Can you shoot a ramrod out of a BP rifle barrel

Unless you have fletching on your ramrod, I'm pretty sure it will tumble end over end and not fly like an arrow, especially if the end that seats the ball has a heavy brass jag on it destabilizing it in its "backwards arrow" flight.
 
Should you do it . . . no.

Has it been done . . . yes.

I've seen ramrods go downrange at NSSA shoots and I've seen it done several times at small, private shoots. It's like "dry balling" a rifle when you get your attention somewhere else and forget to put a powder charge in . . . or you end up double charging. That's why it's important to keep focused on what you're doing. I've never seen any barrels damaged from it . . . but I've seen some pretty embarrassed fellas with red faces. It's best not to laugh too loudly though and you never know when the same thing could happen to you.

I'm sure that it was done many times in the Civil War during the heat of battle. Just like the muskets being loaded with more than one cartridge and the soldier forgetting to cap his weapon Years ago I read where about 25% of the muskets picked up off of the field at Gettysburg after the battle had more than one cartridge in them and if I remember correctly, one had seventeen. Under stress, anything can happen.
 
Arrows fly pretty good without fletching.
The length and weight make up for it.
Doubt that the jag would make much difference either, for the same reasons.
If the ramrod tumbles, it's maybe due to the same cause as bullets tumbling - hitting something, like maybe the end of the barrel.
 
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BTW, during the Siege of Petersburg (American Civil War) bored soldiers on both sides would scavenge spare ramrods and shoot them into the air and onto the other side's trenches. They found the noise of a ramrod in the air amusing.
 
g.willikers said:
Arrows fly pretty good without fletching.
The length and weight make up for it.
Doubt that the jag would make much difference either, for the same reasons.
If the ramrod tumbles, it's maybe due to the same cause as bullets tumbling - hitting something, like maybe the end of the barrel.
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Yes, an unfletched arrow can stay head first in flight provided the head is heavier than the rest of the shaft. For stability, the arrow's center of mass must be forward of its aerodynamic center of lift or drag.
A ramrod without a weighted head will not have this stability. You don't need to actually shoot it to see this, just launch one like an arrow with a slingshot. If the brass jag is heavy enough, it may stabilize it but only when flying jag first.

.177 air rifle pellets also stay nose first when fired from a smoothbore because they have a solid nose and a hollow tail. (yes I tried it)
 
During the late 18th Century, frontiersman Lewis Wetzel killed a sleeping Kickapoo at Fort Massac when he put a ramrod (stolen from a soldier) in the barrel of his rifle, placed the tip on the mans rectum, and pulled the trigger.
 
During the late 18th Century, frontiersman Lewis Wetzel killed a sleeping Kickapoo at Fort Massac when he put a ramrod (stolen from a soldier) in the barrel of his rifle, placed the tip on the mans rectum, and pulled the trigger.
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I can only assume that was a practical joke gone wrong???:eek:
 
Nope, Wetzel had a life long hatred for Native Americans and would kill them any chance he got.

The soldier from whom Wetzel stole the ramrod was found guilty of murder and was about to be hanged. Wetzel called out a confession to save the mans life, then took off and evaded capture.
 
Yes. I've seen it happen, at our old muzzel loader club. I was the range officer for several years and have seen it happen. Scary but usually not damaging.
 
The brass part of the T/C ramrod that came with my Omega, a good 6-7 inches broke in the barrel. I shot it on top of 150 gn of triple seven and 250 gn bullet. The recoil was really bad but the rifle held up.
 
During the late 18th Century, frontiersman Lewis Wetzel killed a sleeping Kickapoo at Fort Massac when he put a ramrod (stolen from a soldier) in the barrel of his rifle, placed the tip on the mans rectum, and pulled the trigger.
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I can only assume that was a practical joke gone wrong???
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Wetzel hated the red man. I hated that he killed every one he came across. I doubt if he was joking.
 
Wetzel hated the red man. I hated that he killed every one he came across. I doubt if he was joking.
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The intentional use of the ramrod is what threw me. Why not just shoot him, or use a blade?
 
During that era, captured whites were often tortured to death by various tribes using many gruesome, twisted methods. Wetzel was a witness to many examples. Perhaps he was attempting to respond in a like manner, make a statement.
 
As noted, firing the ramrod has been done many times. Observers in major Civil War battles have mentioned the glint of ramrods flying through the air.

As Newton24b says, if the rod is down on the bullet, it will act as a long and heavy bullet and a blown or bulged barrel is unlikely. BUT if the rod is stuck partway down, and a bullet is fired into it, the barrel will be damaged because the bullet will be stopped and its kinetic energy turned into heat, weakening the barrel and allowing it to bulge or burst.

Jim
 
What good is saving your lead ball if you don't have a ramrod to load it with?

I think it was due to variety or some other twisted reason.
 
Lighthouses and Cannons

Somewhat related; We have visited a number of lighthouses around the Great Lakes and on more that one occation, have noticed some fairly large black powder cannons. These were used to project a rescue line to ships out on the lake. Basically they project a long weighted rod, with a line attached. As long as you have plenty of by-pass and no air pockets, there is not enough restriction to do any harm. The barrels I saw were about 4Ft. long and 8" OD. .. :)

Be Safe !!!
 
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