Pulling a Minie ball

[ConfederateCanuck]

OK, be honest. Did you "dry ball" your gun, or are you just "asking for a friend?"

It has not happened to me ... yet! I am proactively being prepared for the day I make that mistake. Actually, I initially posted the question because when I use my original 1853 Enfield for deer hunting, at the end of the hunt, if I have not taken a shot, I'd much rather pull the ball and powder than fire the gun and then have to do a full cleaning.

So, the follow-up question is… Is it wise to pull a ball when you have a full powder load in the barrel? I am presuming that it would be much safer to soak the powder fully with water through the nipple before actually trying to pull the ball. Even if you tell me it's 100% safe to do it with dry powder, I would be rather nervous pulling the ball under those circumstances no matter what.

 

[Booner]

It has not happened to me ... yet! I am proactively being prepared for the day I make that mistake. Actually, I initially posted the question because when I use my original 1853 Enfield for deer hunting, at the end of the hunt, if I have not taken a shot, I'd much rather pull the ball and powder than fire the gun and then have to do a full cleaning.

So, the follow-up question is… Is it wise to pull a ball when you have a full powder load in the barrel? I am presuming that it would be much safer to soak the powder fully with water through the nipple before actually trying to pull the ball. Even if you tell me it's 100% safe to do it with dry powder, I would be rather nervous pulling the ball under those circumstances no matter what.

Shoot it out. You've had that musket loaded for a few days, so shoot it to verify that the load is still good and to verify your zero. It won't take much time to clean it since it's only been shot once.

Pulling a ball with powder behind it -not for me- even if the powder has been saturated with water, oil, etc. It's not a chance I will take if other things are possible.

Is it wise to pull a ball when you have a full powder load in the barrel?
If you have to pull a ball with powder behind it, take your range rod/loading rod (the type has the big handle like in the link I sent you), and tie a rope around its handle and tie the other end to a tree. Once the ball is engaged in the ball puller jag, pull the rod out using the rope. If something should go "bang," let the tree take the shot.

 

[Don Dixon]

Lets go simpler and cheaper here. Everyone who shoots muzzleloading firearms should have one of these; its an RMC Ox-Yoke - B.I.D Kit, Co2 Blowoff, Inflator, Discharge Kit and Ball Remover. It uses Co2 cartridges and with several different sizes of fittings, it will blow a ball out of a percussion or flintlock weapon. In many cases it will also remove other things [patches, brushes, ramrods] you've managed to get stuck in the barrel. The projectile can come out of the barrel with some force, however, so don't point the gun at anything you are not prepared to see damaged when you use the discharger -- particularly people. Its small, simple to use, and fits readily in your tool/range box.

Regards,
Don Dixon