If this was a CF rifle you would most likelybe looking for new barrel - but muzzle loaders seem to be pretty forgiving about such things. As long as the ram rod is a softer materialthan the barrel steel, there is generally no damage to the lands and grooves. You might have a gunsmith take a peek inside the bore with a Hawkeye bore scope. As long as it has no cracks or bulges, and it still shoots decent groups. And check the stock screws. I have seen them bend from such a high recoil event.

I'm sure CVA will charge you a ridiculous price to replace that telescoping ramrod. Measure the length and buy a 2nd one for the range. Get the black anodized ones from http://www.rmcsports.com
Use the scroll bar on the left. They are the same fine ramrods that come on T/C inlines.


Keep Your Powder Dry Folks
. . . . . . . Joe [/i]

If you can't see or feel any ring in the bore at the point where the rod end was resting when it went bye-bye, chances are good that the gun is OK. If it is an inline, take the breech plug out & inspect the threads in the breech and on the plug. If they are sound and the barrel is not ringed, I think I'd shoot it!

Don't feel bad! Many a ramrod has gone downrange with no ill effects on either gun or shooter. This happened a lot in the heat of battle, even to seasoned shooters! Rifles picked up on Civil War battlefields after a battle sometimes held as many as 10 to 15 charges of powder and Minie balls! No doubt the troops often failed remember tocap their pieces when "firing" at the enemy!