Author Topic: pillow ticking ? (Read 1077 times)

tommy4toes · « **on:** August 26, 2003, 05:08:57 PM »

anybody got a good source for real thick pillow ticking , preferably online ? I havent been able to find any locally yet......

t4t

simonkenton · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2003, 06:19:08 PM »

Dixie sells it in different thicknesses. I have a big chunk of it right here in my muzzleloading box.

johnt · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2003, 07:13:26 PM »

t4t,
If ya wanna use it for patchin, try looking at 100% cotton denim(like bluejeans). It might feel funny walkin in a fabric shop with a micrometer the first tyme,all them wimen folk an such, but it get's easyer! I found a nice .021 that crushes too .013 works great in the .54!
Look at the top of the Bolt for fabric content,but don't be fooled. Some 100% cotton has what they call "guide fibers" that are poly. Find a cut edge and pull a few fibers,if they'er there you'll see'm.
If the stuff is $8 per yard ya can get a 1/4 yard fer $2,,,that's 9" wide and 36" long,,,plenty fer experimentin.
I've found the biggest selection of thickness is in denim,don't forget to wash and fully heat dry the "sizeing" out afore shootin. :grin:

olduvai george · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2003, 12:16:55 AM »

Sir: i have always bought ticking at the k-m store or the wally store (although i am no fan of either). check as noted in the other post for all cotton. wash and dry it before use. rip into strips. some can be pre-lubed if you like by manual slathering, rolling, and carefully microwaving to distribute lube. keep lubed patch material in a container because it will attract dirt or grit. i favor ticking where deep grooves are present and the ball is not real tight. remember, you dont want to fight to get a hunting load down the bore. go to cotton denim or a cotton sailcloth for even thicker patches. normal cotton blue jeans, non stretch. when worn out, or cotton khakis also provide patch material in the .015-.020 class. use the backs of the leg portions. the fronts wear unevenly. pockets of khakis are made of a very tough tightly woven cotton material called pocket drill usually about .008-.012 . regards, olduvai george

Charlie Detroit · « **Reply #4 on:** August 27, 2003, 03:45:23 AM »

Quote from: johnt

It might feel funny walkin in a fabric shop with a micrometer the first tyme,all them wimen folk an such, but it get's easyer! I found a nice .021 that crushes too .013 works great in the .54!

I see you're a follower of Dr.5x (Dutch Schoultz).

simonkenton · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2003, 10:02:42 AM »

Olduvai George--What a great screen name. Seen any Australopithicenes lately?

tommy4toes · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2003, 01:22:25 PM »

thanks fellas - I ordered some from Dixie for $5 and will try the other suggestions too. The rifle in question is a Chambers .50 with the round grooved Getz barrel. So far I've got it to shoot 2" @50yds with .490's, OxJoke precuts and 55grs 3F Swiss. But it feels like it'll shoot better.
The experiments continue.........

t4t :idea2:

johnt · « **Reply #7 on:** August 27, 2003, 06:00:03 PM »

Yep Charlie,I know Dutch. Best money I ever spent! He's still my personal coach.
Once ya larn it, yer in.
It's the school of thought/approch that is taught.
I enjoy shooting well,not the best,but better than most. Alot better than most! Thanks Dutch.

www.bpaccuracy.com

olduvai george · « **Reply #8 on:** August 29, 2003, 12:18:24 PM »

t4t Sir: in further reply i would recommend you cut patches at the muzzle as it is generally recognized as a potentially more accurate technique. it has been my experience that a 50 gets best accuracy around 70 grains powder(speaking of black only). my process with a new round ball gun, say a 50 , would be to use a big paper target backer, shoot 3 shot groups at 50, 60, 70 grains, wiping between shots with a damp, then dry patch. i hunt, not target shoot. when this shows the best group at 50 yards then try plus or minus 5 grains at that load level. make sure you know what you have done to produce that "best" group. the wiping/patching is to maintain a level of bore condition relatively the same for all shots. my experience is that the first shot of a clean barrel goes in the group. be consistent with ramrod pressure in seating the ball. a hunting load must go down the barrel without a fight. don't play with sights much until you have found the load. then set them. consider both 2f and 3f in load development. i have alse found that half of the best load shoots accurately enough for me to use as an offhand practice load without sight adjustment. good shooting. o. george

Ironwood · « **Reply #9 on:** August 29, 2003, 04:30:17 PM »

Here's what I've done for patches. First I went down to Wal-Mart and ask the nice lady at the Fabric Dept. if they had pillow ticking. What they had was the real 100% cotton, with blue and white threads, pillow ticking. Compressed with the mic it read .015" thick. Just what I was looking for.

I read an article someplace here on the net about cutting square patches in lieu of round ones. Not having a means of cutting round patches I opted for the square ones. I measure the diameter of some store bought patches and cut a long strip of pillow ticking to that width. Then marking off ,where to cut, with a yardstick, I cut the strip into squares. My wife gave me a small shallow container from her make-up kit. The patches just fit into it. After soaking the patches in Mamaflinter's Moose Milk I took them to the range.

I'm getting 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" three shot groups @ 50 yards with iron sights from my CVA Hawken. Which is about as good as I can expect from these 66 year old eyes and trifocals. I had no difficulty in loading with the square patches. I did use the damp and dry cleaning patches between shoots, however.

Here's a photo of the round store boughts along side the square cut patches.

propredator · « **Reply #10 on:** August 30, 2003, 05:38:23 PM »

johnt,Dutch :D

johnt · « **Reply #11 on:** August 30, 2003, 06:57:29 PM »

TY prop, it's me.

Darn good explainin Ironwood got's fer patchin, an the best photo's I seen in along tyme; Hat's off to ya Iron Sir!

Onlyest thing, I like ta beat my patch up just a tad more,just a tad! A little dryer or a bit more powder,,,when they git raggedy, then come back a bit. Darn good photo's Ironwood!
Prop; I been doin the vous' this season,an I seen fellers usin square patch just like Iron explains-an shows. Darn good shooters the bunch. Sum say ya don't got's ta cut it ta make good round,anything left over the ball don't matter,as long as ya got good seal around it. an proper lube and consistant bore.
Ironwood,prop; May the Sun warm yer shoulders, and yer path be clear

Ironwood · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2003, 02:17:08 AM »

Thanks for the complement on my photograph and advice on the patches. I'll try to "beat up" the patches a little more. I'm always open to any suggestion that might tighten my groups.

propredator · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2003, 05:12:48 AM »

Square patch eh.Just have to givem a try next time out. :-)

tommy4toes · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2003, 05:37:18 AM »

a buddy of mine suggested the square patch route too. He says get some pillow ticking, wash it real good, and cut it into 1" strips. Also says that the oversize doesnt hurt accuracy. So we'll see today or tomorrow. I have two yds of the stuff now, and if time and weather permit, I'll be trying out three different powders, two ball sizes and three kinds of patching. 10 gr increments at first as suggested, then fine tuning. It was raining here last night so i was loading for my Spencer, and I took one of these strips and soaked it in the heated SPG/bayberry mix I use for pan lubing. Could end up being a nice cold-weather hunting patch. I'm gonna shoot these for accuracy beside the others and see how they do.

t4t