Cleaning Patch to shoot?
- Thread starter Kdurham
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If they are a natural material like cotton. No synthetics, they melt. I've used old cotton dress shirts, flannel or denim. For lube you can use a little olive oil, Crisco or just plain spit and many others.
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Yep! The first time I ran out of store bought junk, was the first time I made my own....Haven't looked back since.... :thumbsup:
To answer the question....
In theory, YES!....In practice, NO! It is doubtful you will have satisfactory results...
To answer the question....
In theory, YES!....In practice, NO! It is doubtful you will have satisfactory results...
I make my own.
1:4 ratio beeswax to olive oil. Works great. In fact, I made a quart today. I use it to condition my wife's cutting boards also, it is really nice for these after you do a good scrub of them and need to get the wood back in shape. A light rub of this and they look gorgeous and it's all food safe.
I give it away as gifts too. It is a great lip balm, patch lube, and skin moisturizer.
1:4 ratio beeswax to olive oil. Works great. In fact, I made a quart today. I use it to condition my wife's cutting boards also, it is really nice for these after you do a good scrub of them and need to get the wood back in shape. A light rub of this and they look gorgeous and it's all food safe.
I give it away as gifts too. It is a great lip balm, patch lube, and skin moisturizer.
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As said make sure your patches are cotton. Typical cleaning patches are too thin to work.
Far as lube goes. It's all over the map. You can just use spit. Olive oil. I used to use 3 drops of Hoppe's #9 on a patch and rub it evenly in the patch. Worked great for me.
Far as lube goes. It's all over the map. You can just use spit. Olive oil. I used to use 3 drops of Hoppe's #9 on a patch and rub it evenly in the patch. Worked great for me.
The only problem with using a cleaning patch to shoot with is, cleaning patches are usually a looser, softer weave material.
That makes them more likely to rip when the shot is fired.
A ripped or torn patch will cause the shot to be somewhat inaccurate so don't expect to see the small groups you would bet if you had used a heavier, tighter weave material.
That makes them more likely to rip when the shot is fired.
A ripped or torn patch will cause the shot to be somewhat inaccurate so don't expect to see the small groups you would bet if you had used a heavier, tighter weave material.
Walks with fire
54 Cal.
I used some blue jean patch material today that worked real well. It's a bit thicker than the .017 pillow ticking I usually get from Wally world. No issues and shot great. I cut my own. I never liked lube on a patch before I load it either. I still buy the non-lubed once in a while. I like the patches from Eastern Maine shooter supply.
You have to careful of denim patches if you are just starting out. They would work well if they fit but if too tight, being new, you could get a ball stuck half way down the bore.
Enfield Musketoon
32 Cal.
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I just reviewed my old testing log-book with patch experiments using a 54 cal Great Plains.(.535 and .530 balls) The denim patch notes all say " Bad Groups" in big letters. I also tried doubling up thin patches and that showed bad groups as well.
For some reason the blue jeans patched shots also shot at a lower velocity than the best loads which were a .530 ball and a .020 patch.
Back in the early 70s I also made the mistake of trying Vicks Vapo rub as patch lube. Huge mess that took forever to clean up. Although my sinuses were fully opened. :wink:
For some reason the blue jeans patched shots also shot at a lower velocity than the best loads which were a .530 ball and a .020 patch.
Back in the early 70s I also made the mistake of trying Vicks Vapo rub as patch lube. Huge mess that took forever to clean up. Although my sinuses were fully opened. :wink:
