doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ramrod Saga

I'm having prototypes of a "coin changer" 1/8" and 3/8" wad dispenser made. Until then I've finally come up with this set-up to help me keep up on the sporting clays round:

1. I found this little pouch on the internet $5.00...small but practical advertised as holding 10 12ga shells...but it expands. (This idea came out of Stan as well...he mentioned he found a pouch which held 50 shells...I started looking on the internet).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Round-Tactical-Molle-Rifle-Stock-Ammo-Mag-Magazine-Pouch-Waist-Vest-Bag-Case/392131797053?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

The 5ml plastic test tube with flick up caps were $4.00 for 50. They'll hold exactly 7/8 oz of shot or 65 grains of powder, about perfect for my gun.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/20Pcs-5ml-Plastic-Centrifuge-Tubes-with-Attached-Cap-Round-Bottom-Graduated-Mark/233167890776?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Larger ones are available and I tried using the 10 ml tubes but don't really need to shoot more that what those small tubes hold. The "flick caps" are the way to go...saves a second or two trying to replace the caps and stow the used tubes.

I joined them with rubber bands to speed up loading the barrels. I think I will add a wedge of camouflage tape around the tubes to separate them a bit more - which aids in opening the flip tops. Incidentally, the pouch will easily hold rubber-band joined larger tubes pictured...but you can't close the flap (that's not important since they're sealed anyway and you're not bobbing and weaving in hunt-country).



2. For the 1/8" and 3/8" wads, I finally settled on M&M candy smalls dispensers. I'll put some camouflage tape on them to keep them from being so gaudy. The medium M&M dispenser will carry 9 3/8" wads....the long one about 15. I opted to carry the long candy containers....easier to grab.

The black web case holding them was something given to me in Afghanistan to hold a Swiss Army knife, a Leatherman and a small flashlight. (I tried using a Glock twin mag holder - it works but this is more practical). The overshot (coin) card dispenser hangs off it and the cap dispenser fits where the light went. This on left hip; the shot-powder pouch on right. Seems to work...left hand pulls the cards...right hand centers them. Still working on the double ram-rod.



Anyway, it works smoothly now...I practiced with it a bit. The two pouches are not bulky This gives me 5 shots from both barrels...and additional tubes of shot and powder are easily carried in a separate pouch as need be or these can be reloaded in the field. I know I'm not as experienced as some of you guys but, in trying to speed up the loading process, this is the best I can do for the moment ..and when my "coin changer" card dispensers get here, I let you all know how they work.

The more you use it the more you will streamline your "kit", Gene. I'll try to remember to take pic of the little carrier I use for powder and shot "bottles".

SRH

Gene, here are a couple pics of my m/l shotgun paraphernalia. The little camo bag in the left rear certainly does not look "period", but it sure works well.





If you could get your hands on some of that foam that is in the carrier, you could likely make the holes with a piece of tubing, the right size, with one end sharpened, and turned in a drill press. I'd be glad to send you some of those little snapcap bottles.

Good hunting, SRH

Thanks Stan...nice set up. I'm pretty much walking the sporting clays range at Bull Run Shooting center...I usually only get off about 13 double-bore shots a round and the set up I have allows for walking. I could easily add a rig like yours to the cart though - If I'm with buddies and they start to get antsy about the pace of play, I'll switch to a conventional breech loader.

I'm going to keep the photo because it is so well laid out and logical. Thanks again. This sort of thing is a great help to a new muzzle-loader advocate.

Actually, some of it is redundant. The little camo carrier and the ramrod with holder goes on a dove shoot, and the wooden loading box stays in the truck. Shooting skeet at the range...... the loading box and the loading rod goes, and the camo carrier stays home. I'm sure you get the idea. I just thought I'd squeeze most of it into one pic. Only thing missing, that I use for walking hunting, is a powder flask. In that case both the camo carrier and the loading box stay in the truck, and jacket pockets carry most everything.

Best to you, SRH

Stan, some of your tubes are labeled "50," some "35." What does that mean?

I'm at the point in this early experimental stage for me of just shooting the same 7/8 oz, 65 grain equal volume charge in 7 1/2 shot on the sporting clays range. That works on the range while I'm getting used to the gun. I've tried 1 oz, 70 grains and 1 1/4 oz 75 grain...in 7 and 8 shot (range actually doesn't permit more than 7 1/2). I don't much like the way this works..I shoot better with the smaller load.

And I've two powder flasks...and an old shot pouch...but with 170 year old barrels and stock, I'm loath to try to field load my gun with authentic equipment...prefer the test tubes and pre-measure. There are guns out there in better condition than mine...it's just that it had those two addresses on it...

I used that carrier, also, when shooting my .36 cal. Appalachian style longrifle in competition. Those were the loads, in grains, that I shot at different distances, 35 gr. at 25 yds., 50 gr. at 50 yds., and 60 gr. at 100 yds. It was FFFg in that little rifle, tho'.

I just disregarded the numbers when using it with my shotgun, and shot the same volume of FFg black as the dipper threw when set for 1 oz. of no. 8 shot. It would have been less confusing if I had put in all unmarked "bottles" for the pic.

SRH

One other thing I failed to mention, Gene. On the bottom end of the loading rod I fitted a brass insert almost the same size as the wooden ramrod. It has a hole in the center that is threaded for cleaning jags and other attachments. I use it without any attachments for loading when shooting, but can screw a cleaning patch jag, or brush, onto it for cleaning the barrel, if needed when I'm away from home overnight and away from my other cleaning rods in the shop.

Hope some of this helps, SRH

Thanks...by the way, that's a pretty neat door knob on your ram-rod...Mine also is solid brass from an old Capitol Hill house...When I restored my old 1898 townhouse up there in the early 1980's (coming back from Africa, I had no money - it was still a rough place-I scrounged)...you could get old stuff coming off the gentrifying houses. (I still have a couple of "fancy" ones with entertained initials, etc...the ram-rod used the plainest).

And in spite of what Miller says, that door-knob ram-rod just plain works on sporting clays. Period.

Don't recall saying anything about a door-knob ramrod for when shooting from a fixed position. Should work well on a dove shoot as well. For the type of walk around hunting I did when shooting my ML shotgun, it would just have been in the way. It depends on the use.

I did not & still do not like the idea of the double ramrod. I always completely loaded one barrel at a time & while not actually ramming kept the rod dropped in the other barrel. Very few extra motions & prevented absent-mindedly dropping a part of the load down the wrong barrel.