Lyman Great Plains ramrod replacement

[Norseman]

I have had my Lyman GP .54 caplock for about ten years now and love it.  I am looking for a replacement ramrod (actually an 'additional' ramrod) to use as a range rod and a spare when I am hunting.  I did get a Mountain State ramrod from Dixie and hate it.  It's 3/8th inch in diameter but with my tight fitting ball/patch after short starting, the rod is so flexible and wobbly I have to choke down on the rod to get a ball down.  Not to mention forget about putting the rod into the thimbles for field use it just slides right out!  So I just use it for cleaning the bore.
  A buddy of mine has an excellent replacement ramrod that appears to be made of brown fiberglass and it's very strong and doesnt wobble.  It also doesn't slide out of his thimbles although it is a newer Great Plains rifle and appears to have a "clip" on the underlug that puts tension on the ramrod.  He isn't totaly sure who made his rod.  Any suggestions?

[two snakes]

Go to http://thunder-ridge-muzzleloading.com/ramrod1.htm#s82 and look at  the columns for 11-82-33054     .54     33"     3/8"      Lyman Great Plains.  This should be a good on

[PA-Joe]

Also http://rmcsports.com

[Good time Charlie]

I have broken two rods lately. I would take my knife and mark the spot when the ball was fully seated. That is where they broke. Will not do that again! I got one of those brass tube rods,but it just adds to much weight to the gun. I will use it for a range rod, but ordered new wood ones for hunting.
                          Charlie

[Norseman]

The replacement rod I have now is a plastic one, not stiff at all, and is a pain to use at the range because it bends too easily.  I have to choke down and push the ball down with three movements instead of one long one (after using my short starter), and I wipe the bore between shots too.  Due to the rod being rubbery and too flexible, I need a heavy duty 3/8th diameter, 33" long one for my .54 Great Plains Rifle.  I use my wood one for hunting and field though.  My buddy has a fantastic Range Rod/replacement rod the fits his Great Plains Rifle under the barrel just fine and appears to be brown fiberglass.  It isn't that flexible at all and it is strong!  He just can't say for certainty who made it.  Can anyone help me out?  I don't want to order another rod that is junk.

[roundball]

 A buddy of mine has an excellent replacement ramrod that appears to be made of brown fiberglass and it's very strong and doesnt wobble.

FWIW, everything I've ever read or heard about fiberglas ramrods is that they'll wear the crown of the muzzel in no time at all unless a muzzle guide is used...you might at least mention that to your buddy;

Another alternative for ramrods is brass...I have TC Hawkens and have gradually replaced all the factory wooden ramrods with brass ones...worried the flimsey wooden ones would break while hunting and/or hurt myself, etc.

Mostly my replacements are solid brass which added a lot of extra weight out front and improved accuracy as the muzzle just seems to "hang" on the target.

A couple are lighter tubular brass ramrods...both types are very strong but also require a muzzle guide...I use the plastic guides from Builder's Supply...they're light and quiet when carrying them hunting.

[crow_feather]

I have used a 50 cal machine gun cleaning rod for the last 25 years without a problem.  I rethreaded the tip to 10/32 and added a brass bore protector and a cleaning jag that can also seat a prb.

The weight of the metal is an advantage pulling a ball or ramming home a prb in a dirty bore.  I do not take this rod to the field for hunting, but use the wood ramrod on my rifle instead.  

I also believe that a rifle should look traditional if used at rondys. What I find hard to accept is a person dressed in period clothing with a period rifle using a plastic ram rod.

C f