Bullet starter

[bobkat131]

Does any one have a DIY bullet starter for inlines that don't smash you knuckles

 

[JeffB1961]

not diy , but this does very well for me . you could probably make something similar with wood or delrin .

 

[deermanok]

Not trying to be a smart ass but why would you be smashing your knuckles using a short starter?

 

[HC]

Good one !

 

[Tony gilbert]

Not trying to be a smart ass but why would you be smashing your knuckles using a short starter?

thats exactly what im wondering ive never smashed a knuckle with a starter

 

[deermanok]

I use one like this for my sidehammer and inline guns.

 

[Tony gilbert]

I use one like this for my sidehammer and inline guns.View attachment 28955

what they make a wooden bullet starter

 

[ENCORE50A]

Used this model for decades. Back in the day you could get it from Knight.

 

[JeffB1961]

i think once upon a time they were all wood .

 

[Jitterbug]

Hi, bobkat131-

Could it be a “technique” issue?

Once the bullet gets lined up, a lot of us push down with an open palm, and fingers extended.

If you curl your fingers around the short starter ball or knob… I can see rapping your knuckles from time to time.

The CVA starter that JeffB posted might help, but a person could still get their fingers pinched, with poor technique. CVA® Knuckle Saver™ Bullet Starter

Take a look at this video from about 1:00 to 1:10, to see what I mean about using an open palm:


I don’t care for his technique on the ramrod, but that’s for a different discussion. I like to “choke up” on the ramrod, until I get the projectile farther down the barrel.

”Let’s get loaded, then we can have a blast!”
(Really… I’m not twelve years old, anymore! )

 

[Tony gilbert]

i think once upon a time they were all wood .

i meant i thought theyd all be abs by now

 

[deermanok]

i meant i thought theyd all be abs by now

I've got one of those polymer ones too. Works good.

 

[JeffB1961]

Hi, bobkat131-

Could it be a “technique” issue?

Once the bullet gets lined up, a lot of us push down with an open palm, and fingers extended.

If you curl your fingers around the short starter ball or knob… I can see rapping your knuckles from time to time.

The CVA starter that JeffB posted might help, but a person could still get their fingers pinched, with poor technique. CVA® Knuckle Saver™ Bullet Starter

Take a look at this video from about 1:00 to 1:10, to see what I mean about using an open palm:


I don’t care for his technique on the ramrod, but that’s for a different discussion. I like to “choke up” on the ramrod, until I get the projectile farther down the barrel.

”Let’s get loaded, then we can have a blast!”
(Really… I’m not twelve years old, anymore! )

i did change the end on mine to play nice with the TEZs

 

[Doccbst1]

This thing does everything possible to start a bullet, not DIY but dirt cheap. I have 2-3 of them, fits in my jacket pocket.

 

[deermanok]

This thing does everything possible to start a bullet, not DIY but dirt cheap. I have 2-3 of them, fits in my jacket pocket.

I bought one of those at Walmart a couple years ago.
Marked way down after hunting season. I think I paid about 2 bucks for it.

 

[JeffB1961]

bobkat131 do you already have a bullet starter that you're having issues with ?

i'm new to muzzleloading but three things that i see consistently preached here is technique and consistency . consistency when loading is very important to have a chance at good accuracy . technique can aid in that consistency . but FWICT some folks do things a little differently than others but still achieving the same goal .

the 3rd thing i see preached her A LOT is marking our loading rod where it sits in a empty barrel to be sure we don't double load the gun destroying it and possible maiming or killing ourselves . it happens to even very experienced ML shooters so it's very important !

here's a few videos that may be helpful if you go the DIY route .
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=DIY+muzzleloader+bullet+starter

 

[michiganmuzzy]

If your starter has a handle or knob that is too small to wrap your fingers around, like the little rubber CVA models, then i will bet money that you’ll stop rapping knuckles and pinching fingers.

 

[birdog]

It's not cheap but the SpinJag bullet starter will solve the op's problem. Or you could still go the DIY route and slide a short wooden or plastic sleeve bigger than the bore of your barrel over the starter rod to keep your knuckles from hitting the barrel.

Maybe the op has Andre the Giant size hands with bratwurst size fingers?

 

[JeffB1961]

pain can be a excellent teacher !

 

[birdog]

I have had an excellent teacher over the years!