The patch or the ball?

[skippy 10Z]

I'm sure the answer is likely to be something like, "it varies from rifle to rifle, but interested in any discoveries you might have made on the subject.  What do you think is likely to be the most accurate, a bigger ball, and a thinner patch or a smaller ball and a thicker patch, provided that the fit or tightness of both examples are about the same and all other varialbes are equal.  Thanks for any comments,   Skippy

[quickdtoo]

My experience has always been bigger ball, thinner patch....but it still needs to be worked up to a good load. Identical rifles can shoot totally different. Going to larger balls can cause loading difficulties that a lot of shooters don't like to deal with. I like to find a happy medium that loads fairly snug but shoots real good too.

[filmokentucky]

I wouldn't go thinner than .010 with my patches. I doubt you'll find any decent material thinner than that anyway. As you say, it does vary from rifle to rifle, but over the years I've gotten good results with this thickness
and a tight ball-- say a minimum of .535 in a .54 caliber rifle. For target work off the bench or the first round in a hunting situation, the ball could be a bit tighter to glean the last little bit of accuracy. But, once again, results will vary from rifle to rifle.

[skippy 10Z]

I also agree with the thinner patch, bigger ball theory.

 I noticed I lost accuracey when I purchased Wal-Mart pillow ticking, (washed 3 times), and started cutting my patches at the barrell. Although the combination was difficult to start,(I don't know the thickness of the ticking) with .495 round balls, it was the tight fit we seek. Accuracey fell way off.

 When I switched back to my thinner ox yoke pre-cut patches with the same ball, (.495) it was much easier to start, AND my accuracey improved which was a bonus.

 So, my next experiment is to try .498 round ball with an ox yoke pre-cut .010 patch.

I also noticed that the ox-yoke patches have a tighter weave than the wal-mart ticking, IMO.

Simply observations to ponder.   Skipper

[quickdtoo]

Another reason to go to a larger ball is bore wear, in the muzzle in particular. I had a .50 cal flintlock that I shot a lot, shot a .498 ball and ..018" ticking. Eventually accuracy wasn't what it use to be and it loaded easier. Went to a .500 ball with the same patch and all was well. Then I decided to shorten the barrel 6" from 34" to 28". Had to go back to the .498" ball to get it loaded without hurtin myself. Still shot good once I got the sights and load adjusted right, though. YMMV

[zrifleman]

If you can find it---60 weave Irish linen makes one of the most ideal thin patch material you can find. There are some web sites that advertize 100% linen at reasonable prices. This material is tight weave 60 threads per inch and is about .010" thick. I use it in my 50 cal with a .500 ball and it always groups much tighter than oxyoke or pillow ticking.

[skippy 10Z]

Quick
Very interesting and good to know.  Did you shorten it because you knew you would get some barrell back further down, or were you just trying to get a shorter barrell and got a bonus?   How many rounds do you think you shot out of it when you noticed the wear?  

BTW Nice Gobbler.  I've been after big daddy for many o' spring seasons and blow it every time.  I hunt public land where he is very weary and can get him in, but he pings me eveytime.  I think he sees me blink.  :eek:  There aint no greater rush.  I'm due and would love to do it with a muzzleloader shotgun, but I dont have one yet.

Z do you know where I might be able to get some of this Irish Weave?

Also, what do any of you know about this teflon ticking I see advertised in the back of muzzle blasts?   Have you noticed that the ox-yoke has such a tight weave it sort of springs back when you bend it.  Pillow ticking won't do that.  I was wondering if this teflon ticking might be similiar.