What is the best way to secure the insert in the end of a ramrod. Should I use two part epoxy like I do with arrows or something else.

Do you intend to remove it? If you want it permanent, a epoxy will work or Gorilla Glue. If it is a threaded insert and you may want to pull a ball with it, you also need to pin it.

Shiloh, would that gorilla glue also work for a loose wedge pin slot on the bottom of a barrel? I was having trouble with bullet POI and started checking sights, wedge pins, etc.. When I was cleaning the rifle I noted the wedge pin slot on the bottom of the barrel was so loose I could move it back and forth in the dovetail. I feel that not being secure might have a bearing on the POI changing a little. So I decided to stabilize it and see if that fixed the problem.

Well, as you well know the mother of accuracy is consistency, so a loose wedge slot could definately cause inconsisteny shot to shot. Gorilla Glue is great and would secure the slot very well at least for a time.  This stuff dries very hard, but if the 2 bonded surfaces are not properly cleaned and degreased, or if they are too smooth, the glue can snap off the surface.  GG works best when the surfaces are dampened before bonding, and it grows as it dries so be prepared to see glue outside the seam.  Wipe excess off a few minutes after bonding and then after it dries just scrape off excess.

All of my ramrods are now pinned. After an episode where the tip pulled off the ram rod on a tight patch and was left at the bottom of the barrel in a flintlock with a nonremovable breech plug I set about pinning all my ramrod tips. What I am referring to as a tip is the part that secures to the ramrod not the screw on patch or other insert. Thse need to be removable to change them. I agree wholeheartedly that the wedge slot needs to be very secure to the barrel. If it is in a dovetail slot I may also in addition to glueing it in would take a small punch or chisel and slightly dent the dovetail effectively trapping the the wedge slot in the dovetail. If done correctly whatever is in a dovetail can be removed if needed with just a bit more persuasion. If I recall correctly without looking my wedge pin slots are welded to the barrel. I have also resorted to putting a slight bend in the wedge pin to make it more secure if it is not tight enough to hold things real tight. If you do bend it too much it can be bent back the other way till it fits and holds the barrel very secure in the stock.

Or solder it.

PA Ridge Runner I always wondered if that ever happened to anyone else . I ended up taking out my flash hole and managed to get enough powder in there to shoot it out after re-seating it . Shot it into an old coat and got it back . Mine is pinned now .

MRD yes it happened to me too. I put a little epoxy glue on the end of the ramrod and very very carefully and I do mean carefully guided it down the barrel without touching the sides of the barrel and managed to reinsert it into the tip I let it dry overnight then pulled it out the next day. Sure glad it was not during season that it happened. I do notice that most all ramrod tips are pinned at the factory now. If my method did not work the next attempt would have been to shoot it out.

I was purchasing Green Mountain Barrels and for a while all the ramrods came with the ends unpinned. After you did a couple hot water baths.. you ended up without a ramrod end. So I did pin them also. Never had a problem since.

Shiloh, I think I will solder that in place.. thanks. I just was not sure what to do, and I suspected it was causing me the funny accuracy.

I agree with PA Ridge Runner, pin those ends.  Seen to many pull off unpinned over the years.  (Shoot them out or use a CO2 discharger).  Also along with the wedge pin, mark it so you put it back in facing the same way everytime.  It may be lose one way but tight if you flip it over.

I am guessing that green mt has a few methods of attaching the wedge pin retainer on their barrels. The barrel on my Accusporter is a green mt barrel and the barrel is drilled and threaded and two screws secure the retainer to the barrel. I believe my inline also has a green mt barrel and the retainer is welded to the barrel and as Cayugad relates his is dovetailed. I wonder if green mt does nothing to the barrels it makes as far as the retainer goes and lets it up to the company that uses those barrels in their rifles.

the best thing you can do to prevent a lost tip is to have a brass ramrod made that is one solid piece...plus the added weight makes seating the ball easier and the added weight under the barrel helps (for me) prevent barrel sway too.

An all metal ramrod is a good choice. In my case I could not find one that fit my rifle. One was too big to fit under the barrel and the rest were too loose to stay in. I do have a solid aluminum range rod but it is either too long or too short to use as a carry rod. Even the current composite rod I use when going hunting is about 1/2 inch too long with the tip attached.

For those who have never pinned a ramrod here is how I did mine. Just place the insert on the rod making sure it is fully seated. Find a piece of rather soft metal that is longer than the diameter of the rod and insert. I use a thin nail like a 3 penny finish nail. Then select a drill bit that is the same size as the thin metal rod. Drill the hole through the insert and ramrod on the taper but as close to the edge of the taper as possible ensuring the pin is as far back from the ramrod tip as possible. I drill on the taper to be sure the pin does not touch the barrel. At this time the insert can be glued to the ramrod and the pin inserted. The length of the pin is such so it just barely sticks out both sides of the insert. Then place one end of the pin on a solid metal object (anvil or Vise) and using a hammer tap the end of the pin to flatten it to the insert alternating sides till it is fully flattened to the insert and you are done.