Banana patchbox question

[billd]

Thanks to Ken's tutorial I have my banana patchbox inlet. My question is how deep should the cavity be?  Is there a rule to depth on mountain vs PA guns?

Thanks,
Bill

[Ken G]

Bill,
Glad to hear the tutorial helped.  I can't say that I have ever seen any pattern or standard to the depth of the boxes on Southern guns.  I make mine deep enough that you can easiely put a jag for the guns caliber in the box with some patch for padding and rattle proofing and still shut the lid. 
That's normally a little deeper than the shoulder on those forstner bits.  As long as you don't drill out the other side everything is good.
Ken

[David Rase]

I always make my patchbox cavities as deep as I can.  I figure if I go to all the trouble to inlet a patchbox lid I want the box cavity to be of usable size.  My pet peeve is a shallow patchbox cavity.  I like mine as big as a suit case.  If I don't put shooting or cleaning gear in it I could always store a clean pair of underware in there.     
DMR

[billd]

Thanks for the answers. As near as I can get, my stock is 1.200 thick near the hinge. I went .600 with the forstner bit, scrape another .03 or .04, a little over half way thru.

Bill

[Steve Bookout]

Billd, most of the cavities I have measured over the years  have been found to be as deep or deeper than the caliber of ball the rifle eats.  Now, not all bannana patch boxes have cavities!  Some are solid, through and through.  Some will only have a grease hole under the lid.  One has a double bannan patch box.  That is to say one on each side of the rifle (no cheek) and the cavity goes all the way through the stock.  I suggest that you drill to what makes you feel comfortable, but if you use forstner, spade, or auger bits, watch that point don't poke oput the far side. Don't you even THINK about askin' me just how I know that trick.......   Cheers, Bookie

[billd]

Bookie,  Thanks a lot,
bill

[deano]

Bookie your post gave me an idea, why not just install a long banana box lid and drill three separate holes under it instead of one large cavity.  A patch sized hole for several stacked precut patches, one just deep enough for a few balls to set in and a small cavity for a few caps or a spare flint and leather. Then all I need is a bit of powder and I am in squirrel business with a couple of loads always handy.

Ken