1863 Bridesburg ramrod question

[8683jb]

Got an original 1863 ramrod for my Bridesburg w/ 1863 Improvements, Type 1 and it sits about 1/4" past the muzzle when it's against the stop. I looked up some Bridesburg images and saw a couple of others similar but most are near flush. How common is this? The barrel is 40" from the muzzle to the breechplug joint and this rod is the same length as the 1861 I'm replacing. Can the stops be located differently in the stocks or what? Thanks in advance.

[ms3635v]

Check to make sure there is nothing in the ram rod channel that would prevent it from seating all of the way. Is there a ram rod spoon in the stock? If so, check that also. If you drop the rod (threaded end first) down the muzzle, does it still protrude past the barrel? Just some thoughts.

[8683jb]

There is a spoon and the rod does protrude past the muzzle. Are the '63's supposed to thread into the stop?

[RaiderANV]

No it doesn't thread into the channel. Check to see if anything is stuck behind the spoon that would keep it from running all the way down. Worse case I drill the channel ah wee tad deeper and problem solved. Doesn't look good stepping proud of the bore.

[Muley Gil]

Bill at Lodgewood can drill the ramrod channel a bit deeper for you. He did my '63 2 bander at the Spring National.

[Jim Leinicke 7368V]

Near as I can figure out, Bridesburg ramrods (Even the 1863 types) are a bit thinner than M1863 Springfield rods, and an orginal 1863 ramrod will not fit a Bridesburg. Since the bored rammer hole seems to be tapered as in an 1855 or 1861 model, the rod stops before it gets down all the way to the bottom. So, drill it out a bit wider or try a thinner rod. Or, just thin out the bottem couple of inches of your replacement rod, which may the simplest solution if this proves to be the problem. The Bridesburg will admit an original M1861 rod, so try one of those. If it goes all the way to the bottem, then you do not have an obstruction and your problem is that the bored hole is too tight.

Jim Leinicke

[8683jb]

Thanks for all help fellers. It turns out there was just a bunch of 130+ year-old dirt & crud & corruption in the bottom of the channel against the stop plate. It was packed so tight it felt like the rod was hitting steel! I made a small hand-driven auger out of the end of a cleaning rod and spun it out clean. Now the rod sits where it's supposed to. Raider ANV is right - nuthin' looks much sadder than a musket with an underbite. Anyhow, all's well now. Thanks again.

[8683jb]

I didn't mean to leave you out Mike. Thanks for the advice to check the channel.

[ms3635v]

No offense taken...glad you fixed the problem!