Mangled Patch Gallery: What to Do?

[plastikosmd]

I am in no way as experienced as you guys and can only report my own anecdotal findings. I ended up with going with a thinner patch (0.22 down to 0.17) and a bigger ball in a few of my guns.  I noted better accuracy, less burn though etc.  The thicker patch (in my rifles) was not "smooth" and was folding a bit.  It seems at the areas of the ribbing/folding the friction was creating some wear/burn through.  This was dissapeared when I went with a bigger ball and thinner patch.  Now of course this is with a teflon patch which isnt moist which may make it burn easier and also allows for some pretty tight loads.

[Frizzen]

I always use bore size balls and .010 patches, Swiss powder which is a "Hot" powder. My
fired patches are good enough to use over for a second shot.

[Roger Fisher]

I use patches that seal the powder gases behind them.

The use of wads has degraded accuracy in both .40 and .45 cal rifles in tests. Only my .69, so far, shows an indifference to the use of wads.

 I used wads in it to keep wet patches from spoiling part of the powder charge only, never to try to cover up the choice of a too-thin patch.

That's the rifle that gets the 12 ounce, .030" thick when compressed denim patch. I use that patching with both a .684" ball as well as with the .677" ball and the recovered patches are re-usable over and over - all they need is fresh lube.

I do not understand why the use of a substancial patch iseems difficult to comprehend or understand. 

I'm thinking "they" are using or going with what thev'e got!  They will probably go thicker til its over.

[camerl2009]

ive never had this problem with my .50 triditions deer hunter and im using a .490 round ball and a .015 denim patch lubed with crisco(i keep it in a pellet tin in the possibles bag) of corse the 1 in 48 twist calls for smaller charges then a round ball twist

[Dphariss]

ive never had this problem with my .50 triditions deer hunter and im using a .490 round ball and a .015 denim patch lubed with crisco(i keep it in a pellet tin in the possibles bag) of corse the 1 in 48 twist calls for smaller charges then a round ball twist

The 48" twist IS a RB twist and a good one.
Its all that is found in original Hawken rifles for example.
The myth that its not comes from the TC rifles with shallow grooves.
A barrel rifled 1:48 with grooves .008 or deeper with grooves wider than the lands will shoot all the powder needed, 100 gr plus in a 50 caliber.

Dan

[Pete G.]

My guess (especially the patches with the hole cut in the center) is that the patches are being damaged at the crown in loading. A too thin patch would make this even worse. Polish the crown and go to a thicker patch.

[camerl2009]

ive never had this problem with my .50 triditions deer hunter and im using a .490 round ball and a .015 denim patch lubed with crisco(i keep it in a pellet tin in the possibles bag) of corse the 1 in 48 twist calls for smaller charges then a round ball twist

The 48" twist IS a RB twist and a good one.
Its all that is found in original Hawken rifles for example.
The myth that its not comes from the TC rifles with shallow grooves.
A barrel rifled 1:48 with grooves .008 or deeper with grooves wider than the lands will shoot all the powder needed, 100 gr plus in a 50 caliber.

Dan

yea but this was ment to be both for round ball and conical i have my slug from it some where in my reloading stuff i'll try to find it but a 1 in 48 genearly in .50 likes lighter charges with RB id like to get a 1 in 60 but i'll keep my deer hunter for even its the first gun i made a stock for

[Daryl]

Cameral2009 - nothing in Dan's post is incorrect.  This thread is about blown/cut/burnt patches.

Pete I think you are probably correct- note the cut patches shown. That is why I suggested the muzzle's crown be addressed.

I've mailed Mattole some patch material samples of what we find works well here.

His findings will be most interesting.