Co2 unloader question

[billd]

I never used one of these. Can someone tell me about how long a cartridge lasts or how many times you can use it?  Once you puncture the cylinder does it leak out slowly?

Thanks,
Bill

[BrownBear]

They're real variable from one to the next Bill.  Mine will sit for weeks between uses and not leak a bit.  A friend's would leak dry overnight till he replaced the O-ring.  Now it's better, but not as reliable as mine.  Yet another friend reports results somewhere between those two.

Number of uses varies with the caliber.  As you can guess it doesn't take much to clear a 32 caliber, but a 58 caliber takes quite a bit more gas.  I haven't done a count, but if I had to guess you'd get somewhere like a dozen "shots" with a 32 caliber, but only four or so with a 58.

One word of advice, based on a friend's embarrassing experience.  After using the discharger, use a bore brush or scraper to clear unburned powder from the bore.  The friend didn't, then decided to pop a cap for some reason or other.  His wife was severely displeased with the resulting noise and smoke indoors.

[Roger Fisher]

Must be certain that O ring stays in it's little home...

If you get one successful unloading from a tight fitting patch/ball combo out of  along rifle thats about it!

[roundball]

So far, mine has not leaked down that I can tell...I use fairly tight PRBs and like BrownBear, average about 3 discharges per 14gram cylinder on the .54/.58 bores.

PS:
The cheapest way I found to order them was in a bulk pack on the Internet...30 of the large 14grm size delivered for $38 bucks as I recall...keep 2-3 in the range box, the rest on on a shelf

[Scott Semmel]

Number of uses varies,  I only use mine when I have hunted in wet weather and don't want to go through the rigors of cleaning a fired gun, and ,for me the more frequent use, when dryballed. The ease compared to pulling a ball makes even one use per cartridge a bargin for me. Remeber to point the muzzle in a safe direction, I once thought I would unload into a five gallon bucket in my garage to capture the ball and not have BP all over the place. Killed the bucket dead! two holes and several bounces there after. Darned embarrising being that stupid.

[SCLoyalist]

For a rifle cal 45 to 54, one or two discharges is about what I average.  Depends how tight the ball is loaded, how long the barrel is, and caliber, whether the rifle is flint or percussion.   I suspect you could probably unload a whole revolver cylinder with just one CO2 cartridge. 

And Scott, I can maybe at least tie your 'that stupid' experience.  I used  a discharger to clear a dry ball from my flinter.  After the ball was out, I thought, "Gee, I wonder if there's any gas left?"   So, I pointed the discharger down range and squeezed the handle.   I launched the flint adapter off the end about 15 yards downrange.   I say 'about' 15 yards, because I never did find it to measure the distance precisely.

[Pvt. Lon Grifle]

I've tuned my use so that I can give it the correct squeeze on the trigger such that the ball sits on the patch waiting for pickup in soft soil when the muzzle is pointed straight down.   

The stem for the touchhole probe MUST be screwed in tight on the contraption though.   

The next job is to see if it will flay squirrels with one skwoosh of the trigger.    Lon

[Ron T.]

I bought one of the larger 16 gram COČ "discharger guns".  I got 5 or 6 uses outta the first (original) cartridge over a two week period unloading other guy's guns they had "dry-balled".  Then the unloader sat in my range box a few weeks and when I needed to use it, it was "dead".  

So I don't know if I'll get "5 or 6" discharges outta the new cylinder I just put into the discharger or if it will leak out just sitting there, but we'll find out the next time I need to use it since it has been 3 or so weeks since I used the new replacement 16 gram cartridge I installed and used just once.

Sorry I can't be more specific...    


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

[SCLoyalist]

When I empty and discard one cartridge, unless there's another dryball waiting in line, I put the new cartridge in the holder, but don't screw it down hard enough to puncture the cartridge seal.   Otherwise, I suspect leakage would be inevitable.

[Dave W]

Has anyone ever chronographed a CO2 discharged ball?  I was always curious about how fast CO2 expells a PRB since I have used mine twice and never found the ball or patch.

Dave

[roundball]

When I empty and discard one cartridge, unless there's another dryball waiting in line, I put the new cartridge in the holder, but don't screw it down hard enough to puncture the cartridge seal.   Otherwise, I suspect leakage would be inevitable.

Good idea...the highest form of flattery is to copy someones else's idea...so feel flattered !
 

[Pvt. Lon Grifle]

 My short barreled .54 drops the ball on top of the patch in soft ground when pointed straight down, the .40 expels the ball much faster, as the patch lands with the fired ones with the gun held level.  Lon