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Author Topic: how big should my ramrod be?  (Read 9593 times)

msblacksmith

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how big should my ramrod be?
« on: May 22, 2009, 11:00:42 PM »
I have started to build a long rifle. its a .54 cal barrel. how big should the ram rod be?
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Offline Stophel

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2009, 11:21:26 PM »
3/8" is virtually universal.  I taper mine down at the lower end (along with the hole), but it's not necessary.  If possible, given the design of the gun, I like to put a flared upper tip on them.
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George F.

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2009, 11:41:37 PM »
I've been using 7/16" tapered to 3/8" into the first thimble for .50 & .54 cal.  For 20 gauge & above I use 1/2" tapered to 3/8" to the first thimble.   ...Geo.
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ironwolf

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2009, 12:38:45 AM »
  On my .54  I started with a 7/16" rod.  Tapers quickly to 3/8" between the pipes.  Tapers down to about 1/4",  from entry pipe to breach end. 
  I like to make tapered iton tips, but haven't got to it on this gun.  "The cobler has no shoes" as they say. 
  Check out the nifty rod whittlin' tool Acer has in the Shop Made Tools section.  That's kinda' how I do it, except my cutter has a "V" notch that bottoms into a 1/4" hole.

  Kevin
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Offline Stophel

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2009, 12:48:13 AM »
My rod tapering tool is a block plane and scraper...

I saw a 19th century tool on the Woodwright's shop not too long ago, that was used to make dowel rods.  It would make different sizes, you just dialed the size you wanted.  Put in the square rod blank, and crank the handle.  It was like a big pencil sharpener sort of arrangement.  The blade rotated around the blank, cut it, and spit it out for you.  Would be AWESOME for making ramrods...

But, I just go to Tip Curtis' and pick some out...  ;D
« Last Edit: May 23, 2009, 12:51:35 AM by Stophel »
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Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2009, 01:45:37 AM »
I like to start with a blank that's just at bore size, and taper as most of you do.  I like that big knob end for pushing my tight loads down the bore.  The small end of the rod goes against the ball.
I use an untapered 3/8 rod on my Jaeger .60 cal without loading difficulty, or fear of breaking.  It's 31" long.
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cheyenne

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2009, 01:49:53 AM »
Quote from: D. Taylor Sapergia on May 23, 2009, 01:45:37 AM
I like to start with a blank that's just at bore size, and taper as most of you do.  I like that big knob end for pushing my tight loads down the bore.  The small end of the rod goes against the ball.
I use an untapered 3/8 rod on my Jaeger .60 cal without loading difficulty, or fear of breaking.  It's 31" long.

I always thought the big end was used against the ball.....see, old dogs can learn new tricks. ;)
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Offline rich pierce

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2009, 01:55:45 AM »
Generally your ramrod should be big enough to reach down to the breech  ;D

Whatever you do, unless it's a plains rifle etc don't make the majority of the rod more than 3/8" in diameter- just doesn't look good to have a fat ramrod and fat thimbles on a longrifle.
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Offline Dale Halterman

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2009, 02:01:54 AM »
Does anybody use one of those tapering tools that Mike Lea sells? I bought one and have yet to try it out.

Dale H
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Offline Jim Filipski

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2009, 04:56:59 AM »
On a .54 long rifle I most always start at 1/2"  & taper to 3/8 at entry hole  (I make my pipes gradated) But sometimes I will go as small as 5/16 a little past entry on a slim gun...... When I  drill 5/16" holes. Gives a Long rifle a slim profile at the breech. This is for American pieces........ otherwise 3/8 is standard hole
Just what I do; for what it's worth
Jim
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Offline David Rase

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #10 on: May 23, 2009, 05:17:47 AM »
I pretty much do what Jim did on his .54.  I had a 42"  .60 caliber that I started with a 1/2" blank and tapered it to fit a 5/16" ramrod hole.  I graduated my 3 pipes from 7/16 for the forward pipe to 3/8" for the entry pipe.  I pretty much do the same thing for all my rifles and adjust size to the caliber.
DMR
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Birddog6

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #11 on: May 23, 2009, 05:45:32 AM »
Quote from: Dale H on May 23, 2009, 02:01:54 AM
Does anybody use one of those tapering tools that Mike Lea sells? I bought one and have yet to try it out.

