Those who have and those who will !

[cowboys1062]

 I haven't Dry Balled any of my muzzleloaders yet, but know its just a matter of time before I eventually do! I have a cork screwed ball puller that I can put on the end of my range rod and try to pull the ball out of the barrel. Also I've heard of others using CO2 Dischargers to shoot the ball out down range. I was just wondering if I pulled the nipple, could I be able to place enough blackpowder in the nipple hole and place the nipple back on and shoot it out? Would the nipple hole hold enough of a charge to do this? I currently am not a member of the Dry Ball Club yet but my days are numbered and pretty soon I will be its newest member! Can anyone share their experiences and thoughts on the subject? Respectfully, cowboys1062.

[pilgrim]

     if the rifle has a "Patent Breech", there should be no problem

     https://www.google.com/search?q=Patent+breech&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=oTVLVdXYIMKzggTG34G4Cw&ved=0CB4QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=622


     if the rifle has a plain, regular   breech,  good luck,    need the ball puller,  very easy to do, may need a second person if the patch/ball combo was very tight.

[punjab]

Never had a problem getting rid of dryball by getting powder under the nipple and blowing the ball out,patent breech or not,if the first attempt doesn't blow the ball all the way out it wiill at least move part way up the barrel then you can get all the powder you need under the ball.Do not forget to ram the ball back down on what powder you get under it otherwise you can damage the barrel.

[seniorsgt]

it happen ive done what Punjab suggested took two tries to get 50 cal  out of a 42 inch barrel . check your nipple location if its more than half a ball from the breech it probably wont work if ball is against the  breech plug . ive pull balls with the screw type puller but haven't had much luck with the corkscrew

[flintboomer]

The corkscrew is for pulling stuck cleaning patches, you will just break it trying to remove a dryball.
I have always had good luck putting a little powder under the nipple or dribbling some into the vent on a flinter. Sometimes it takes a second try if you didn't get enough powder in there, and always reseat the ball if it moved because there won't be enough pressure to blow it out if it is halfway up the barrel. 5-10 grains doesn't create much pressure.

Check with the ramrod if you aren't sure, but you should be able see if the ball comes out.
Aim the barrel at least 10 feet downrange if there may be a load in there and never fire it into the air. 

[William]

Just like to add that the corkscrew will break if you try to remove the dry ball; experience tells me so.
Powder dribbled into the nipple hole has always worked for me and is the best thing to try first as sometimes the ball puller will drill a hole through the ball and then neither powder nor the CO2 will dislodge the ball.  Checking to see if the DB is still there or not by using your ramrod is highly advisable too as sometimes you don't realize that the RB had been expelled and you drive everyone else at the range crazy trying to get it out when it's not there anymore.   

[Rev]

They make a jag that is essentially a wood screw set in brass (looks like one anyway) they work well & don't break. If you use the 4f method, be sure to reseat the ball if you try more than once. A bulged barrel could result if you get enough powder behind an unseated ball...

[Blackfeet]

I have been  mngt