Any advantage to use a cross-patch?

[Naphtali]

I am just getting started using a patched round ball in my cap lock rifle. My reading of both Ned Roberts' muzzleloading cap lock rifle book and the NMLRA beginners' book have information on round ball rifles using either two patches crossed or a single patch created as a crossed patch appears to indicate that usiing such a patch has an advantage compared with trimming a patch at the muzzle or precutting a non-crossed patch in terms of accuracy and ease of loading/reloading. Yet I find nothing in threads that has experienced shooters doing these types of patching for round balls now.

Any experience for or against such patching schemes? I am especially interested in whether such a patch scheme aids in quicker reloads when hunting.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

I have done things like this, but only when I am trying to shoot an undersized ball. It sorta works.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Bullet guns used crossed patches, almost always made of paper. Very few used a two piece patch or cloth patch cut in the shape of a cross although I am aware of a few that did use them.

 

[FishDFly]

You are over thinking things way toooo much.

Need to consider the moon's influence as well.

 

[TDM]

Agree with @FishDFly.

 

[ohio ramrod]

If you are shooting left you are in the first quarter of the moon, dead on in the second quarter, low in the third quarter, right last quarter of the moon. Yea the phase of the moon really does make a difference just as the phase of the moon effects a throwing knife. In the phase it was made it will stick perfectly, in any of the other three phases it won't stick!

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Bullet guns used crossed patches, almost always made of paper. Very few used a two piece patch or cloth patch cut in the shape of a cross although I am aware of a few that did use them.

This method was used with elongated bullets in conjunction with a false muzzle.

 

[TDM]

If you are shooting left you are in the first quarter of the moon, dead on in the second quarter, low in the third quarter, right last quarter of the moon. Yea the phase of the moon really does make a difference just as the phase of the moon effects a throwing knife. In the phase it was made it will stick perfectly, in any of the other three phases it won't stick!

That explains my accuracy problems with shooting and knife throwing.