barrel is cutting patches

[JB]

My barrel seams sharp at the muzzle and is cutting my patches when I load.  What should I do to fix this.  Once its loaded down about 1/2 inch it doesn't seam to tight and goes down easy. 

any thoughts?  sand paper? 

This is a.50 cal.  I'm using .495 balls and .15 patch.  Its very accurate, and I hate to go to a smaller size ball. 

Please advise.

JB

[little joe]

I would use a .490 ball and . 025 patch. What ever you do the patch needs to virtually  be ( I don,t) reusable.

[smokinbuck]

Before you start changing ball size or patch thickness, check the muzzle. It sounds like you need to crown it to get rid of the sharp edge. Once you are past the muzzle your ball is formed to the bore and will go down smoothly.
Mark

[smylee grouch]

You might also want to consider the short starter if you are using one. If the diameter of the short starter is too large it might be pinching the patch against the barrel as you load and compromising the weave of the patch right at that critical area where ball/patch goes against the barrel. Also as others have said the crown might need a good smoothing, some thing easy to do and won't harm the barrel.

[JB]

Before you start changing ball size or patch thickness, check the muzzle. It sounds like you need to crown it to get rid of the sharp edge. Once you are past the muzzle your ball is formed to the bore and will go down smoothly.
Mark

I think that's whats going on.  how do I crown it?

[JB]

You might also want to consider the short starter if you are using one. If the diameter of the short starter is too large it might be pinching the patch against the barrel as you load and compromising the weave of the patch right at that critical area where ball/patch goes against the barrel. Also as others have said the crown might need a good smoothing, some thing easy to do and won't harm the barrel.

I'll check the short starter, but I don't think that's the case.

[Daryl]

320 grit emery or wet/dry paper. Pushing it into the muzzle with the end of your thumb, rotate your wrist and turn the barrel 180 degrees every 20 seconds or so. Turning the barrel will keep your crowning job square with the world.
No business I know of, sells a rifle with a shootable smooth crown. They are all machine cut and will cut a proper patch, that is a patch that is thick enough to do the job of keeping the barrel clean and deliver good accuracy.  Most 'factory' crowns are too sharp to load even weak (thin patch) combinations.

All of the 'crowns' shown will allow loading bore sized balls with .022" denim patches, without tearing.

Hint- shove a piece of cloth down the barrel about an inch, to catch the "grindings".

[FDR]

Before you start changing ball size or patch thickness, check the muzzle. It sounds like you need to crown it to get rid of the sharp edge. Once you are past the muzzle your ball is formed to the bore and will go down smoothly.
Mark

I think that's whats going on.  how do I crown it?

Using the search function on this site will give you a lot of reading on barrel crowning.
Here is one post on the subject:
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=6885.msg64843#msg64843

Fred

[Don Steele]

Welcome JB.
Daryl's "Crown Smoothing" technique is what most folks do and most find it solves the problem you're having.
When I've done it, I used a small piece of 4/0 steel wool under my thumb.
Your .495/.015 combination should be a good place to start btw.

[kudu]

I would use Daryl's method just be sure to hold even pressure with the thumb and rotate the thumb sand paper three or four times and then rotate the gun, then rotate the thumb sandpaper again three times and rotate the gun and again the same thing pick three or four rotations of the thumb and stick to that number.

now if could hold the barrel upright somehow  and be able to walk around it - all the way around, just hold the thumb sandpaper and do doughnuts around your Gun.   Try not to get dizzy and fall over :

[rich pierce]

Affix the barrel overhead, sit in a swivel chair, raise your thumb, and spin around. If you are Canadian don your ice skates, get a sky hook, and twirl away.

[Daryl]

 

[Joe S.]

I would think a "you know better"email from one of the moderators should end the highjinks here,oops he is one,ice skates.....too funny

[WadePatton]

Hereby nominated for tutorial section. (skates and ALL!) 

second?

[hanshi]

Hereby nominated for tutorial section. (skates and ALL!) 

second?

+2

[mountainman70]

Affix the barrel overhead, sit in a swivel chair, raise your thumb, and spin around. If you are Canadian don your ice skates, get a sky hook, and twirl away.

Slow news day down St Looie way,bro?  it did make me laugh !!! Dave

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

That reminds me of a limerick about a pirate named Yates, who was especially handy on skates....

[hanshi]

That reminds me of a limerick about a pirate named Yates, who was especially handy on skates....

  Don't even think of going there, Taylor. 

[moleeyes36]

Hereby nominated for tutorial section. (skates and ALL!) 

second?

+2

Make it three votes for the tutorial section.

Mole Eyes