Beginner Patch Questions

[Billnpatti]

You mentioned using T-shirt material for patching. It will not make a good patch for two reasons: (1) it is not a good weave and will not hold up. (2) Many T-shirts are not made of 100% cotton and contain synthetic blends. You do not want to put any kind of synthetic material in your bore for patching because the heat of the burning powder will melt the synthetic material in your bore and make a nasty mess that is hard to scrub out.

You need to take the time to pick up a foot of a fabric called 100% cotton drill or some pillow ticking. The ticking may be a bit thicker than the drill. Both need to be washed before being used to get out the starch that they put in new fabrics.

Don't let yourself get into too big of a rush to shoot your new gun or you may run into problems. A muzzleloader can be a lot of fun but you need to know what you are doing so you don't run into problems or hurt yourself. Like good old Davy Crocket is credited with saying
"Be sure you're right and then go ahead."

 

[Rifleman1776]

I am going to the range tomorrow

You have (had?) enough time to run up to Wal-Mart and buy some ticking, rinse it out and try at the range.

 

[Grumpa]

For shooting at the range, you can lube your patch by holding it inside your mouth for a few moments until it gets wet, squeeze out the excess moisture, set it on the muzzle, put the ball on it and seat the ball in the muzzle using either your ramrod, a short starter, or the flat of a large knife. Then use the ramrod to shove the ball all the way down into the barrel until it sits against the powder charge that you should already have poured down the bore. That last point is essential - an air space between powder and ball can ruin your barrel, as the ball is now an obstruction.

If you haven't already put the powder charge in the barrel...you will have to research on the Forum about "How To Remove a Stuck Ball" . This is usually found under the heading "OOOPS! I Dry Balled!"

As has been pointed out, your enthusiasm is admirable. However, you need to find someone around you who knows how to shoot a muzzle loading firearm, and can show you how. Also, you need to read a lot more on the subject. This Forum is as good a place as any.

These are REAL guns. They have been killing man and beast for hundreds of years. You need to slow down a bit and learn what you need to know BEFORE you start shooting. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a wheelchair, a graveyard, or a courtroom. None of these are good places to be.

Also, you need to fill out your Profile page so we can better see who and where you are. That way, we can better assist you, and there may be members who live near you who could meet and show you first hand how to shoot your new gun.

Yours, in friendship,

Richard/Grumpa

 

[tenngun]

As Grumpa says they are real guns!!!
Be careful when you are ramming ball home don't bend over the gun. A ball and ramrod through your shoulder can mess up your day, a ball through your head might spoil your loved ones plans for the up coming week.
When ramming only grasp the rod a few inches above the bore, and push home with short strokes. Grabbing the rod two feet or more from the muzzle can break a rod, and send a splinter clean through your hand :nono:
Did we happen to mention how important it is to clean your gun as soon as you get it home. No stopping at the bar or micky des, no back yard bull session until your gun is clean dry and oiled. :wink:

 

[Don Steele]

A lot of good suggestions here...
I tell this story on myself every now and then, especially when someone like yourself is getting started.
I too was getting started with my first muzzleloader, a bit over 40 yrs ago. A mailorder ready to go sure 'nuff T/C "Hawken". Along with the rifle, I also received the accessories and 50 cal balls I would need. Got some powder from a buddy who wasn't a BP shooter himself, he just happened to have a partial can of some "Austin pistol powder" and off I went to a friend's farm to figure this whole thing out. There wasn't an internet, no body I knew was an active BP shooter.
I had done a little reading, and had a pretty good idea about starting loads, etc.
HOWEVER....The Fly in the buttermilk was that I missed the part about the normal buildup of fouling in the barrel between shots. As I began shooting, one after another...I noticed it was getting progressively more difficult to seat each new load. Being young, and ignorant...I resolved that issue by applying progressively more FORCE to the ramrod. Fortunately...I was able to come home without injury. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to come home with an intact ramrod.
Lesson learned.

 

[Adui]

My rifle is a Traditions Hawken, its an EXCELLENT gun. Mine likes LIGHT powder charges, but as I shoot range only it doesn't matter to me, and I have Chrony'd it at 1600 FPS with my load.

I shoot 55 grains of Pyrodex P .490 round ball patched with the blue pillow ticking cut into just a bit over 1 inch squares and lubes with a mix of about 4 parts 91% rubbing alcohol to 1 part cooking oil, cant remember but I think I used canola.. I cut the patch material into strips, dip it in the lube mix, stripping it with my fingers so it wont be drippy. Then I hang the strips for about an hour to dry and cut them into squares.

I managed a 1" group at 50 yards and I cant see straight! My 100 yard group last Wednesday was a very respectable, (for my ability) 4". In fairness, I couldn't see the spot in the center of the paper so I just tried to aim at the middle of my paper. I had a standard 8x11 sheet of printer paper with a sticky label off my round ball box on it.