Delrin as ramrod material

Rifleman1776 said:

carbon fiber arrow shafts.

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My understanding is cf has no lateral strength and can break easily. No experience, so really dunno. :idunno: This is supposed to be especially true if the shaft gets even slightly damaged.

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The way the shafts are wound and laminated, they are very tough. Especially frontal impacts which is why they make a great ramrod since most of the force is applied lengthwise in ramming the ball down and if you buy ones with a stiff spine such as a 320 spine, then they are quite strong even laterally.
I take a little lacquer thinner on a rag and wipe the printed Gold Tip label off and they look like a real wooden ramrod.

Here is what they look like: http://www.kustomkingarchery.com/B...rbon-Shafts-NEW-FOOTED-STYLE/productinfo/4880/#

Isn't carbon fiber just as, or more abrasive than fiberglass?

I use to shoot squirrels with blunt tips...Every aluminum arrow that hit a tree bent, usually like a candy cane. Every carbon fiber arrow shattered into a thousand sharp points.....Wooden arrows just bounced off....occasionally I would break one but, that was after many hits. The idea of carbon fiber slivers is not appealing.

If carbon fiber works for you, GREAT! but, I must admit I am confused as to why so many people can't master using a wooden ramrod when our ancestors did for several hundred years.... :idunno:

I have ramrods of wood, metal and Derlin. Wood is my preference by far.

Colorado Clyde said:

Isn't carbon fiber just as, or more abrasive than fiberglass?

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These shafts are wrapped in a slick coating. So the carbon fiber never even touches the barrel, but I still use a rod guide. The coating on the ramrod hasn't even began to show any signs of wear and I use it a lot. Nothing wrong with wood if used properly with short strokes, but without a rod guide, the grit that is collected by the wood will wear out your muzzle if you shoot a lot.

So....You're using the arrow as a range rod then?....and not as a ramrod mounted under the barrel?

the grit that is collected by the wood will wear out your muzzle if you shoot a lot.

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I've been trying to validate that myth for over 40 years....With no success.....

SDSmlf said:

Think about sandpaper. Hard material (aluminum oxide for example) embedded in softer material. (paper or delrin) rubbing against harder material ( barrel steel for example). And the winner is??

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Same as hardwood, it also picks up abrasives same as anything else.

nhmoose said:

SDSmlf said:

Think about sandpaper. Hard material (aluminum oxide for example) embedded in softer material. (paper or delrin) rubbing against harder material ( barrel steel for example). And the winner is??

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Same as hardwood, it also picks up abrasives same as anything else.

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I always wipe my metal range rod before running it down the barrel....When in the field, I run my wooden rod between my fingers...This cleans the rod, alerts me to any defects in the rod and acts as a bore guide.

Colorado Clyde said:

So....You're using the arrow as a range rod then?....and not as a ramrod mounted under the barrel?

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I actually use it for both, but I screw a wooden ball on it for range use so it is a little more comfortable on the hand for constant shooting.

the grit that is collected by the wood will wear out your muzzle if you shoot a lot.

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I've been trying to validate that myth for over 40 years....With no success.....

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I guess you will have to keep trying. :rotf:

You should post a picture of this rod. I thinks folks would be interested to see it.

Colorado Clyde said:

You should post a picture of this rod. I thinks folks would be interested to see it.

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Yep, I keep thinking I need to do that, but I haven't got around to it yet.

I made Delrin rods since the 1980's. They are a bit too flexible for very small bores. For 45 cal and up they are great. I still use a stainless steel range rod for most shooting, but the Hawkenstein, cobbled together from many parts of dfferent countries and manufacture, all round car trunk carried hunting gun gets a delrin rod under the barrel no matter which barrel is on it. Delrin can get very slippery when fingers get greasy from patch lube. Hence a pair of pliers or multitool in my gear.

Delrin can get very slippery when fingers get greasy from patch lube.

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My Delrin rods that are used on the rifle, as opposed to handled range rods, get a light sanding. This takes away the smooth shiny surface and gives a better hold. And, it makes the rod less obvious as a synthetic.

I have a Delrin rod somewhere (under my couch I think) that's never been used........bought it decades ago....don't care for the feel......
use wooden rods for everything except deep cleaning....teflon coated stainless (Parker Hale) for that.

I thought I was the only one using arrow shafts as ramrods. I usually splice it by going through my junk box and find a suitable piece of shaft that is a slip fit in the GT shaft and epoxy it in place.

I think you guys worry too much. The Bevel Brothers did a study afew years back, and with a machine they made ran different material ramrods in a barrel thousands of times and could find no wear. The machine intentionally rubbed the muzzle the way a person would, and no wear. Do you think you shoot more than our ancestors did? Don't think so.

:hatsoff:

40" rods from gold tip shafts can be fabricated with 2 broadhead adapters and a piece of threaded rod. screw the 2 shafts together and cut to length.
Or use a short section of dowel and 2 part epoxy to join them.

I use wood, as the old timers did.

With proper technique and good straight-grained hickory, it's a non-issue as far as breakages go. Those complaining of shattered rods often use ramin or other junk wood or wood with bad grain runnout and improper technique. Leave the delrin and other polymers in the 20th and 21st centuries. For our purposes, we don't need anything other than God's wood.

I have know a few match shooters who have worn out barrels, not necessarily at the muzzle, but to the point that the barrel near the muzzle was a several thousands wider than the barrel near the breech. Figure a guy who shoots 200 shots a weekend over 20 weekends a year over 10 years. Thats 40,000 shots. I doubt Dan'l ever did that.

Mike Brines said:

The Bevel Brothers did a study afew years back, and with a machine they made ran different material ramrods in a barrel thousands of times and could find no wear.

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That's really not true,, they ran the test with wood, fiberglass and steel,, and low and behold found steel to cause the most damage.
I don't much care what folks say,, Delrin is till a wet noodle rod and have tossed everyone I've ever came across.
I use steel and fiberglass without problem. I also use a muzzle cone.
If someone is going to be silly enough to rub a dirty rod of any type up and down their rifle barrel(?) Then they will need to deal with what happens rubbing dirt up and down their barrel,
:idunno:
Here's and issue many deal with;
"I need to speed load,, to get a second shot!!"
:hmm: Uhm, no ya don't. It's a muzzle loader, your first shot was good.