Range time!

[Deerman]

After you told me how to make the bullets,lube the bullets,I finally got to shoot them.
I found with the flat base of the REAL bullets I needed the Wonder Wads,with that combo they shot great.Out to 100 yards great groups.

[quigleysharps4570]

3 day weekend...oughta give you some more playing time. What load are you using with that REAL bullet?

[Deerman]

85 grns Pyrodex RS

[quigleysharps4570]

Mine likes 80grs. of 2f Swiss. Got me some shooting in today and fixing to go back out. Ran 35 shots through her this morning...patched roundball.

[Deerman]

I really didn't have a lot of time to zero them and play with the load like I like to.I'll finally have time soon then I'll really see what they can do.

[quigleysharps4570]

Here's the results of my Memorial Day weekend shooting. :) Ramrod broke and left this 2" piece in my hand. Went in between the little finger and ring finger on my right hand. Have since ordered a brass ramrod. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/quigleysharps4570/ramrodsplinter.jpg

[Deerman]

OUCH!!!!!!

[MaIIIa]

You don't need a brass ramrod, rather a safer technique for seating the ball. When I teach people to load BP rifles I always give the instruction to NEVER hold the rod more than 6-8 inches above the muzzle. Holding close to the muzzle, give short firm downward strokes, then slide the hand up another few inches, and repeat until the ball is seated. This should be done with metal rods as well since they will tend to bend and you don't get the full force of your strokes.

Your two inch splinter is a good reminder to all of us to be careful, to always practice safe procedures and to never let our safety guard down no matter how experienced we are!

If you don't mind, the next time I do some ML training I'll use your accident as an example of what can happen. Summer brings a number of training events for me and I always look forward to it a lot.

MaIIIa

[quigleysharps4570]

Yes sir...you can use it as an example. Might also add that the splinter cost me a trip to the emergency room. That barb you see on it...couldn't pull it out. Had to be cut out. They had quite a time with that little jewel. :)

[Adam Helmer]

quigley,

Thanks for posting your mishap as a safety reminder to all Longhunters. I suppose it was your stong hand that got the splinter. Do you have a drain in place since the rod had to have been pretty dirty for such a deep puncture wound?

Back in 1973 I built my first Pennsylvania Rifle from a kit. There was no ramrod in the kit, so I went to the local building supply store and got a piece of about three-eights wooden dowel rod that fit the thimbles snugly. During my first range session all went well until the 4th shot, when the bore was fouled. I was too high up on the ramrod as MaIIIa mentions and it broke about midway above the muzzle. My strong hand missed the pointed splinter by millimeters as my hand swept down past the muzzle. I use fiberglass rods now.

Adam

[Deerman]

Maybe my bullets are different,I've never had to push that hard.I also use a bullet starter.

[quigleysharps4570]

Originally posted by Adam Helmer
I suppose it was your stong hand that got the splinter. Do you have a drain in place since the rod had to have been pretty dirty for such a deep puncture wound?

Adam

Yes it was my strong hand. No drain...said that's why he only wanted a couple stitches in it. Dirty...you bet ya. It was in there for right at 3 hrs. before they finally got to me and got it out. Gave me some real good antibiotics...I figured it would be a miracle if it didn't get infected...it didn't.