short starter for shotguns

[2172]

We do some trap shooting with dbl bbl percussion guns...12 ga. One of our gang made us each a range rod...dowel of appropiate size, a "craft shop" wooden ball for a handle...works great...another of the guys came up with a short starter version....the dowel is about 8" long. It really helps getting the various wads seated correctly, so they can be driven down by the range rod. I don't know if this is a new idea, or that I just haven't seen it before, but I thought I'd pass it on. Too, I don't care if the old tymers wouldn't have done this...not even interested in what they'd have done...Hank

 

[roundball]

Hank, I also made a range rod for my .12ga Navy Arms double...used a leftover 3/8" X 34" "super-rod" I had laying around, cut the ends off, epoxied a wooden ball on one end and epoxied a .12ga shotgun button-jag on the other end...even carried it with me into a couple dove fields last year...works great

 

[2172]

Roundball, try making the short starter, too...really helps i nloading..Hank

 

[Dave K]

I too just use a 5/8" dowel rod for the 12ga. and a 1/2" rod for the 20ga. I also use them dove hunting. I am afraid that the little whippy original rod may get broke in all the excitement! I did stain and tung oil the rods for appearance sake.

 

[musketman]

I use the plunger part of a wooden hand held wine bottle corker for my .75 caliber short starter, works like a charm...

 

[2172]

Gosh, Musketman...down here, our wine comes with screw-off caps...you get corks in yours? We maybe could use corks instead of cobs in our jugs...a great idea...Hank