 garandman 
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Joined: Feb 2001  SC, USA
 Posts: 31130 Feedback: 100% (18) |
Posted: 6/2/2012 10:52:15 PM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT What's the deal with using a cotton patch with a round ball? Just picked up a Traditions Deerhunter, and the .50 ball will just drop down the barrel. So I gotta use a patch, right? A brief tutorial would be helpful, thanx. |
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FLATFOOT762
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Joined: Mar 2009 OH, USA
Posts: 2515 Feedback: 100% (6) Link To This Post |
Posted: 6/2/2012 10:54:39 PM
Round balls are under sized. Patches allow for a tight fit in the bore.
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Posted: 6/2/2012 10:57:08 PM
Originally Posted By FLATFOOT762:
Round balls are under sized. Patches allow for a tight fit in the bore. And this produces decent accuracy? Bought the gun today, fired it once, and the nipple broke. Used gun in overall good condition - paid $50. |
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FLATFOOT762
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Joined: Mar 2009 OH, USA
Posts: 2516 Feedback: 100% (6) Link To This Post |
Posted: 6/2/2012 11:07:47 PM
[Last Edit: 6/2/2012 11:32:47 PM by FLATFOOT762]
Originally Posted By garandman:
Originally Posted By FLATFOOT762:
Round balls are under sized. Patches allow for a tight fit in the bore. And this produces decent accuracy? Bought the gun today, fired it once, and the nipple broke. Used gun in overall good condition - paid $50. Yes. An unpatched round ball would be like throwing a hot dog down a hallway. ETA: The patch gives something for the rifling to grab on to. |
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Posted: 6/2/2012 11:35:32 PM
Patch carries the lube, wipes the fouling from the bore before every shot, and acts like a jacket on the bullet to prevent leading.
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Posted: 6/2/2012 11:41:11 PM
The patch works like a sabot when using pointed bullets. It imparts spin to the projectile as well as a gas seal for the burning powder to push the bullet down the bore. Without the patch, the burning gasses would just blow past the ball resulting in very low muzzle velocities.
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Posted: 6/7/2012 10:07:14 AM
Patch and the round ball size/thickness is a tuning aid for accuracy. You can 'read' your patches.
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Posted: 6/9/2012 4:37:20 PM
Originally Posted By madcratebuilder:
Patch and the round ball size/thickness is a tuning aid for accuracy. You can 'read' your patches. "Read" as in see what thickness patch produces the best accuracy? |
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FredMan
Scallywag
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Joined: Jul 2005 VA, USA
Posts: 9061 Feedback: 100% (2) Link To This Post |
Posted: 6/9/2012 4:44:09 PM
Originally Posted By garandman:
Originally Posted By madcratebuilder:
Patch and the round ball size/thickness is a tuning aid for accuracy. You can 'read' your patches. "Read" as in see what thickness patch produces the best accuracy? "Read" as in examine the patch to help figure out why the rifle/powder/ammo combination may not be behaving the way you want it to. |
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Posted: 6/12/2012 5:28:21 PM
[Last Edit: 6/12/2012 5:28:53 PM by DakotaFAL]
Originally Posted By garandman:
That's part of it.
Originally Posted By madcratebuilder:
Patch and the round ball size/thickness is a tuning aid for accuracy. You can 'read' your patches. "Read" as in see what thickness patch produces the best accuracy? Generally a load that shoots well will have a patch that is intact and has a nice even black ring on it, but is not burnt through and is not cut through by the rifling. if you are seeing your patches in pieces, cut, or burnt through, you need to adjust something - the load, the patch thickness/material or the lube. Thus begins your search through fabric stores for the ideal patch material. Pillow ticking is a traditional favorite. 
Lotsa luck in your quest for the perfect load. |
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