- Joined
- Mar 23, 2015
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Okay guys I did it this morning. I was shooting at the local range and had a couple of non-muzzleloading shooters watching me including a new at the range RSO (range safety officer). So while visiting and showing what I was doing I swabbed the bore, grabbed the ticking and a ball, started the ball, cut the patch, and short started the ball down the bore with the short starter. Do you see what's missing, Yup, no powder. Not to worry, I've got a screw in ball puller, and it is only started so, I'll just pull the short started ball. Nope, the threads on the ball screw are different than the range rod and ram rod I'm using.
Well, I looked at it as an opportunity to educate the new RSO who has no BP experience. I seat the ball, pull the nipple and using a nipple pick I force a few grains of powder into the drum and breech area. I replaced the nipple, cap the piece, point it down range, pull the trigger and am pleasantly rewarded with a poof and see the ball and patch fly down range. The .490 ball manages to fly about 40 meters before touchdown. I sure wouldn't want to be hit by that slow speed projectile.
It only took about 5 minutes to accomplish the clearing and I was back in business of making things go bang again. So, if you haven't dry balled, you need to try it just of the enjoyment of going though this embarrassing process.
Well, I looked at it as an opportunity to educate the new RSO who has no BP experience. I seat the ball, pull the nipple and using a nipple pick I force a few grains of powder into the drum and breech area. I replaced the nipple, cap the piece, point it down range, pull the trigger and am pleasantly rewarded with a poof and see the ball and patch fly down range. The .490 ball manages to fly about 40 meters before touchdown. I sure wouldn't want to be hit by that slow speed projectile.
It only took about 5 minutes to accomplish the clearing and I was back in business of making things go bang again. So, if you haven't dry balled, you need to try it just of the enjoyment of going though this embarrassing process.