tapping the ramrod - throwing the rod

[John SMOthermon]

Wait...I thought Flipper was a dolphin.  Or was that a porpoise? 

This is great conversation and analysis.  There are no wrong solutions with many things, just techniques.

Funny, I thought Brian Keith was a Mountain Man....

[rollingb]

Wait...I thought Flipper was a dolphin.  Or was that a porpoise? 

This is great conversation and analysis.  There are no wrong solutions with many things, just techniques.

Funny, I thought Brian Keith was a Mountain Man....

I doubt that is what Charles Heston called Brian when he got a facefull of gas from Brian's flint lock while they were laying low shooting at the indians. 
To Heston's credit as a great actor though, he did stick to the script so it was less noticeable to the viewers. 

[MuskratMike]

...again each to their own. I was never shown the "bouncing the rod" system and early on none of my pals did it so I never tried it. If it makes you feel secure or are happy or it was the way you were taught who am I to criticize? Just keep shooting and having fun.

[rollingb]

...again each to their own. I was never shown the "bouncing the rod" system and early on none of my pals did it so I never tried it. If it makes you feel secure or are happy or it was the way you were taught who am I to criticize? Just keep shooting and having fun.

You have a great attitude, and I (for one) appreciate it. 

[hanshi]

I don't drop or throw the rod onto the seated ball; I just try and seat with the same pressure each time, fairly firm pressure.  I don't want to do anything that might adversely affect accuracy in my rifles.  I mean, the round balls from my rifles already keyhole badly as it is.   

[P.Bigham]

I skimmed thru this discussion and haven’t seen any mention about the shape of the rammer business end shape.  If it was the same female shape of the ball used and you tapped it down would it distort the ball to have any affect on accuracy? 

[Mike payne]

All of my rods on the business end are concave in the shape of the ball.

[Cades Cove Fiddler]

  ... doesn't anyone mark their rammer at the depth of their perfect load,...?

[rollingb]

... doesn't anyone mark their rammer at the depth of their perfect load,...?

The only mark on my ramrod is to indicate the barrel is empty,.... in case I want to check if the barrel is loaded before blowing down it.

[Daryl]

No marks on my rods. I can feel when the ball is on the powder - in every gun.
I don't need a mark to tell me when it's "there". They all load about the same
with the same basic "combination ratios" in each one, smooth or rifled. Similar
loading without any need or requirement for wiping.

[Daryl]

All of my rods on the business end are concave in the shape of the ball.

Same here, as well as my short starter shafts, short and long.

[Joe S.]

All of my rods on the business end are concave in the shape of the ball.

Same here, as well as my short starter shafts, short and long.

You mean to tell me I shouldn't have been using that one that looks likes a large wood screw on the end

[Marcruger]

"You mean to tell me I shouldn't have been using that one that looks likes a large wood screw on the end?"

To quote Jed Clampett, "I've got to have a loooong talk with that boy...…"         Hah!

[Nessmuck]

Just seat ball firmly on powder....then 3 more firm seats....No Bouncing in the last 40 years for me.

[Bob McBride]

Just seat ball firmly on powder....then 3 more firm seats....No Bouncing in the last 40 years for me.

That's how i do it, but I've only got 30 years, and only 15 or so seriously working on my accuracy. I use three firmly held gentle taps, but any number will do, so long as you're consistent. 1-2 inconsistencies in your process and you're scratching your head trying to figure out why you're all over the place.

[Phil Neal]

I don't "throw the rod".  One good push and it is seated to my satisfaction every time.