A question about teflon patches

[longcruise]

Ok, not looking to initiate a rancorous discussion on this subject, just have one question for teflon shooters.

Do you lube the teflon patches or shoot them as is?

 

[Zonie]

I was about to remove this thread and send you to Modern Muzzleloading where they talk about modern things like this but after going there and doing a search, the site doesn't have any information about teflon coated patches.

For the moment, I'll let this thread exist because I do know there are a number of target shooters who do use the things in their traditional muzzleloaders at various competition matches and someone should be able to answer the question.

I do know that these patches can leave Teflon behind in the bore and it isn't easy to remove but I don't know if they were lubricated or not.
If they were lubricated, it seems to me that having Teflon on the material wouldn't serve much purpose. I don't think it can do much more than lubricated cloth can.

 

[longcruise]

Thanks Zonie. I should clarify that my reason for asking is because I ordered a sample pack from Minutemen. They offer teflon impregnated and plain cotton. I requested plain but they may have sent teflon.

So, long story short, I'm wondering if I can just lube and test or maybe have them send the plain stuff.

 

[EC121]

It only works if you wipe well every shot. The way I understand it is that you need a clean barrel and no lube. Might work for bench rest shooting. I tried it years ago, but it wasn't worth the trouble.

 

[Carbon 6]

Past threads.


https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/teflon-coated-patches.42561/

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/how-to-make-teflon-shooting-patches.94552/

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/teflon-ticking-patches.2589/

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/teflon-coated-patches.53776/

 

[SDSmlf]

One of those things that I have been heard the ‘top of the leaderboard shooters’ (and I am not a top shooter) believe helps them get that last bit of accuracy out of their guns. Was told by someone using them that you needed a virtually clean bore for every shot to get the full advantage. Tried some samples they gave me on a day the accuracy gods were looking down on me favorably and was not impressed as my groups opened a up a bit, but attributed that to the Teflon patches being a bit thinner. Tried the rolling paper trick Dutch suggests in his system, but didn’t see any advantage with the Teflon and didn’t experiment any further. Checked off as a tried that but didn’t help thing, at least for me.

 

[longcruise]

More correctly stated; is it ok to lube a teflon patch?

 

[TFoley]

When Jeremiah Johnson tells me that he often uses a Teflon patch - with or without lube - then I'll do the same.

 

[Carbon 6]

I don't think it's necessary, teflon should be self lubricating. I'm sure you could lube it if you wanted to, but I think it will have a negative affect.

 

[Walkingeagle]

When Jeremiah Johnson tells me that he often uses a Teflon patch - with or without lube - then I'll do the same.

Lol, if Jeremiah Johnson talks to you it may be a sign, lol.
Walk

 

[EC121]

Teflon is baked on. Lube won't melt it.

 

[longcruise]

So, the whole point on my part is to test the Minutemen ticking samples. Each piece is enough for about five shots. I THINK they may have inadvertently sent me teflon rather than plain for testing. So if they won't work with lube then there is no poin testing them. Thus my question.

 

[nhmoose]

The Teflon side is the coated side, you will tell it is there because that side is not like pillow tick color. I keep mine in the freezer to keep it fresh.

As for needing to wipe after every shot or not I have no clue as I wipe after every shot in competition. If I am not going to wipe after every shot why bother with the Teflon patch anyway?

 

[longcruise]

Thanks moose. With that bit of info I should be able to tell if it is teflon coated.

 

[user 34300]

They smolder after being shot. They could start a fire. A fellow target shooter uses them. They are shot dry. I don't get it.

 

[TFoley]

Lol, if Jeremiah Johnson talks to you it may be a sign, lol.
Walk

My comment was intended to show two impossibilities. There is a name for such a construction in English grammar, but I don't remember what it is. Tugaimid 'gealltanas polaiteora' air as Gaeilge/In Irish we say it is a 'politician's promise'..

 

[FishDFly]

In Texas, Teflon patching has a following with line shooters.

"They smolder after being shot" They do not smolder after being shot. Most times they are in such good shape they could be used again.

For the most part Teflon patches are shot dry with no lube, though there a few who give the patch a quick shot of what ever the shooter uses for cleaning.

I know one shooter who figured he had put 20,000 shots down his Green Mountain barrel and it was still shooting great when he quit shooting. I have heard that Teflon will build up in the barrel but I have not seen it after using Teflon patches for over 30 years.

Cleaning between shots is needed, especially in low humidity conditions. In some pistol matches I will give the patch a shot of cleaning solution if there are a lot of shots in a limited time so I do not have to clean between shots.

They do have an advantage over lubed patches when it comes to hunting. You can put Teflon patches in bullet boards/ball boards and not have to worry about the lube soaking into the wood, thus drying the patch out.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I was with Webb Terry when he first developed teflon patch lube. He/we would shoot on off days at the Friendship range. He tested his lube extensively before he started selling it. Webb did find an accuracy improvement (and there have been few people more obsessed with accuracy than Webb) but, mysteriously, lower velocities. I tried it, still have some, but never became a fan. As far as "ain't authentic" is concerned, a lot of what we use today ain't authentic. I believe this discussion is legit here.

 

[user 34300]

A significant percentage of the ones I have witnessed being shot did hit the ground smoldering. I did not make that up. Maybe it is a certain brand or they were old, I don't know. They were a definite fire hazard when the foliage is dry.

 

[longcruise]

The velocity loss is typical with slicker lubes. The less resistance to moving the ball, the less the velocity.

Also observed in barrels that have been lapped and polished to a fine finish.