Ballistic Coeffecient of a ramrod?

[troy_mclure]

I've never done it, but a hunting buddy of my dads did. It spun thru the air sideways making a "wik wik wik" noise. The deer that the ramrod flew over was not too happy with the sound either. Lol

[Rick Hodges]

My hunting partner sent the aluminum Omega rod downrange. He had no idea what happened. He was firing from the bench, the gun went off and reared back and broke his nose. He had no idea what had happened or why it kicked so damn hard. He couldn't see where the bullet hit through the scope but the target was leaning to the left. He went to reload and couldn't find his ramrod.

We never did find the darn thing, it had cut one leg of the target stand in two on its way to oblivion.

[phonejack]

Yeah, I have done that too!

[Taylor]

I use a metal detector to find my arrows.I have seen sections of cleaning rods and blanks fired from an M16 to kill coons.So it could have flown a pretty good distance.

[MBTcustom]

The title said it all! I was already laughing when I clicked on the thread!
Don't sweat it buddy, stuff happens. The good thing is that you can still buy the fittings and the rod from many different sources. I'm glad your OK and the gun survived.

[KCSO]

We had an old guy in our club one time (yea about my age) who would always get to talking and would shoot his ramrod form his 1 1/8 Hawken about once a month or so. Old Dryball use to carry spare ramrods to each shoot. I know that in the three years he shot with us he launched at least 6 ramrods into the backstop. Mostly they broke when they hit, but once he went down pulled the rod from the backstop and went back to the firing line and reloaded his gun. He was also a good one for short starting a ball and then firing it from his gun.

[59sharps]

With a 25 yrd zero you can plan on 200 - 250 yrds appox 25 ft up the berm

[Lonegun1894]

The only time I did it, it was intentional. My ramrod broke very close to the jag, and I was unable to remove my jag after trying several fixes, so removed my nipple, put in a little powder, seated the jag fully against breech, or until it was sitting on powder ( I could have done it with a bit less powder, but that's another story), and sent it down range. I know I heard an impact on the 100 yd berm, but never found my jag, so it must have had a bit of energy left when it got there. I wish I could say I have never come close to doing it on accident though. Distractions and all....

[boltons75]

I launched one out of my inline 50 cal, I was talking with friends while shooting and became distracted. I shot, and wow did that kick hard and it was very loud, but wait I'm seeing black spots and there's blood running down my eye? I looked through my scope, which had just kissed my face, and there was nothing on the target.

I walked down range, and about 50 yards down saw what looked like a section of coax cable sticking out of the ground, hmm strange I thought. Well I went back to the bench, cleaned my face off and went to reload, wait where's my ramrod? And the duh moment hits, looking downrange, there is my solid aluminum ramrod, in an s shape sticking out of the ground. I went and retrieved it, removed my Barnes loading tip, which now has the rifling marked gouged into it. I tried to reuse the tip, but it wouldn't fit down the barrel, since the Barnes mz 250 grain hollow point must have expanded it a bit.

Lesson learned, while chatting at the range, I leave the guns sitting. And before I left the rangmaster asked if he could hang my rod on their wall of shame. The only plus to that is, there are so many there now that I can't tell which is mine anymore.

Always carry, never tell.

[waksupi]

You know, we laugh about people doing this, but take into consideration. If the rod has slid away from the projectile, you have a hell of a barrel obstruction that can well burst a barrel. Be careful!

[Boerrancher]

The closest I came was shooting a cleaning jag out of one. It was a plastic jag and got stuck, so I pulled the nipple dumped about 20grs of 3FG in the breech through the nipple, and seated the patched jag against the charge, capped it and shot it across the front yard. I found the patch but not the jag. It wouldn't have mattered anyway as the threads were broken off of it. I just thought it would be cool to have it to add to my box of screw ups. Yes I have a box of shame, or lessons learned how ever you want to look at it.

Best wishes,

Joe

[TXGunNut]

I'm sorry, Hornady308, none of our learned friends seem to have an answer for you. I've often wondered what the optimal twist rate would be and if placing one or more driving bands along the shaft would help with stabilizing these unintentional projectiles. After seeing how little help you got I'm not even going to ask.

[mooman76]

You know, we laugh about people doing this, but take into consideration. If the rod has slid away from the projectile, you have a hell of a barrel obstruction that can well burst a barrel. Be careful!

That kind of reminds me, not trying to hyjack this thread but I was watching TOP Shot this week and they were loading flintlock pistols for the day, peaked my interest abit more. They had a expert as usual showing them how to load and he showed them how to load with no patch so they had to be careful as the ball could roll forward and drop out(and it did a couple times). I figure they probably did it for a speed factor as they were mimicing pirates on a ship battling, but wouldn't that be abit unsafe or am I missing something? I know probably unlikely but they still could have for the show used patches for safety.

Back to the thread. I have never launched a rod or at least yet but I have forgot the powder a couple times. I have to watch what I do when I get talking especially now adays I seem to loose track of things easier.

[Dframe]

Stuff happens. The club on which I once served as a director used to have a traveling trophy. It was a beautifully polished and lacquered piece of wood with a target skillfully painted on it and (you probably knew this was coming) it had a a hole drilled dead center and a Dowel rod glued in place. Whoever fired a ramrod during a club shoot was awarded this trophy and was required to keep it UNTIL the next person did it. It was then ceremonially awarded to that person who had to keep it until the next one. It made for some great laughter at the club and everyone had fun with it.

[waksupi]

We have a traveling trophy somewhat like that. Ours is for dry balling. It is a necklace made of empty CO2 cylinders.

I have never been the possessor of it since it has started it's rounds!

[DIRT Farmer]

We have a traveling trophy somewhat like that. Ours is for dry balling. It is a necklace made of empty CO2 cylinders.

I have never been the possessor of it since it has started it's rounds!

Nowyou have jinx your self.

[waksupi]

We have a traveling trophy somewhat like that. Ours is for dry balling. It is a necklace made of empty CO2 cylinders.

I have never been the possessor of it since it has started it's rounds!

Nowyou have jinx your self.

I would have to work hard to gain possession. Current "owner" dry balled five times in one match!

[DIRT Farmer]

Been there, don't need the tee shirt. It was my first shootoff with pistol in national compition. I lost.

[Boerrancher]

I have been really lucky over the years and have not fired a ramrod or dry balled it, YET. Notice the "yet". I am sure as I get older and my mind gets feebler, it is going to happen. I will be sure to let all of you know when it does, so each and everyone of you can make fun of me for doing it. I annoy my buddy Dave when we are shooting, because I won't talk or look away from the task of loading the gun until I am ready to prime it, be it with a cap or 4FG.

Best wishes,

Joe

[dfreeman]

I can assure you it has nothing to do with age. When I was 15 (1965) I shot my ramrod out of my .44 cal. Hopkins and Allen underhammer Coach gun. Never did find that ramrod. Still have that little rifle and it still sports the dowel ramrod that i bought to replace the original. It sure is accurate! Wish I had been able to afford some more of those H&A underhammers.