Blue Jean patchin' had holes blown in it.

[TN.Frank]

I finally got to put a few shots thru my Cumberland Fowler on Monday. Other then the flash in the pans or no sparks it shot ok when it went off. Once I stopped trying to sight it like a rifle and just pointed it like a shotgun I put two balls close to the center of a 10" bull at 40 yrds. so it will hit when I do my part. One thing I did notice though. The blue jean patching that I was using(with olive oil as a lube) has holes in the center of it. I wonder if I need something with a higher thread count to hold up better? It'll still have to be thick like blue jean matrial but with a tighter weave. Any Ideas? :hmm:

 

[Russianblood]

I would suggest an overpowder card before the patched ball. Also canvas duck cloth should work as it's tight weave and thick.

 

[Rebel]

Leather

 

[Russianblood]

Leather

And it's reusable! :grin:

 

[Slowpoke]

Frank,

Howdy Frank, What's the caliber/gauge, how many grains and type powder, and what size ball?

SP

 

[TN.Frank]

ERA Cumberland Fowler in 75cal/11ga, 80grs fffg Goes, .690" round ball, old blue jean for patchin' with olive oil lube. I had thought about using one of my over shot wads just as a thin buffer to keep the gas from the patch, I may give that a try. Next Sunday is the last day we can use the TWRA sight in range because bow season is starting up. I'd like to get it shooting so I can use it for deer season.
As far as leather I just can't bring my-self to use it because I've used leather to make to much neat stuff.

 

[Rebel]

I always put an overpowder wad and half a lubed fiber cushion wad in before the patched ball. Works good for me. But a little bit of leather wouldn't hurt ya too much to use. And you can pick them up and use them again. :thumbsup:

 

[Slowpoke]

Frank,
My first thought was that you were using to much powder but that is obviously not the case. Now I'm thinking it might be the lube... hmm.., interesting because I know people that use a olive oil/bee wax mixture with success. :hmm:

 

[TN.Frank]

I think it might be because the jeans I'm using are old and have been washed many, many times. That may make em' weak. I'm going to mic em' and see how thick they are then take a trip to Wally World and see what they have in the all cotton or all linen cloth dept. that'll be the same thickness, plus, I'm going to use an over shot wad between the powder and patched round ball. I know an over shot wad isn't all that thick but it should be good enough to give me what I need to let the patch come out in one piece. :hmm:

 

[paulvallandigham]

I see two possible problems. One: Inconsistent fabric thickness, and two, not enough lube. Do you lube the patches the night before, or try at to do so at the range? If the latter, denim is probably too thick to take enough lube into it to protect the fabrice from the high heat generated by using FFFg powder. Try lubing the patches the night before, so they can sit and abosorb all the lube possible. You get far more consistent performance from your patching that way.

You might also consider using FFg powder instead, and adjusting the load to get the required velocity. I know from past postings you love FFFg, so if you want to use that, then use a overpowder card below the PRB, and you should have no more problems with cut or burned patches.

 

[TN.Frank]

I lubed the patches the night before so it just may be bad fabric since the jeans are used and old. I'm going to get some new matrial and use an over powder wad in the form of a over shot wad, that should be thick enough to stop the patch from burning thru. Thanks for all the help guys. :thumbsup:

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Silly question perhaps, but are the jeans 100% pure cotton? With some of the stuff coming in from abroad, quality varies.

 

[TN.Frank]

Yep, they're 100% pure cotton, I can't ware those crappy stretch jeans. I think it's just because they're a couple years old and the cloth isn't in the best of shape. :hmm:

 

[Le Grand]

TN.Frank, Maybe you're gettin' too much pressure too fast. Try some loads with FFg powder. Le Grand

 

[Wes/Tex]

What Le Grand said! In larger bores, above about 65 or so, FFFg can burn pretty hot and create some peak pressure before the patched ball gets going. For one thing, try the next smaller bore sized lubed patch on the powder before loading the patched ball, usually helps protect the ball patch without adding much weight to the projectile mass.

 

[renovato]

Well, I've heard of sh*ttin' yer britches, but this is the first time I've heard of shootin' yer britches. :haha:

Actually I'm glad this thread came up. I've wondered about the suitability of old denim as patch material and have been saving old jeans to try it some day. I'll be keeping an eye to see how this works out.

 

[TN.Frank]

I DO know that all cotton jeans make good charr cloth,LOL.

 

[Wehrmacht]

In the past I've always used denim in various thicknessess based on individual rifles' preference for thickness. I have had reserve stores of denim going back several years,buying extra off a perticular bolt of cloth when I struck paydirt with consistant accuracy. Recently,though, I've had a major "trainwreck" with a couple of different rifles which were highly accurate with the denim I HAD, and are now all over the target with what I RECENTLY bought from the fabric store! I've checked the labels on the cloth bolts,and each was made in China. I question the consistancy and quality of this Chinese denim,even though the micronometer doesn't show significant changes in thickness on a yard of cloth. Perhaps I'm wrong about this,but I have recently had a major problem trying to work marlinspike seamanship using Chinese nylon line (rope) which definately is poorer in quality than what we used to buy.Maybe this has made me a little "gunshy".

I would like to see more comments about using cotton duck or canvas with different lubes as mentioned in another Thread on this subject. I just bought a yard which measurers .018 very consistantly, but it will be several more days before I have a chance to try it out.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

The denim of old jeans tends to run .028" to .034" and what Walmart sells as denim only mics about .018", not even close. The only thick material I've found at my local Walmart is canvas. That measures .028" or .032" depending on which canvas you get. Canvas is a coarse weave compared to denim, that is to say, canvas is made of thicker threads but far fewer threads per inch.
Since your patches are burning, not tearing, I'd say it is not a weakness of the denim but a failure of the olive oil. I'd try a couple of wads and perhaps a thicker lube, such as tallow.
Have fun and good luck. :grin:

 

[Java Man]

I've tried .570's with jean patching in a couple .62's, and the patches seem to be almost consumed. But buckskin comes out almost unscathed. It only needs a light lube also.

I echo the suggestions for over powder cards and cushion wads. The over shot card will do nothing. Its way too thin.