Carrying wet patches on a trail walk?

[Scota4570]

I normally shoot on a bench and out of a box.  I do not often shoot trail walks.  I did today.  One awkward aspect was fishing for shooting patches.  I had them in a heavy zip-top bag.  I got tired of fumbling and had my son be the patch bearer. 

I remembered those belt worn aluminum bait boxes.  Although not traditional I am thinking it might work well. 

Any thoughts or better ideas?

Thanks,
Scot

[alacran]

Sucrets tin works great for precut patches.

[Ray Barbarow]

Ted Cash pill box works well for me. Works on up to 50 cal. patches and I do carry them wet.

[Nazgul]

https://a.co/d/2eCcKxs

I use these from Amazon. Easy to use and fit in my bag.

Don
Click image to open expanded view
 

Gere 6 Pack Metal Rectangular Sliding Lid Tin Boxes Black, Containers Portable Box Small Storage Kit Home Organizer, Model 805015

[Nazgul]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51gdEcoM54L._AC_SL1000_.jpg

Don

[rich pierce]

Don, those look super handy

[Daryl]

These, from trackofthewolf as well as .22 and .25 pellet tins, work wonderfully.

[MuskratMike]

If you still have your March 2024 issue of Muzzle Blasts read my article on "How do you carry your patches"? I also dealt with the same issue and finally came up with this leather strap the works equally good on wet or greased patches.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Since a trail walk shoot is an occasional event you could do as I did when I shot one. That was to use a needle and thread and run the needle and thread through the middle of your patches and tie the end to your bag. Remove the needle and put a small knot in the end so that the patches will not fall off. Wet the patches before the shoot and pull off the patch you need. Carry a zip bag for the used patches. When the shoot is over remove the patches and string from your bag. Or just do as suggested by others get yourself a small container and put your patches in there.

Cary a small plastic squeeze bottle with water in it and apply when needed - it sure will be smaller than that bait box - save that bait box for worms and trout fishing .

[foresterdj]

I bet an empty snoose can would work good, though I quit chew back in 1986 and don't have any cans around and couldn't afford it even if I was inclined.

[Scota4570]

Thanks for the interest and ideas.

I do not want to rummage through the bag for a can, open the can, take out a patch, close the lid, put it away, then load.  That is a lot of steps.  I like the idea to put them on a thread.  Unfortunately out here the humidity is very low compared to where most of you are in the east.  Patches left in the open dry out quickly.  I bet that would work great for a greased patch. 

The worm box may be a first step in an evolution of something I wear or carry outside the bag to keep wet patches in.  I'll have to see how it evolves. 

[Keith Zimmerman]

Carry the patches in ur mouth.  Spit works fine.

[Daryl]

Carry the patches in ur mouth.  Spit works fine.

I've done that with precuts as well as a strip of material.

[teakmtn]

If you keep your bag contents to a bare minimum, ie., balls, spare flints, a few tools, the tin with wet patches is not a difficult step. In fact, the tin is easily recognized by touch, withdrawn, patched removed, tin returned and Bobs your uncle. Patches stay moist. I've done the patches on a string and they do dry out. Good luck.
Doug T.

[Hawg]

Maybe try some different patches for a trail walk.

[alacran]

I use Sucrets tins. I throw them in a fire, burn off all the graphics and then I peen the top with a small ball peen hammer.
I don't always carry precuts but when I do this is what I use.

[Eric Kettenburg]

Chewing on a few in your mouth is one way if you go the spit route.  Tastes funky though.

I usually use light oil (neatsfoot) but not drenched, just light oil.  Or sometimes an oil/beeswax mix if that's all i've got on hand.  Most shot bags are leather which likes oil as opposed to drying out.  And most of my shot bags have a small inside pocket.  So I just stick them in there loose.  Reach in and grab one.  Done.

The leather strip with the slots up above is REALLY cool!  Very smart idea.

[Scota4570]

With my moose milk patches swabbing is not necessary.  I have not had oil or grease patches do that for me.  More experimentation is obviously necessary.

As for handling lead balls and spit patches, no thanks.  I am absolutely not a "safety bedwetter".  However handling lead balls then, patches, then putting the patches in my mouth is a step to far for me.  The lead oxide that gets on your fingers is readily absorbed into your body. 

[Keith Zimmerman]

Are u kiddin?  Youre shooting black powder.  Youre handling lead balls all the time.

[mountainman]

If you're on a woodswalk why not carry a ball block or two, it's what I do. I get everything ready the night before. The patches are already lubed and the balls are with it ready to go.

[Scota4570]

Not Kidding.  I am far from a safety bed wetter. 

After 31 years as a forensic scientist specializing in firearms matters and hazardous materials, I do know a thing or two about lead dangers.   The health risk of lead are over blown IMHO.  I little common sense goes a long way with avoiding lead poisoning.   I handle lots of lead.  However I do not put my fingers in my mouth while doing so.  I wash my hands after I handle lead.  That is all, easy. 

[Flint62Smoothie]

FWIW I string 10 at a time on pieces of yarn. There’s a 2” loop on one end to about 12” of yard. Last woodswalk I prepped 30 square-cut patches and each got ‘3 dots’ of my favorite liquid lube, rubbed in, then 3 strings (30 patches total) placed into a non-period correct ZipLok bag.

I’ll loop one string on my bag iron loop where the strap & bag meet. Whilst others shooting shot #10, I’ll pull out the next string - works for me!

BTW, I have MZL’s from 40 to 77-caliber (one a 60” barreled 75-cal) w/ at least 1 of every caliber in-between (less the French 69) and I can load & shoot all of them ALL DAY long without swabbing - ever, between shots - whilst using Hoppe’s Black Powder Cleaner/Patch Lube as my ‘warm’ weather patch lube. Accuracy is excellent!

[I expressly use Track of the Wolf’s mink oil paste tub lube for my hunting loads in cold weather/below freezing, etc.

[Dphariss]

Well rendered Beef kidney fat tallow and a blow tube. Shot 24 rounds yesterday no wiping, no issues. But it was fairly cold and it snowed some.  The tie breaker was 1/“ too far out so I took second. Not a big crown. Some were off to Wildhorse Rendezvous. At least it did not rain.