How deep can ramrod hole be?

[Camel73]

Cleaning up some flinters tonight and saw an issue I could possibly fix...

I have an older .36 Kentucky where the ramrod could be maybe an inch deeper but there doesn't look like a lot of meat in that area of the stock.

It looks like they stopped because of a tall front trigger guard screw sticking up -- which I'm going to trim anyway.
Right now it's about 1¼" away from the front of the trigger guard where your fingers go.

 

[rich pierce]

When building I drill as deep as possible. Usually the lug for the guard is my stopping point. Obviously we want the ramrod as long as the barrel when possible. At the minimum, as long as the bore is deep.

 

[M. De Land]

Cleaning up some flinters tonight and saw an issue I could possibly fix...

I have an older .36 Kentucky where the ramrod could be maybe an inch deeper but there doesn't look like a lot of meat in that area of the stock.

It looks like they stopped because of a tall front trigger guard screw sticking up -- which I'm going to trim anyway.
Right now it's about 1¼" away from the front of the trigger guard where your fingers go.

I've seen a lot of loading rods stick out past the muzzle for ease of gripping and removal but they get hung up while hunting on limbs , vines etc. I'm not sure how common this was in history though.

 

[Camel73]

When building I drill as deep as possible. Usually the lug for the guard is my stopping point. Obviously we want the ramrod as long as the barrel when possible. At the minimum, as long as the bore is deep.

Ok thanks.
I didn't know if there was a maximum safe length for worries of weakening the stock.

 

[Camel73]

...

 

[Camel73]

I've seen a lot of loading rods stick out past the muzzle for ease of gripping and removal but they get hung up while hunting on limbs , vines etc. I'm not sure how common this was in history though.

I see now why some guys have them sticking out... If mine were flush I'd never be able to grab it outta there.
Kind of depends on the shape of the end of your stock I suppose.

 

[oldwood]

If you have trouble gripping a muzzle length r/r , put a brass end on the rod , and screw a brass tip on the exposed tip. You'll giter out quickly then. If it's still sticky in the gun , wax the rod.

 

[Camel73]

If you have trouble gripping a muzzle length r/r , put a brass end on the rod , and screw a brass tip on the exposed tip. You'll giter out quickly then. If it's still sticky in the gun , wax the rod.

My .62 Fusil is flush and easy to grab.. The .36 kind of tucks the ramrod into the stock more.
It's good to know I can extend the hole a bit if I need to.