ball smacker and tapered ramrod

[Rob DiStefano]

i cut off the business end of a 3/8" brass ferrule and stuck it in a piece of hardwood.  i used that to smack down a .526 ball wrapped in .015 cloth.  it worked well as a test.  then i drilled into my patch knife handle and epoxied in the "ball smacker".

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

the ramrod i used yesterday was 3/8" diameter aspen, with a 3/8" ferrule at the jag end ...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

... and a 5/16" ferrule at the ramming end.  this smaller ferrule makes it easy to insert that end into the stock's rod hole, and its end is concave for pushing a patched ball down the tube.  no need to fiip the rod for ball ramming, it's just an up down thing.  I tapered the rod to blend in with that smaller ferrule.  both ferrules are epoxied in as well as brass pinned.  the smaller end also has a hole that will allow inserting a nail for hand leverage or for a cord for dry ball pulling.

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

[doc nock]

Tricky... looks pretty slick...

You've shared here that you like to thumb load but if you get better groups with a slightly tighter patch, without having to hammer one home, I'd say that is worth while project

[goingoldskool]

I like the addition to the knife handle! As long as it doesn't grab your finger when you're using it as a knife!!!  The straight up and down seating the ball does save time.

Nice work!

[Tony Van Dort]

That's cool!