Author Topic: A better ramrod than the factory one (excluding Hubbards)? (Read 2823 times)

JimG · « **on:** November 16, 2011, 10:08:00 AM »

Called Ben Hubbard today. Nice guy to deal with. Problem is that he is not making rods right now. Supplier no longer has the needed material. He did take my contact info and said when he finds some brass he'll make me one. In the meantime, is there a sturdier rod than the factory one? I'm really concerned about breaking this one. Yes I use a starter rod.

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2011, 02:41:18 PM »

I have never had a problem with the original that is all I use when hunting .Buy your self a range rod for practice and you will be alright. Kurt

Busta · « **Reply #2 on:** November 17, 2011, 05:01:12 AM »

Quote from: PHATINJUN on November 16, 2011, 02:41:18 PM

I have never had a problem with the original that is all I use when hunting .Buy your self a range rod for practice and you will be alright. Kurt

+1

Just make sure you use it as designed. Collapsed for the first push, then extended to seat the bullet. The guys that are breaking them are more than likely trying to start a bullet with them extended, then hit the larger portion on the muzzle as they are pushing, then bending or breaking. I have been using the standard rod for 9 seasons now, and have never bent one, let alone broke one. Just do as Kurt says and get a good range rod for loading and cleaning. Save the OEM rod for loading a follow up and you shouldn't have a problem.

The Hubbard Rod is by far better than OEM though, in every way.

bikerbeans · « **Reply #3 on:** November 17, 2011, 02:46:31 PM »

Quote from: JimG on November 16, 2011, 10:08:00 AM

Called Ben Hubbard today. Nice guy to deal with. Problem is that he is not making rods right now.

Bad news for Huntsmen owners. I guess I will put my two Hubbard rods in the safe.

BB

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #4 on:** November 17, 2011, 04:10:47 PM »

I have a recommendation for those that need a ramrod now that Mr. Hubbard isn't making them.
I picked up a Thompson Center 20" fiberglass ramrod (made for TC BP pistols), and a 4" screw-in TC ramrod extension (part # 9039, full sku #0 90161 00349 1). Attached together, this makes a 24" ramrod, compared to the factory OEM 25" version. Taking into consideration the powder/pellets and sabot/bullet, the 24" provides more than enough length, to reload in the field. The only bad part, is that you have to carry the extension separately, and then need to take it out of where ever you put it, to screw into the longer section.

There is a possibility that TC, also makes a 5" extension, but I didn't bother looking for it as the 4" version met my needs. I currently have it on a older 45 cal, Huntsman.

JimG · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2011, 10:25:16 AM »

Please don't take my post to mean that he's NEVER going to make them. They are temporarily out of production.

Brewster · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2011, 05:13:01 PM »

Not Ben's, but a good clone.

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #7 on:** December 13, 2011, 06:06:01 PM »

Quote from: Brewster on December 13, 2011, 05:13:01 PM

Not Ben's, but a good clone.

Is that a two piece deal? How does it work? Who makes it, and what is the freight?

Brewster · « **Reply #8 on:** December 14, 2011, 02:42:13 AM »

One of a kind. I dissected a factory rod, sized the brass, determined what I needed for the threaded fittings and then loaded up my drill press. The end cap is the rim from a .38 cartridge and the "grip" winding is Trimar rod thread. The loading jag is a spin-jag.

Sprint · « **Reply #9 on:** December 14, 2011, 03:01:53 AM »

As Phatinjun and Busta said... If the ramrod is used according to the factory instructions, you will not have a problem with breakage. Use the rod extended only when the extension is completely inside the bore.

I have been using my original factory ramrod since 1972 and have fired well over a thousand shots using it in 45 cal. and 12 Ga. barrels. Except for slight discoloration of the brass, it is mechanically like new.

Sprint

Brewster · « **Reply #10 on:** December 14, 2011, 03:20:08 AM »

What can I say? It was an interesting little project, especially when I got #2 grandson (11) into the "engineering" phase of it. And he did the wrapping and finishing, as he has done on many fishing rods.

