What’s with the thumping?

[Wingshot]

After reading the vent pick thread a topic popped into my head, I’ll preface by saying that I’ve been shooting frontstuffers for 50+ years and have my own “system” for loading and firing a flintlock. That said, I respect the fact that others also have their own sequence of actions to make theirs go bang. In my years I’ve not done a lot of shooting in groups of people but in the past few years I’ve attended and shot at quite a few woodswalk shoots and enjoy it immensely. What I see as observe others loading between targets is that many ram the ball home and then proceed to “thump” or slam the ramrod over the ball several times and then return the rod to its rightful place. My question is simply why? For as long as I’ve been shooting I’ve always marked my rod once I worked a good load and use that as my go-no go gauge. I know that fouling can build a ring in the breech and when I start seeing that mark creeping up I’ll quickly swab out the bore and start back with the ring knocked down. Is this thumping thing a trend like when folks would blow down the barrel after every shot? (Another habit I’ve never understood). I’ve never felt comfortable asking the people I see doing this probably because I’m usually the new guy at the shoot.

[MuskratMike]

I agree, there is absolutely no reason to thump the ramrod. It was a popular thing to do in the 70's and 80's. I still see a few people doing it, and each to their own but I just don't see any real reason if your ramrod is marked.

[snapper]

I do it 3 times for a round ball load.   For long range or with a double rifle and conical I never do it.   

Fleener

[mountainman]

It's to make sure the load is properly seated, least that's how I was told, when the ramrod starts bouncing you know it's all the way down.
And I do blow smoke from the barrel, just for kicks.  I would think less residue building up in the barrel if you clear out the smoke 

[Fyrstyk]

I don't thump with the ram rod, I do as others have said using a marked ram rod to verify that the load is seated.  I do however, blow down the barrel after the shot.  It keeps the fouling soft with the moisture from your breath, and it also verifies that the touch hole is clear.

[okawbow]

The first time I was shown how to load a flintlock, (60 years ago), the old timer was adamant that I blow down the barrel to put out any sparks, and after the ball was pushed down, to throw the rod against the ball until it bounces. He also showed me how to mark the rod to be sure the ball was seated, or to determine if it was over loaded or dry balled.

[bluenoser]

I confess to being a thumper.  Been doing it for more than 50 years and do it to ensure the ball is fully seated.  I use spit patch and get no ring of fowling buildup - no matter how many shots are fired.  My ramrod is marked, but the mark is only there to confirm the gun is loaded, as opposedto confirming the ball is firmly seated.  A range rod is used at the bench and that is not marked due to being used for multiple guns, but I still thump.  Consistency is important in this game.
On our range and sister ranges, you would be severely chastized if you were to blow down the barrel.  If you feel you must do that, use a blow tube

[Leatherbark]

It would be interesting to chronograph about 10 shots of the thumping vs. just placing the ball on the powder in about 2 motions to see what the standard deviations and extreme spreads would be.  Plus, shoot two targets between two shooters to see if thumping is more accurate. I see the thumpers all the time at the local matches.   I always figured they were conforming their ball into a slug to make it fit tighter in the bore.  If the Bevel Brothers are watching this thread maybe they'll do the test. 

Bob

[Daryl]

Most or many militaries of the world loaded their muskets "by the numbers"
After shoving the paper ctg. Down the bore, they lifted the rod and "threw" it onto the paper ctg. 3 times. This was to ensure the ball was fully seated onto the powder in a fouled bore.
This practise continued to be used without change after the Euro. countries switched to using balls and conical balls with  Tige and Delvinge chambers where the ball or conical ball was upset to "take" the rifling.
THAT is where throwing the rod onto the ball originated.
Some people today do this for the same reason or because they saw someone else doing it & thought it was a good idea, or because their ball and patch combos let fouling build and it's hard to seat the ball after a few shots.
After I press the ball onto the powder, I give the starter fitted onto the rod a smack with my palm to slightly compress the powder charge. I feel this is similar to giving ctg. loaded with BP, the 1/10" compression that helps their consistancy in ballistics and this accuracy.
My chronograph testing with doing this decreases the shot to shot vel. variations as well as in increasing the velocity in both the .40 and .45 by almost 100fps.
My shot to shot vel. does not vary more than 10fps over a 10 shot group, no wiping at any time. My
69's variation is usually under 7fps.
Consistancy in loading is important.

[AZshot]

I was taught (or saw it on the range or in books perhaps) to gently throw the ramrod down after seating in the 1970s.  I only withdrew it 4-5 inches, and let it's weight mostly do the work.  If it bounced the first time, I was done.  If it took 2-3 times to bounce, I did that.

Flash forward many years and I read in these forums people saying it wasn't needed, should not be done...etc.  So I stopped for a while.  Know what?  I just liked the look and feel of a ramrod bounce...so I returned to what I always did in those formative decades.

