octagon thimbles on southern gun

[martin9]

I've been working on a Tennessee style rifle today. At the last minute I decided to use a .45 barrel I have instead of the .32 barrel I was planning on using. That change has me now needing 3/8" ramrod pipes. I have some iron pipes that have an octagonal center section and round on the ends.Think these will look out of place? I can easily file em' round but am just curious what ya'll thought. I'm gonna go check out the archive a bit and see if I can find any "fancy" pipes on a southern gun.

[martin9]

I looked through the archives and looks like I'll stick with round pipes. I'll make some tomorrow. I'm sure I'll find a use for the octagon pipes elsewhere

[rich pierce]

I’ve got one with octagonal iron thimbles.

[Clark Badgett]

Why 3/8” pipes on a .45?

[Mike Brooks]

Why 3/8” pipes on a .45?

Why not?

[flehto]

Years ag made a .36 LR and used a  5/16 dia RR but for the many  .45 and up, always used a 3/8 dia RR. Broke a RR and stuck it into my hand so am very cautious asre type of wood and grain direction. .....Fred

[Clark Badgett]

Why 3/8” pipes on a .45?

Why not?

Just that I've always seen 5/16" advocated around here for .45 cal.

[martin9]

I like going with a 3/8" for a .45.  It'll fit the bore so I'd rather rather have the stronger rod.  This is going to be a very slim rifle but I'm going with only one lock bolt so the bigger rod won't be an issue.

I actually just found a Roger Sells southern rifle with octagonal pipes. I love all of his work so that's good enough for me...gonna go with these. I hate making pipes anyway.

[Robin Henderson]

I saw one at a show a while back. Can't remember if it was at Alabama, Lake Cumberland, or Knoxville. It was a pretty, slim little thing. The octagonal pipes were what caught my eye. One other thing....no butt plate. I liked it so much it inspired me to built one similar.

[Daryl]

Years ag made a .36 LR and used a  5/16 dia RR but for the many  .45 and up, always used a 3/8 dia RR. Broke a RR and stuck it into my hand so am very cautious asre type of wood and grain direction. .....Fred

They don't have to break to stick into your hand, Fred.  I had a 3/8", slightly rounded corners ended rod in my .40. After seating the ball at Hefley rendezvous, instead of using the hole in my
short starter on the rod's end to seat the ball all the way, I just gave the end of the rod a thump with my palm. I instantly knew that was a mistake and said "watch this (I didn't have a beer for someone to hold, honest) When I pulled my hand off the muzzle, the rod came with it, right out of the barrel - it was well stuck into my hand. yeah - it was quite funny - only hurt a bit. I wrapped my hand in a patch material strip, tied off and continued with the trail. IT happens.

[Not English]

Clark, I've always subscribed to the idea of the largest ramrod for caliber possible. I draw the line at 3/8" generally. Larger is definitely appropriate on larger guns such as wall guns, where you're talking 7/16 - 1/2" ramrods.

Dave