Recently I purchased a new looking Traditions .50 caliber Shenandoah Rifle. The wooden ramrod was warped, so I need to order a new one.
It looks to be 3/8" in diameter, but could be a 9mm.
Anybody know what the correct size is since I don't have a caliper?
Much appreciated.
It looks as if the brethren have answered the question, but since this is a forum, we can discuss it a little more...
I would agree with those who recommended getting a good micrometer caliper. It is most definitely a good investment. As you get more deeply involved in muzzleloading, you'll find yourself measuring the diameter of lead balls, the thickness of patches, and Lord knows what else. After you have gotten a good caliper, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.
Good hickory ramrods need not be perfectly straight. You don't want a "dogleg" in it, but a long, gentle curve will help it stay in the ramrod pipes beneath your rifle's barrel. It will straighten out in your rifle bore as you ram the load. The ability of the rod to bend a bit without breaking is good, but it really shouldn't need to flex much. Get the ball started in your bore, insert the ramrod, and grab it just a few inches from the muzzle. Ram, move your hand up a few inches, ram again, and repeat until you have the ball seated. It is not good practice to grab the rod at its upper end and try to push the ball with one continuous swoop. That's one way ramrods get broken and hands get injured.
I would submit that many people nowadays make their ramrods backwards. The driving end of the modern muzzleloading rod has a threaded ferrule on it, and the rod is a uniform diameter. Original rods were usually tapered, with an enlarged "head" for driving the ball, and with the body of the rod in a slightly smaller diameter to fit in the ferrules. If there was a threaded fitting for accessories, such as a worm or ball puller, it would have been on the small end of the rod, down in the rifle stock, typically not on the driving end.
The main thing right now is for you to get your hands on a functional ramrod and get out there and start shooting. However, I would suggest that when you order your new ramrod, maybe go ahead and order a couple of plain hickory rods along with it and try making a replacement yourself. Try a slightly oversized rod, maybe 7/16ths if it will fit your rifle bore, and scrape or plane the body of the rod down so it's an easy slip fit in your ramrod ferrules. Not so loose that it will drop out, but not so tight that it will swell up in wet weather and get stuck. These are not hard to make. They just take a little time. I don't soak mine in kerosene, coal oil, or whatever, although I have heard of it. I do think a waterproof finish is a good idea, though.
You may want to mount a threaded ferrule on the small end of the rod. This has been discussed many times on this forum and we need not go into detail here, but you will definitely want to secure that threaded fitting with a strong adhesive (epoxy or hot-melt ferrule cement)
and a cross-pin. If you want further advice on how to proceed, you can probably find it with a search, or just come back and ask your question. You'll get plenty of help!
Good luck to you!
Notchy Bob
