Cost of patching

[smylee grouch]

Last Sun was shooting my new 16 bore rifle for the first time. I had patching of 30 +, 27, and 22 thousands thick. I only used the 27 on Sun but that was way way too thick. My plan was to try the 22 next but happened to be close to a JoAnns so stoped to see what else was available. I found some 7oz  denim at about 18 thousands and it was 40% off so I thought for that price what the heck and bought a yard. It was $17 a yard after the discount. Its been about 15 years I think since I bought and other stuff so it was some what of a shock. I guess if you want to dance you gota pay the fiddler..

[Daryl]

Smylee, I measure 6 ounce at about .015, and 8 ounce at .018 so you are in the ball park.
I prefer 10 ounce at .021" in all my rifles and the (.615") smoothie now, with a .595 ball.
Denim here runs just over $30.00 per meter. A meter is 39.37". 1/2 price is nice to find.
Taylor has a bunch of 8 ounce he is using in his .40's and .25, although seems to me, he
went to 10 ounce in the Kibler .40 as the 8 ounce patches were a mite thin.

[smylee grouch]

I will be trying the 22 for sure but I just happened to be close to the fabric store so stopped in. Just about every thing in the store was on sale from 25 to 40% off. Thinking that if the 22 didn't "measure" up I would have the 18 on hand to try. The 18 should give me about 4/1000 compression of the material in the groves.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Smylee:  I like .018" denim (8 oz.) in my Joseph Lang .66 cal rifle.  It is easy to load and yields excellent accuracy without fraying, cutting, or burning.  My charge is 86 gr. FFg GOEX. and a .650" pure lead ball.  I use a starter.

[smylee grouch]

Thanks for that info Taylor. My firsts shots were with 70 gr 1&1/2 swiss and anticipate going up to the 85-100 gr range. 1-80 twist . The rifle has a 2&1/2 inch wide butt with 1/4 inch or so of cast for right hand shooter but now that I shoot left eye I have to hug the comb pretty good. BUT so far the 70 gr load is quite easy on me. That might change as I burn more powder.

[Daryl]

SmyleeG- Taylor can inform how he used hot oil to bend a stock for cast-off. The same technique could be used to 'fix' your stock to make it more
comfortable shooting hunting loads.

[smylee grouch]

I thought about doing the stock bend but this rifle will be going  ( passed down ) to a right hand shooter probably in a year or two so I will just put up with it. This project started in around 2013 or 14 when I still had two eyes and legs for an Alaskan bear hunt . I can still climb into a ladder stand though so will seek some adrenalin on Black Bears till I can't see the sights any more. I also have two 58s and my 62 so when my grandsons take over the 16 bore o will still be armed for Bear.
🙀🐻😁

[Tenmile]

A good many years ago I bought several yards of .020 Teflon from Wayne Lamson. I bought it for a chunk rifle but it worked so well that I use it in most of my rifles now. It seemed expensive at the time, but like many things is doesn’t seem so now. I don’t know if the teflon makes it work well or just the thickness. I was always told to find the best patch material and then buy a good supply.
Lynn