I'm using wet patches after EVERY shot. I usually run 3 or 4 down the barrel. It comes out looking caked on to the patch. Real nasty thick stuff. It is just not worth it to me to have to do that much work to shoot, when something that will burn cleaner is avaliable. Maybe I just got a bad lot. It was loading fin first shot, and second was hard, but I bruised my palm on the ball starter and broke a ram rod last week. I know that I didn't double patch because I check on that before hand and when the rifle is clean it loads real easy. Both that I was shooting do actually. Anyone else had this bad of a problem? BTW Breaking a Hickory ramrod that I'd spent time staining and striping isn't fun. At least it didn't go through my hand.