[Bill in Md]

The first time I was shown how to load a flintlock, (60 years ago), the old timer was adamant that I blow down the barrel to put out any sparks, and after the ball was pushed down, to throw the rod against the ball until it bounces. He also showed me how to mark the rod to be sure the ball was seated, or to determine if it was over loaded or dry balled.

Blowing down the barrel can be deadly.....The owner of perhaps the oldest Muzzleloading shop in Maryland told me the story (several times) of an event that happened years ago in Pennsylvania. More or less in a group setting of shooters, one fellow who followed the blowing down the barrel practice most have forget his loading pattern and while chit chatting, placed his mouth over the muzzle....The charge took off the top of his head and his Spirit was in Heaven before the smoke cleared......Be careful out there

[B Kauffman]

I bounce my wooden ramrod off because I want the powder compressed for when I pick it. Range rod has enough mass to seat it without bouncing. I don't swab between shots and as it fouls it can get tough to seat so that's why I bounce it. Works well for me, I took notice over the years I'm not the guy screwing around trying to figure out why my gun won't go off while we all wait so I keep doing what I'm doing.

[smylee grouch]

It seems as though there are more than one way to blow down the barrel.  The direct inline crowd, the deflector or angle crowd and the scary mouth sealed over the muzzle bunch!

[okawbow]

I’ve heard several versions of that story and no one seems to have any first hand knowledge or proof that it ever happened. I have, however personally seen a rifle go off while being loaded and burned the man loading it.

[tooguns]

It's like a lot of other things, people get in their head they can't shoot unless everything is "perfect"

[Bill in Md]

I’ve heard several versions of that story and no one seems to have any first hand knowledge or proof that it ever happened. I have, however personally seen a rifle go off while being loaded and burned the man loading it.

Except the man that was standing there

[smylee grouch]

Some years ago now an NMLRA board member at that time , told me someone was burned in the mouth at one of the Championship shoots in Friendship but another member who had been a rang officer there had never heard of it and it was a story. Anyone else know of this " happening "?

[Bill in Md]

I will not, nor need not prove what actually happened to that poor Soul from Pennsylvania as my friends word is all that I need......With that said....Every property I have owned has been open to those friends and family  who wish to shoot, whether it be trap, skeet, modern guns, smokepoles or bows, and with that said.... the first time I saw someone place the muzzle of a firearm in their mouth on my property would be the last time they would be welcome to shoot regardless of their experience, opinion, practice or relationship to me.

I will never forget watching a man in an indoor archery range adjusting his buddys thumb screw pin sight while the buddy was at full draw on a compound bow. As I began to comment from the next lane, the buddy hit the release trigger by accident and the arrow shaft went through his friends hand leaving it mangled and broken.  Placing ones self in harms way will in time manifest itself with real bad results.

[Fyrstyk]

To clarify my previous post.  I do not put my mouth over the muzzle to blow down the bore.  I use my hand to deflect my breath down the bore.  I do this right after the gun goes off, so there is little possibility of a discharge.

[Stoner creek]

I am not a fan of giving a firearm a blowjob.

[Wingshot]

I am not a fan of giving a firearm a blowjob.

Nor I. Interesting rituals being revealed here. I’ve got one of my own that addresses powder compression. I usually use the ball starter to tap down one of the barrel flats before I start a ball in. My logic is that it helps settle and compact the charge. I will also bump the butt plate on the ground if I’m on soft ground, not concrete or gravel of course. Just to be clear, I’m not judging, just saying.

[MuskratMike]

The tapping of the ramrod as I said earlier does absolutely nothing to enhance your shooting and is an archaic way of loading, but again each to their own and if you like doing it or eases your mind by all means do it. As to blowing down the barrel it is a normal way of loading in all B.P.C.R. matches only they use a blow tube. Blowing down the barrel does prove the vent hole is open and the moisture does soften the burnt powder residue in the barrel. I do blow down the barrel immediately after shooting unless it is forbidden at the shoot I am at, then I still do it or use a blow tube I carry in my shooting box. If done immediately after firing and before the loading even starts is safe. Again this is how one old man does it and if you don't like it or don't approve then by all means keep doing it the way you like.
Mike

[Tumbledown]

I bounce the rod, finding on occasion it doesn't bounce much. That indicates the ball was not quite fully seated. Withdrawing the rod a set distance and bouncing it a few times ensures it is seated and the powder consistently packed.

[Bison]

I am not a fan of giving a firearm a blowjob.

What I do at the privacy of my range is my business. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

[Stoner creek]

I am not a fan of giving a firearm a blowjob.

What I do at the privacy of my range is my business. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

You just got a big huge laugh out of me!!!
Bravo 🙌