Smokey Joe
Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2003
- Messages
- 2,617
Shooting .50 cal rifle. Using patched .490" round balls. Had always thought that a patch of 0.015" thickness was correct and had been using patches so labelled. Have gotten XLNT accuracy out to 100 yd with these, and 70 gr. of Goex FFg, and been quite happy.
Patch thickness came up in a discussion with a fellow BP roundball shooter, and I ended up gauging a whole lot of patches. If you want to know what tedium is, try it.
All patches were pre-lubed with wonder lube or equivalent.
Anyhow, the T/C "0.015" pillow ticking patches I'd been using came out to usually about 0.018". Except a few that were visibly thicker, and gauged at about 0.020". And a very few that gauged 0.016". Another package of T/C prepared patches that were labelled 0.018" ran a consistent 0.020".
A package of Remington patches, cotton but not pillow ticking, and labelled 0.015" actually ran 0.013". Likewise a package of identical looking Traditions patches. Had not loaded and shot any of these, just had them in reserve.
Now, the question is, WHAT IS the correct thickness patch for my rifle, and how much thickness variation is allowable? The 0.018's that I thought of as 0.015" have always worked fine. But should I take a caliper or a mike to the store every time I buy patches??? Seems the manufacturers aren't real trustworthy as to the actual thickness of the patches they're selling.
Suggestions? Comments? Am I being too anal?
Patch thickness came up in a discussion with a fellow BP roundball shooter, and I ended up gauging a whole lot of patches. If you want to know what tedium is, try it.
All patches were pre-lubed with wonder lube or equivalent.
Anyhow, the T/C "0.015" pillow ticking patches I'd been using came out to usually about 0.018". Except a few that were visibly thicker, and gauged at about 0.020". And a very few that gauged 0.016". Another package of T/C prepared patches that were labelled 0.018" ran a consistent 0.020".
A package of Remington patches, cotton but not pillow ticking, and labelled 0.015" actually ran 0.013". Likewise a package of identical looking Traditions patches. Had not loaded and shot any of these, just had them in reserve.
Now, the question is, WHAT IS the correct thickness patch for my rifle, and how much thickness variation is allowable? The 0.018's that I thought of as 0.015" have always worked fine. But should I take a caliper or a mike to the store every time I buy patches??? Seems the manufacturers aren't real trustworthy as to the actual thickness of the patches they're selling.
Suggestions? Comments? Am I being too anal?