good info on marking your rod, i do to. in all years hunting i never had a bullet come loose in my .50cal hawkins. we hunt hard all those years, banging gun, rain,dropping guns, hitting rocks and trees,tripping/falling. not once did a maxi-ball come loose or patched ball. but, everyday we shot our guns off after we quit, now i go all week with same bullet in the gun. maybe i should be checking it everyday too, thanks.