mike's method is simple enough, and the more active route would be to steam and bend it.  It won't take much.

I'm too lazy to do more than string it through some rungs.....

[JBJ]

Gently heat the middle of the rod until quite warm and flex the rod using both hands. Hold in the bent form for 30 seconds or so to allow some cooling. If not bent enough to suit, repeat heating and holding the bend. I would guess is less than a minute or two of effort, you will have all the bend you want. The same heating and flexing technique is used to straighten an arrow shaft.
J.B.

[Daryl]

I am requesting input as to historically correct solutions to a ramrod which is loose enough to work it's way out in normal carry and use of the long rifle. It seems that during cold, dry weather my ramrod is too loose but appropriately snug during humid summer weather. Was there a mechanical "tightener" ever used in the day to keep the rod in place? When splitting a hickory rod which has enough run out or crook it seems this is not generally a problem but this rod I speak of is too straight and wants to back out. Could you describe or picture ways of addressing this issue as achieved by the early gunsmith? The rifle in question is a contemporary early Reading.  Thanks.

I didn't read all the answers, but yes - "some" guns used a spring loaded rod "tensioner" - usually military rifles.
I glued (CA) a very small piece of leather to the rod channel of my squirrel rifle as the steel rod I used to increase the weight of the rifle would slide out without the pad.
The tiny pad of leather is invisible and does not prevent the use of the wooden rod, which is not loose.

[Randall Steffy]

I appreciate the solutions each of you took the time to offer. I do wonder how long an induced crook would remain in the rod as it spends 99.9% of its time in thimbles holding it straight. Daryl's suggestion of a pad of leather affixed in the rod channel will be tried as there is no room to add the leather inside a thimble. The fit is good there, just slightly loose. I now see the benefit of not finding the perfectly straight grained hickory from which to rive a rod. Thanks all.

[Dave R]

H House personal rifle was once a 36 cal and he changed the barrel to 32 cal and did exactly what Elk Hunter did and tied a leather thong thru one of the ram rod thimbles!

[bones92]

This is a simple spring for keeping the rod snug in a repro 1863.  It works well.

[TMerkley]

Another option might be to tie some Tow or String on the end of the rod for "swabbing".  I have a picture pulled from the net with Alvin York and a rifle he is posing with that has that.  It may give you an advantage in the field...