Ramrod will not go back into place and is sticking out beyond front of barrel. Help!

I shot and cleaned my Kentucky for the first time. Put everything back,tightened screws and then slide ramrod back into place under barrel. However it won't go all the way back in and sticks out further than front of barrel. A screw that hold the sidelock in place is now in the way. The screw is where it is supposed to be and wasn't a problem before. The ramrod just hits the screw. If I take the screw out a little,it fits just fine but then I have a loose screw. Any ideas? Thank you in advance.

Welcome to the forum. What exact model and make muzzleloader are you shooting? Maybe you could post a photograph. Sometimes there is a notch in the front lock screw to allow the ramrod to pass. Assuming you have two screws holding the lockplate, any chance you switched the two screws? Other possibles, but start there.

It is a CVA Kentucky. Yes there are two screws.That was my first thought about the screw. So I switched them ,tried again same issue, switched back and same issue. Photo will follow soon

With screws in place, ram rod as far as it will go.

Actually, I have just removed both screws and side lock and still it will not go down all the way. It's like something is in the holder at the end blocking it,stopping it from going down all the way. Could there be something else going on?

Well if the ramrod seated under the barrel before you disassemble and reassembled it, something changed or got loose. I haven’t taken a CVA Kentucky apart recently, but know some CVA half stocks have a metal retaining clip that a lock screw goes through. Do you know if yours has the clip?

Remove the lock and lock screws, then run the ramrod into place. Watch through the front lock screw hole. It should be obvious to if see the ramrod entering the lock screw hole. It should pass just under that screw hole.

Traditions also have that little spring. Take the lock off and see if you can see it in the ramrod channel. It it is there you will need to finagle it into place so the forward lock screw goes through the loop with the tail towards the butt. The screw will need to be held in place while the lock is re attached to the stock. I always use a piece of painters tape to hold the forward screw in the stock when I remove to lock. Getting that spring in place can be a bugger.

SDSmlf said:

Well if the ramrod seated under the barrel before you disassemble and reassembled it, something changed or got loose. I haven’t taken a CVA Kentucky apart recently, but know some CVA half stocks have a metal retaining clip that a lock screw goes through. Do you know if yours has the clip?

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Hmmm? I don't know. The only two thing I removed were the two screws holding sidelock. If it does and it came loose how do I know and or fix?

Ram rod inserted all the way and ram rod out a little for screw. As you can see more light coming through means screw hole not block. Second picture you can see ram rod partially blocking hole so screw can't go all the way through.

SD and Jake are on to the problem, find that spring. You may have to pull the barrel.

Most likely you have done nothing wrong. Many times the ram rod hole gets drilled a little too close to the front lock bolt hole. The answer is - loosen or take the front lock bolt out, put the ram rod all the way in and then put the lock screw back in. It actually helps keep your ram rod from shooting loose and working it's way forward. If you use your wooden ram rod and can not live with the above, the front screw should leave a mark on the rod where they contact. Sand that area of the rod down just a little until it goes by the bolt. Actually taper the rod from that point to the end of the rod that is inside. Then refinish the rod.

Time to remove the barrel and see what you’ve got. As an old doctor I used to know would say, you have a SUIT problem, something-up-in-there.

Was any ‘custom’ work done with the spacer other pieces?

Edited post.

One option might be to tap the gun muzzle down onto some solid such as the floor to see if you can jar the clip spring forward. Make sure there is a towel or carpet so you don’t damage it. Easy does it.

SDSmlf said:

Remove the lock and lock screws, then run the ramrod into place. Watch through the front lock screw hole. It should be obvious to if see the ramrod entering the lock screw hole. It should pass just under that screw hole.

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Definitely

SDSmlf said:

Remove the lock and lock screws, then run the ramrod into place. Watch through the front lock screw hole. It should be obvious to if see the ramrod entering the lock screw hole. It should pass just under that screw hole.

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Definitely running into screw hole

BruceHH said:

Many times the ram rod hole gets drilled a little too close to the front lock bolt hole. The answer is - loosen or take the front lock bolt out, put the ram rod all the way in and then put the lock screw back in. It actually helps keep your ram rod from shooting loose and working it's way forward.

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OP has observed that the ramrod will not seat with both lock screws removed.

Clb_410 said:

Actually, I have just removed both screws and side lock and still it will not go down all the way.

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The spring if there is one, may be in the bottom of the ramrod channel and lifting the ramrod up so it interferes with the screw being inserted.

SDSmlf said:

Time to remove the barrel and see what you’ve got. As an old doctor I used to know would say, you have a SUIT problem, something-up-in-there.

Noticed your first set of photographs you have a piece of brass covering the two piece seam in the stock. Was any ‘custom’ work done with the spacer other pieces?

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I am not sure how to remove the barrel. At the range I did ask some who also shoots bp/ml and he said it looks like barrel won't come off because of small pins (will post pictures later) as far as custom work don't know. Bought it used.

Do you know how to remove the barrel from the stock?

SDSmlf said:

Do you know how to remove the barrel from the stock?

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No