Lock bolt interferes with ramrod channel

[Birdwatcher]

'Nother glitch noticed on my TVM....

After the original ramrod broke off at the tip before it was ever used, I noticed that the replacement ramrod I bought wouldn't fit all the way down the channel.

Inspection of the original ramrod revealed the butt end was tapered. I figured the ramrod channel must be likewise tapered and as an expedient for looks, cut the replacement ramrod off short to sit in place for show and just used a range rod for load/cleaning (no major inconvenience at the range).

Discovered recently quite by chance that a replacement ramrod fits just fine with the lock removed, the taper on the original ramrod was to push past the front lock bolt partially obstructing the ramrod channel. I tapered the end on a replacement rod and am back in business.

My question is, how usual is it for the lock bolt to obstruct the ramrod channel this way?

Thanks,

Birdwatcher

 

[Rifleman1776]

This question might do better in the gunsmith forum.
However, not just a few guns have the lock bolt with a cut out to allow the rod to slip past it. Take a careful look at how things fit on your gun. A few minutes at the grinding wheel might fix yer problem.
First, however, I would share this unhappy experience with the folks at TVM.

 

[jdkerstetter]

Not unusual at all and sometimes necessary on a slender gun. Tapered ramrods were the norm on original guns....regardless of whether or not the bolt interfered.

I taper my rods anyway but when I have an interference problem, as I do with the one I am building now, I slot the bolt tool.

With the lock bolt in the gun as it should be I will put an index mark in the bolt so that I am sure that it is the same way each time.

Then I will file a groove in the bolt with a round file so that the rods end will not hit it when I slide it in. Sometimes up to half the bolt cross section is removed. Since the bolts are only tightened and not toqued down there is still adequate strength to hold the lock in place.

Some guys opt to file a "wasp" waste....a groove all the way around....in their bolts so they don't have to worry about indexing.

The only caveat to either method is if there is too much interference, the ramrod has to be removed before the bolt can be unscrewed to remove the lock.

Enjoy, J.D.

 

[ohio ramrod]

It is not at all unusual. Many guns require a tapered rod. There is little room for the bolt an d ramrod to clear each other on many guns. All of the doubles I have had or worked on required tapered rods.:idunno:

 

[Grenadier1758]

I have cut outs in the front bolt for my ramrod. You have experienced a common practice in building a nice slender rifle.

 

[Birdwatcher]

Thank you all.

 

[buzz]

I notched my front bolt. plus little tapper to a longer brass end makes a little bit of hassel when returning the lock after cleaning