Ram rod stuck in muzzleloader

243rem700

New member
I was trying to clean a muzzleloader with the wooden ram rod and when pulling the ram rod out it broke off just inside of the barrel. Is there any way to remove it?
 
RH twist?

find a reverse wood screw 2 to 3" long and a drill the size of the screws shank.
drill into the ram rod and than screw in the screw.
strong vice on heavy bench: tighten screw head in vice and than
gently turn rifle counterclockwise while tugging [jerk, relax & repeat] until the rod begins to exit.
if it is coming out hard it may help to vice the rod when you have enough of it to grab.

if you have a compressed air stuck ball remover it may work also.
though im gonna guess that so much air will blow by that it may have no effect.
 
The following works if you have a removable breech plug:
Remove the barrel from the stock.
Remove the breech plug from the barrel.
Push the ramrod out through the breech.
Next time use a fiberglass ramrod.
 
Ramrod Removal

I've seen this fix discussed on some of the blackpower boards, but haven't actually done it myself - some muzzle loaders have nipples that have the same thread size as grease zerks. Get a grease zerk of the correct size and pump the bore full of grease. Eventually the pressure will push out the ramrod piece.

It will be messy and probably take a lot of grease - just may work - worth a try.

If you try it, please post results.
 
"Eventually the pressure will push out the ramrod piece." :eek:
It may work but that sounds like a lot of grease to clean out of the barrel.
I'd go with the reverse screw before pumping grease in there & it might not work.
 
In the older muzzle loaders with a nipple, remove the nipple, pour a small amount of 3 or 4f in and replace the nipple. Put a cap on and fire the rod out. Sounds bad but I've seen it work many times.
 
I agree with flyguy.. I have done it that way myself. Pull the nipple put a couple pinches of powder in the nipple hole cap and fire. My rod went about 50 feet, but all was well..
 
stuck rod

Sir;
The tip of your ramrod ought to be secured with a brass or aluminum pin and the rod should be seasoned hickory!
After shooting (traditional guns) wet your patch with some saliva and push it down to the breech face - LET IT SIT THERE FOR A MINUTE! It will soften the fouling (CLEAN AFTER EVERY SHOT) and then come right out. Then run a dry patch and recharge and you're ready again!
Scorch has a good idea as to how to get it out - be careful you don't ruin the bore!
Harry B.
 
FWIW, I always keep the ramrod in its channel, where it looks very nice, and use a brass rod for actual loading and cleaning.

Jim
 
Any of the above methods should work. If you use grease after the rod is out just get a tight fitting patch and push the grease out the nipple hole.
 
Thanks for all of the suggestions! It is a cap lock muzzleloader that my dad built from a kit back in the 80s. He fired it a few times in one day and let it sit ever since without cleaning. I am doubting I will ever get the ram rod out.
 
I am doubting I will ever get the ram rod out.
I have heard statements like this more than once and to date, they have all come out. This one might be the exception but I doubt it. Don't give up on it or yourself. Sure wish you were my neighbor as we would get it out. Granted, I have found ramrods are harder to pull but so far, not impossible. Start with the listed options and keep after it. .... :)




Be Safe !!!
 
A grease fitting brazed to a nipple, a grease gun and about five minutes (including clean up time) is all it takes.
 
tight

I have done the "little bit of 3fg" myself. It worked. I, too, was convinced that I would never get the rod out. It came out.
The grease gun is, in a way, a more elegant solution - if you have a grease gun and if you can fit it to your gun.
Pete
 
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