After about 9 years of trying, I finally got the recipe to tighten my groups up in my .36 flintlock !
(OK, I know that's a long time.....but, in my defense, I was interrupted by being married for the first
time, building a house, baby being born, eyesight going downhill, moving to another state etc etc)
I started patterning it at about the same time my eyes started getting weaker, & I was never sure if
it was me or my charge/patch type/patch lube/lot of powder (ughhh - Wano). Now, I can focus on
the target, the front sight, & the rear sight as I used to when I was younger. I can't visually "impress"
an aspirin-sized dot on a dime at 50 yards like I used to, but I can keep all 3 in focus. I guess my
targets have to get bigger...like from a dime to a silver dollar size :)
I borrowed a younger friend's eyes today & he was able to shoot 2 different one-hole groups
hand-resting off the bench at 37 yards using a 1" dia. bull with a low 6 hold. I had tried many
different combinations of patch type/patch lube over the years with no success as far as tightening
my groups up. I knew I had to be around .015" thick with the patch, because she was marking it
up perfect. Some fraying around the edges past the ball O.D., which I am guessing was the O.D.
catching fire upon exit from the barrel & hitting free air.
I took some .015" T/C blue & white striped pillow ticking & washed all of the pre-lube out with
Dawn soap. Let them dry. Soaked & impressed half of them with Crisco, & the other half with
Pam cooking spray (purely Olive Oil version) in a can.
The Pam was amazing! Perfect patch....Perfect grouping. I'm guessing it was about .450"
for the 2 group sizes. Green Mountain barrel, recent lot of Go-Ex FFF.
I'm happy! Now I think I will throw a large Siler percussion on it & play with it some more ! :)
ETA: Go-Ex