Short starter

[smokehouseman]

The wooden ball on my short starter needed to be replaced so I thought I would try to do something with an old moose antler I had kicking around the shop.  I decided to dress it up a bit with a silver dollar concho from Tandy Leather at the tune of about $2.  I generally only use this short starter while on the range as opposed to totting it around while on the hunt.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I too use a short starter, and I to use the boss end of a moose antler if I have it.  It is dense and heavy and starts the tight patch and ball with one whack, without upsetting the ball much.  Tapping away on it with a light wooden knob will flatten the ball more than the heavy blow of the massive antler.  And everything I do while target shooting or on the trail walk is in practice for the hunt, so I load out of the pouch the same as when hunting.  It has become instinctive.  My hands go where they need to automatically without having to think about it.

[Don Getz]

You guys are really brave for posting such a thing, especially after the burst barrel by Acer, and the resulting comments
about short starter using.   Don't feel bad, I still use one, and I personally don't think it is a problem.   The whole problem
arises out of not thinking of what you are doing.  It can still happen at any time, but don't blame the starter.      Don

[RonT]

bingo....  it's all about keeping your head in the game.  Can't blow down the barrel, must have gong targets PRECISELY hung at 15*, ohhhh, and be careful when  your short starter that you don't forget to ram the ball home.
had my first dryball in ~25yrs. about a month ago...was just plain not payng attention, shooting the "bull"instead of the rifle.  my fault...nervously laughed it off and moved on.  It may happen again...so be it.
BTW, Don,neat follower on your short starter...gotta' make one of those.
R

[T*O*F]

The whole problem arises out of not thinking of what you are doing.  It can still happen at any time, but don't blame the starter.

Don,
In Hunter Education, we always used to teach the old adage:
There are NO accidents, only careless people.

Every so called "accident" can be traced back to carelessness on someone's part.

[Dphariss]

A short starter need only seat the ball past the crown. Once in its in and formed to the rifling.
I will be making one about 1" long as the 2 rebarrels are clear.

Dan

[Roger Fisher]

A short starter need only seat the ball past the crown. Once in its in and formed to the rifling.
I will be making one about 1" long as the 2 rebarrels are clear.

Dan

Sure, that should work.  I went the opposite changing to a longer starter to be certain she started the patched ball abt 2 inches deeper than the upper tennon and of course the frt sight dovetail.   One add'l benefit is the fact that the longer shaft keeps the starter where I put it on flap of my bag and in the hole on side block on outside of my shooting box.    I can't depend on myself to keep my mind on 'track'.

[BrownBear]

I've handled this particular short starter, and it's a dandy.  In the current context of broken barrels, it's just right- long enough to seat the ball well past the front sight dovetail.  Topnotch workmanship, too!