Dale H


  Yes, I have one & have used it several times to taper ramrods.  But don't really care for tapered ramrods so I do my utmost to insure I don't have to taper one.   It works good but you can scrape one tapered just about as quick & allot cheaper than buying the tool.  IMHO, If you were doing ALLOT of RR's (like making them & selling them) it might be beneficial.
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Offline Z. Buck

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #12 on: May 23, 2009, 06:00:16 AM »
Dale, i watched Mike use one, and played with it for a bit myself about a year ago, he whipped up an extremely tapered ramrod for a 4 bore blunderbuss in about 5 minutes, pretty slick but i would need to be doing more than 2 or 3 ramrods a year to spend the money cause it only takes me about 20 minuted of piddling around to taper one for a smoothy with a piece of broken glass
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Offline Lucky R A

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #13 on: May 23, 2009, 01:58:38 PM »
        I find that a rather large stationary belt sander with a 60 grit belt takes a 7/16 rod down to a nice taper rather quickly and efficiently.  I have a piece of steel with various sized holes drilled into it that I clamp into the vise.   I  then push/pull the rod through the appropriate hole  if needed to finish out the rod.  A quick coat of stain and a coat of Bri-wax ( dark brown/black) finishes out the rod and it is in the gun all in about 10 minutes.     
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Offline Habu

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #14 on: May 23, 2009, 02:50:34 PM »
Like everyone else, I use a 1/2" or 7/16" rod tapering to somewhere around 5/16-3/8".  But whenever I can, I load using a 1/2" loading rod.
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Offline Jim Filipski

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #15 on: May 23, 2009, 03:39:16 PM »
I just want to add ( based on what Habu said) I never had an issue from loading with a tapered rod.
Use good hickory blanks and a smooth taper.
Most of my fowler rods taper to 5/16" and can easily be started & rammed home, even on 11 ga.  ball (or hard carded shot -I use the V M Star method) Just hand over hand, all the way down the rod.
I have seen some guys who load by grasping the rod 2/3 the way up from the start. That is an accident waiting to happen...splintered hickory is sharp!
Jim
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Offline David Rase

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #16 on: May 23, 2009, 04:29:15 PM »
As I have evolved in my muzzleloading journey I have went to looser fitting ball/patch combinations as I like to push my load in vs. driving it in with a hammer as I did in my paper punching days.  This falls right in line with my ever evolving building side of the hobby of  building thinner, lighter less bulky rifles and fowlers.  Therfore, the days of the 1/2" tapered ramrods have slacked off a bit as I am using smaller diameter rods to cut out the bulk on my guns.  I still love tapered rods, they are just not so radical.  I think this is a factor, especially when making your ramrod groove shallow.  Too much of a big tapered rod showing does not look good. IMHO
DMR
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Offline jerrywh

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #17 on: May 23, 2009, 05:49:52 PM »
I use a 3/8" rod on my 54 cal. and it is tappered. If I built a Hawken I would probably go bigger.
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northmn

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #18 on: May 23, 2009, 08:29:33 PM »
I would bet that most of us use a range rod or loading rod at shooting ranges and the ramrod in the thimbles does not get used as much.  I used to use a 5/16 solid brass rod for the range.  On my 54 for hunting I use a 7/16 tapered down to 3/8 as it makes for a less bulky foerend.  As David Rase mentioned, for hunting or field use in which a range rod is not carried, a looser load is usually used.  There are claims that the mountain men commonly carried an extra "loading" rod in their barrel to have a spare in treeless country as well as possibly for loading.

DP
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msblacksmith

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #19 on: May 25, 2009, 05:11:06 AM »
is there a ready made source for tapered ram rod? or do I need to make it myself or would that be better ? by the way thanks for all the advice.
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Offline Dphariss

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Re: how big should my ramrod be?
« Reply #20 on: May 25, 2009, 04:35:54 PM »
Quote from: msblacksmith on May 25, 2009, 05:11:06 AM
is there a ready made source for tapered ram rod? or do I need to make it myself or would that be better ? by the way thanks for all the advice.

To get a good safe rod you need to buy several, 5-12 at a time and pick out the best ones for rifle rods.  THROUGH THE CROSS GRAIN PIECES IN THE TRASH or use to plug screw holes. Then scrape and sand the selected rod to the taper needed. I did a number of them when I was a kid using broken bottle shards as scrapers. Just measure carefully to avoid "swamped" rods.
My 50 swivel has a 3/8 tapered to 5/16 and while a little flexy at the small end is certainly adequate.

Dan
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