Patch with 8 Little Holes

[Daryl]

This 100% cotton 11 ounce Denim will work in just about any rifle with square bottomed rifling and a ball .010" smaller than the bore, ie: .390" in a .40, .490" in a .50.

https://www.joann.com/denim-11oz-fabric-50in-solid-blue/15033467.html#q=denim%20material&start=1

It will also work with rounded deeper rifling with a ball only .005" under bore size. I would expect this denim to measure .0235 to .024" on a mic, compresses, and perhaps .027" to .0280" with calipers, crushed.

Unfortunately it is made in china now, as likely most or many cloths are today.

They also have 10 oz. as such. I find this weight of denim shoots well in all my rifles with a ball only .005" under bore size, except for the rounded rifling Getz bl, which needs a harder, canvas of .023" thickness.

https://www.joann.com/sew-classic-bottomweight-10oz-natural-bull-denim/prd26101.html#q=Denim%2B10%2Bounce&start=1

[bgf]

Daryl,

I've used a lot of that 10 oz. natural color bull denim, which is 100% cotton.  The 11 oz. blue denim you linked to has ~40% synthetic content, which is why I never tried it.  Are you sure this is right link?  If you tested it and it worked, that's good enough for me, but I would fear it might gunk up my bore. 

I do think I got some 11oz. 100% cotton denim at Joann's several years ago, but I haven't seen it lately in Lexington...

[Daryl]

SRY my bad - thought it was 100%, but even the link shows it is not.  I was in the Joanne's while visiting in Yuma

 and saw it there under the cotton sign. I merely thought it was 100%. Synthetics are usually a no-no. Perhaps they

also have 100% cotton denim in 11 oz.

I've not used that material. Here, I've never seen the 11oz. but do use 10oz., 12oz. & now 14oz. in 100% denim I buy locally.

I measure the 10oz. as .022 to .0225", the 12 at .030" and .034 for the 14oz. - all of these with dial calipers squeezing as hard as

 I can on the tines, not merely pushing on the wheel.

[Rich]

Since you have 8 holes, I think it is unlikely that the patch is being cut. It is probably being burned. Thicker tougher patches may be the answer, but you might what to try a different lube. 

[Anonymous]

See 11, 11.5 and 12 oz. 100% cotton denim on Joann's web site, although the 11 oz. is out of stock right now.

https://www.joann.com/sportswear-11-oz.-denim-fabric-58-ivory/15305626.html
https://www.joann.com/denim-fabric-58-11.5-oz.-light-blue/1287911.html
https://www.joann.com/bottom-weight-denim-fabric-57-12-oz.-blue-texture/1287929.html

[Daryl]

That 11 oz. denim will shoot really well in most rifle barrels with either .010" or .005" smaller than bore sized ball.
If you have deep rounded rifling, you may need to go to the .0115" or .012" with a ball .010" smaller than bore sized ball.
If these are too difficult for you to load, I suggest a smoother, more rounded crown, not a cone.

As with Corbin's (bullet drawing and swaging company) writing, a long smooth gentle taper is harder to load into the barrel proper, than a more abrupt rounded angle crown
like this. this was brought home with a coned muzzle on a .40 that LB had. A .400" ball was almost impossible to load in that cone, yet in my own crowned bore, it was easily
loaded.

This is the muzzle of that .40 Goodioen barrel.


I crowned this .32's muzzle according to Corbin's diagrams of metal "drawing" dies. With this "crown", a .022" patched .320" ball is easily pushed into
the bore with just the little stud on the starter's handle. The starter's 'handle' not need to he hit with a hand. This .32's crown is just slightly shorter than the .40's crown.

[Dphariss]

Question:  I have a Green Mountain Barrel that is 1" and .54 caliber.  I am shooting 60 grains of 2F Goex, pure lead ball that measures 0.533, and 0.020 thick patching lubed with TOTW Mink Oil.  This gun/barrel was brand new when I got it and I have put about 300 shots through it. 

When I shoot, my patches come out with 8 tiny little holes in it.  What is causing this? 

The gun shoots excellent.  25 yards and same hole.  50 yards and it cloverleafs.  I have tried Daryl's soft crown/polishing method to help smooth things out.  The bore is shinny and smooth, no rough spots detected. 

Is my crown still too sharp?  Is the patch too thick and it's rubbing on the lands?  I have tried different lubes (mink oil, neatsfoot oil, Wonder Lube 1,000 and spit) and the patches all come out looking like this one. 

Thanks Guys!

I think you need a tougher patch. Linen would me my choice or cotton drill or denim.

[ed lundquist]

A good art supply house will carry linen as well as canvas in various weights and weaves. Try Dick Blick.