Why do the patches frizz?

[oldracer]

I have got my Lehigh kit from Muzzleloader Builders Supply finished and shooting and am really happy with the accuracy. It is a 50 cal with a Colerain barrel 42 inches long. I settled on 70gn of FFG Goex and a .490 ball with pillow ticking patch lubed with a couple of drops of Ballistol which has all worked well for me with a Hawken kit I built years ago. I noticed at the range yesterday the patches were dimpled around the ball, black on the powder side and dark grey on the ball side and frizzing progressively more towards the outside edge. I am curious as to why the frizzing and I noted in several posts that others have this happen and I suspect that it due to the hot gases burning the patch just as everything leaves the barrel? I had not seen it before as our range had a steep drop off just after the fire line but has now been filled in so you can walk to the 50yd targets directly.

Anyways, any ideas anyone?

[Vomitus]

  I think your patch material may not be the best weave. Try a tighter weave in the same thickness. I've had good luck with 10 oz denim.

[Roger Fisher]

  I think your patch material may not be the best weave. Try a tighter weave in the same thickness. I've had good luck with 10 oz denim.

Right on tighter weave - threads per inch.  and while your at it try a 495 ball

[nosrettap1958]

A few pictures would be beneficial and would be better for us to actually see what you are trying to describe, quite inadequately, I might add.  

Review of the fired patch is beneficial and you can tell what’s going on inside that barrel or at least get a general idea.

[hanshi]

Answer: they frizz because they're female.    Sorry, couldn't resist.

[blunderbuss]

  Don't wash the round pre cut patches to get out the sizing out talk about frizz you'll end up with fuzz balls

[Daryl]

Pre-cuts should always be washed before being cut into patches. We do and never have a problem.

I noticed that you thought they were being burnt, ie: frizzed - frayed is a different adjective than frizzed. Friz denotes burning - which happens if the patch is cut upon loading, or if it is too thin.

The suspect frizzing is from the patches being too thin for the .490" ball - that is why LB and Roger F. suggested the tighter loads that we do not have problems with.

Mathematics, while not my strong suit, is vitally important in finding a good ball and patch combination.

Add the ball's true size, to double the patch thickness. This must be several to .010" LARGER thant he groove diameter side to side for the load to effect a seal and shoot cleanly.

[Pete G.]

You state that you are really happy with the accuracy, so my solution would be to quit picking up fired patches. A good barrel can sometimes shoot well with what we now think of as a loose patch. I'm not sure the old time folks were quite so particular.

[Daryl]

 
Those who want even better accuracy and clean shooting with no wiping needed, will continue to use the patch and ball combinations that give those results.

If you have to wipe at any time, the fouling is building up and the interior of the bore is changing constantly. Change is not condusive to achieving good accuracy that is consistant.

Pete - do you think if the old time folks knew how to get improved accuracy and longer effective range, they wouldn't use that knowledge?  Afterall, that's the reason rifles became popular for longer range shooting - the smoothbores wouldn't deliver the accuracy.  I'm sure the old time folks found out soon enough that a poorly loaded rifle was not much better than a smoothbore.

[Vomitus]

...by now,I thought everybody shot tight combos! Hey,I use a tight fitting (non PC correct)PATCH in my smoothies and they shoot just dandy.(but that's another can 'o worms.)
  Your patches "frizz" because they're too open a weave and/or not wet enough with lube.If using spit, get them "snotty" wet, not just a lick and a promise.

[oldracer]

Oh my, I forgot I had posted the question here and have not been back in a week or so. At any rate, several of the really old shooter at the range last week said the patches were normal, especially for a Colerain type of barrel and as already noted "TO STOP PICKING THEM UP"!!! So I guess I will let them lie and be happy with my accuracy. Here is a link to the picture I posted on Cast Boolits that shows the patch and also a 50 yd target.

Patches: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=153783

Target: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=153782