Author Topic: ? patch size (Read 1792 times)

Saloon slug · « **on:** March 19, 2007, 11:03:37 AM »

I just went and got some pillow ticking to cut my own patches. I have a .50cal what size should I cut the patches for round balls? Figured if I was gonna go traditional might as well go all the way and do as much of it myself as posible.

Thanks for your help

Anduril · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2007, 08:45:56 AM »

You can use a strip about 1-1/2" wide and cut at the muzzle when loading.
or precut 1" square
or if you want round use a half dollar coin for a template.
don't forget to wash that ticking before cutting to get rid of the starch or sizing that's in it.
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Saloon slug · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2007, 07:15:10 PM »

Thanks for the info. I hadnt thought of washing the ticking before use thanks again.

sharps4590 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2007, 02:13:55 PM »

Saloon....welcome to the fold.....and as far as "doing it yourself"....you ain't even got started. Welcome to a journey that will last the rest of your life and be cause for incredible enjoyment and satisfaction.

Vic

Saloon slug · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2007, 02:33:31 PM »

thanks for the welcome

Slamfire · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2007, 07:14:09 PM »

I believe in cuttin' the patches at the muzzle, but my TC White Mountain Carbine has the QLA and it's hard to keep round balls centered on round or square patches. I just chew on a strip and drape it over the muzzle thumb down the round ball and cut off the excess. 1" strips cover my muzzle just fine. The round or square cut patches work ok in normal muzzle crowns.

. If'n you forget to wash the tickin' before you put it in yore mouth, you'll discover the most compellin' reason for gettin' rid of the starch.

longcaribiner · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2007, 06:30:30 AM »

cutting the patches at the muzzle makes sense, but it can create extra wear on the muzzle. Cutting them ahead of time certinly saves fumbling for a strip and patch knife every time you load. Some folks think it is easier than fumbliing for a pre cut patch.

mathmatically, a patch needs to be slightly larger than half the circumference of the ball so it creates a seal around the edge where the ball rides the bore. Remember the formula for the circumference of a circle??? pi x diameter. Assuming a .50 ball x (pi) 3.1417 = 1.57 inches. You need a patch that is at least half of that, or slightly more than 3/4 of an inch. Now trying to center that and start the ball with exact placement would be difficult. So some overlap is required. 7/8 inch diameter patches would still be a problem, one inch patches will work great. Now cutting all those circular patches can be a pain. I have often used square patches when loading, and unless the square is drastically over size, I found no difference in hunting accuracy. Precision Target accuracy is probably affected, by the extra corners of the square patches. To me, hunting accuracy is a 5 inch group at 100 yds. Precision target accuracy is cloverleafs or less at 100 yds.

Saloon slug · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2007, 01:17:17 PM »

I knew there was one of them dreaded math thingys involved

. Thanks for the info that will work great later tonight when I am cuttin patches actualy I just remebered I have to through my ticking in the dyer. Thanks again

GregP42 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2007, 04:30:28 PM »

I cut my ticking into 1.5 inch strips after I wash them a couple of times, then dip the whole thing in a 50-50 mix of bee's wax and olive oil, hang it up to dry and let the excess drip out. Then I just roll them up and put them in my bag, in real hot weather the wax melts some, but most of the time I am out it is cold, or at least under 70. I just cut mine with a knife at the muzzle when I load.

Greg

Slamfire · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2007, 06:05:02 PM »

Quote from: longcaribiner on March 22, 2007, 06:30:30 AM

cutting the patches at the muzzle makes sense, but it can create extra wear on the muzzle.

Ah but that's the reason for only shapenin' your knife on one edge, till it cuts like a wood plane.

crow_feather · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2007, 05:21:58 PM »

Don't forget the National Color and Shape Inquisition of 1918. That's the one where it was finally decided what shape and color were considered the most optimal for pillow ticking fabric in the black powder rifle. One does have to remember that the tests were conducted with only pure black powder and pure 100 % cotton unsized fabric. In the thousands of rounds fired, it was finally discovered that the blue pillow ticking shot at least 3/1000's of an inch tighter groups than the red pillow ticking. This was of course with the round patch, the square patch showing a 5/100000's moa greater group size.

It should be noted that the green and yellow pillow ticking were late bloomers on the black powder patch parade and as such, were not considered during these tests.

C F

Saloon slug · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2007, 10:40:53 AM »

lol

flintlock · « **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2007, 03:16:25 PM »

Crow...All this time...I thought red striping was for Republicans and blue for Democrats...

roundball · « **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2007, 03:37:48 PM »

FWIW, I use the following 4 sizes:

1" for .40cal

1+1/8" for .45/.50cals

1+3/8" for .54/.58cals

1+5/8" for .62cal

Gun Runner · « **Reply #14 on:** April 11, 2007, 09:09:07 PM »

To speed up cutting the patches, one of the guys that hangs out at the gun shop used to have a upolstri(sp) shop. He had a mach. that took diffrent size cutters for cutting out button covers. This is what he cuts out a bunch of patchs with. Ifin you know somebody that does that type of work, or can find a bus. that would do it, would save a lot of time.

Gun Runner

Saloon slug · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2007, 05:23:47 AM »

Thanks for all the input. I cut some at 1 1/4 and went shooting lubed them with straight lard accuracy was good but it was so windy that I couldn't find any of the patches once they were fired. I will have to go again and hopefully I can recover some to see how they are holding up.

mykeal · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2007, 05:57:16 AM »

Quote from: crow_feather on April 05, 2007, 05:21:58 PM

...
It should be noted that the green and yellow pillow ticking were late bloomers on the black powder patch parade and as such, were not considered during these tests.

C F

And I thought it was because nobody would admit that their bloomers were green or yellow. I certainly wouldn't have!

Embarrassed

JBlk · « **Reply #17 on:** September 17, 2008, 01:14:09 PM »

I've tried it both with precut patches and cut at the muzzle.When you cut at the muzzle you know the ball is centered in the patch, and thats the idea of the whole thing.Some guys might be able to center their ball on a precut patch when the heats on, but why take the chance?

Birddog 1 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 29, 2008, 06:26:34 AM »

I second what JB said and will add I cut at the 4 line on the pillow tick and don't add anything try spit it is cheap and works real well 1 less thing to carry and your hands stay cleaner

less chance of getting the percussion caps grease. Nim

Anduril · « **Reply #19 on:** October 03, 2008, 12:20:04 PM »

percussion caps? wazat?

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