Patch size?

[Guvnor]

In my .50 im currently using .490 round balls with .010 pre lubed patches. I went with this combination thinking that the diameter of the ball+the patch should equal out to the bore of the gun. But im wondering if I might be able to get better results with a .015 patch.

The ball with the .010 patch always seems very easy to load down the barrel, almost "too easy". When using your ball starter and ramrod, should the patched ball effortlessly go down the barrel when loaded or should there ideally be some "resistance"?

Ive noticed that when shooting at the 100 yard range there seems to be a noticeable split second "delay" between the firing of the gun and hearing the ball strike the backstop. I know black powder velocities are lower than smokeless powder, but is this normal?

Im wondering if using too thin of a patch is robbing me of some velocity...

 

[husker]

i aint no expert but iv shot a lot of cap-n-ball in the last 20 years. if i were you i would just go get some .015 and see how she shoots. i think they all shoot a little different. i had identical cva Kentucky rifles and one shot good at 90 and the other i think shot good with 100 grains. just my 2 cents

 

[Chawbaccer]

General rule is, the tighter the patch the better it shoots. Pick up some shot patches and see if you have blow by or cutting. You can also pull a patched ball out with out shooting it and see if the patch material has printed onto the lead ball.

 

[arcticap]

Some resistance should be felt when ramming and a whoosh of air as it escapes through the nipple can even be heard.
If ramming is too easy with no resistance being felt then the patches are probably just too thin.
Try .015's and save the .010 patches in case you ever come across some .495 balls to shoot.

 

[mykeal]

If the ball/patch combination slides down the barrel easily then you are likely not getting a good gas seal and thus getting reduced velocity. You should be able to retrieve the patches and their condition will confirm it.

Hearing the ball strike at 100 yards after the powder ignites is not uncommon; I don't think that says anything about ball/patch size.

I don't agree that there is a general rule that tighter patches are better. There is an optimum combination of powder load, projectile size and weight, patch thickness, lubrication and bore dimensions (land to land, groove to groove and groove depth and even shape) that works best. That's almost never the thickest possible patch, and once it's determined going to a thicker patch disturbs the combination resulting in worse performance.

If the best possible accuracy is your goal, go to this web site, pay the $15 and follow the advice in the package you receive.

 

[Guvnor]

Thanks fellas.

How can I tell by looking at the used patches? I wasnt aware that you can retrieve them after shooting...about how far away from you do they end up?

 

[arcticap]

Not too far, maybe 15 - 30 feet.
Sometimes they will float to one side depending on the breeze.
If the patches have a combination of being cut or have holes showing excessive burning, badly frayed or burnt edges, loosened weave or have very dark fouling rings.
Usually accuracy testing at about 50 yards will tell which patch, lube and powder load is better to use.

 

[hank327]

The depth of the barrels lands and grooves has a lot to do with what thickness of patching works best. A barrel designed to shoot a patched round ball will usually have deeper grooves than one designed to shoot conicals. My Southern Poorboys shoot best with pillow ticking as patching along with a .490 and .390 round balls. You can get 100% cotton pillow ticking at any fabric store and it's inexpensive. Wash it first before you shoot with it though. When I ram the ball down the barrel with this combo, I can hear a "whoosh" as the air exits through the nipple. I also can hear the ball strike the target when firing at 100 yards and that is with a load that chronographed right at 2000 feet per second. When looking at your fired patches, look to see if the lands are cutting the patches. If so, it is an indication that your patch and ball combo is too tight for the barrel. Also if there are areas that burn through, it means the patch is too thin. What you are looking for is a used patch that looks pretty much the way it did before firing except for a dark spot where it rested against the powder charge and the marks left by the lands and grooves.