Kernbigo · « **Reply #11 on:** December 14, 2011, 03:34:23 AM »

he has the material in and is making them again, talked to him a week ago (Kernbigo)

Brewster · « **Reply #12 on:** December 14, 2011, 04:59:09 AM »

That's good. Like I said, mine was a one-timer (maybe more since I have 4 grandsons) tinkering project and a teaching opportunity. Neither of which I am inclined to pass on.

jenkst · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2011, 02:12:54 PM »

I ordered a hubbard rod two weeks ago yesterday. I called to ask if it had been shipped yesterday and he said he was waiting for more brass to come. So I took a 5/16 shotgun cleaning rod made by otters, screwed two 10 inch sections togeather and went to the hardware store and bought a 3/4 inch long insert with 10/32 inside treads and fited it inside the end that holds my spinjag. Total length is about 24 inchs. The rod is solid alummin and is very ridged. I didnt use the section with the thin plastic handle. Think I will thread the insert on one end. Have not tried to tread it yet. Iam looking for some of the super strong insert glue used on inserts for alumin arrows. You heat the glue to apply and when cooled it will not pull out. Now i just need to find something to tread for a nice handle. Dont have a camera so cant post a picture. Any advice would be appricated. Jenkst

jenkst · « **Reply #14 on:** December 15, 2011, 10:22:48 AM »

Used it today on two muzzleloaders. It works good and the inserts fits tight with no glue on it. Its also not 5/16 dia. but 3/8 dia. Still need a good handle. jenkst

tscott · « **Reply #15 on:** December 16, 2011, 10:50:10 AM »

Did the same thing with a shotgun cleaning rod, as a take down pack rod... Removed the rod holder, and don't have the rod on the gun for hunting... (I've always had a range rod for all muzzleloaders)....

fast*eddie · « **Reply #16 on:** January 13, 2012, 04:05:37 PM »

I cut a 3/8" diameter dowel 7 1/2" long . I start the sabot . Push it in with the dowel and then push it down the barrel without extending the ram rod . And yes , I remember to remove the dowel after doing this . It's a lot quicker than screwing around with adjusting the ram rod !

fast*eddie · « **Reply #17 on:** January 13, 2012, 04:08:05 PM »

I cut a 3/8" diameter dowel 7 1/2" long . I start the sabot . Push it in with the dowel and then push it down the barrel without extending the ram rod . And yes , I remember to remove the dowel after doing this . It's a lot quicker than screwing around with adjusting the ram rod !

jparedes · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2012, 04:15:49 AM »

While at the bench I found out it is a lot much easier to leave the rod in its extended configuration and use the "handle" end for pushing the bullet in after using the bullet starter. Then switch the ends of the ramrod and finish pushing the bullet in:

Steps:
1) Push bullet in with thumb
2) Push bullet in with a bullet starter
3) Push bullet with the handle part of the ramrod
4) Push the bullet down to the end using the extension of the ramrod

fast*eddie · « **Reply #19 on:** February 13, 2012, 03:24:41 AM »

Quote from: jparedes on February 10, 2012, 04:15:49 AM

While at the bench I found out it is a lot much easier to leave the rod in its extended configuration and use the "handle" end for pushing the bullet in after using the bullet starter. Then switch the ends of the ramrod and finish pushing the bullet in:

Steps:
1) Push bullet in with thumb
2) Push bullet in with a bullet starter
3) Push bullet with the handle part of the ramrod
4) Push the bullet down to the end using the extension of the ramrod

That's fine for the range but not very practical for hunting conditions .( just an opinion )

cap_pistol · « **Reply #20 on:** February 13, 2012, 08:50:49 AM »

A good after market rod can be found here. http://www.spinjag.com/giramrod.php I use there rod and I've had no problem with it.

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #21 on:** February 13, 2012, 03:36:25 PM »

Quote from: cap_pistol on February 13, 2012, 08:50:49 AM

A good after market rod can be found here. http://www.spinjag.com/giramrod.php I use there rod and I've had no problem with it.

I don't think that this would work with H&R muzzle loaders. The H&R ramrods have to be able to extend to fit the barrel & retract to fit under the barrel.