Double patch?

[JJB22]

Would there be anything wrong with shooting a double patch. I have a 58 cal pistol that I usually shoot .020 patches through- My friend gave me some .010 lubed patches from his rifle box because he shoots .015 from his Hawkins, he bought the thinner ones by mistake.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Should not be a problem. Probably no difference but it might not be as accurate as a single patch.

 

[Many Klatch]

It should work. Let us know how it does.

Many Klatch

 

[musketman]

I don't see too much problems with it as long as the patches are large enough to grip the ball.

Remember, the first patch has to grip the ball's diameter, the second patch needs to grip the ball's diameter plus the added thickness of the first patch, otherwise you are not going to get a good seal and there will be gas blow-by.

If you are worried about them slipping during loading, try having someone sew two patches together with a few stitches in the center of the patch, (not the edge) just to tack them together. See if that works. :thumbsup:

 

[Robert Egler]

I have a 54 cal smoothbore that I shoot 0.49 round balls double patched with 0.014 patches. At 40 yards or so it is about as accurate as shooting out of a 50 cal rifled barrel.

 

[nchawkeye]

I've done that very thing in my .54 flinter, no problem...

 

[ohio ramrod]

While I don't usually try such things. I was at a shoot several years back and the man next to me ran out of 50 caliber balls. I gave him some of my 445 balls and he triple patched them and his second target with them was better than his first traget with his regular 50 cal balls!So I would say it should work.

 

[JJB22]

Thanks for the info folks, I will use them in a pinch if I have to, I don't want to be stingy.

I went out into the garage and found one of my old work shirts that measures about .019 so I cut some 1 1/2" square patches, put them in a plastic bag with bore butter and a table spoon of vegetable oil to lube them up, popped them in the microwave and worked the lube in. I see they are a little overdone so I will add some more patches to the batch to "dry" the lot. I saved a strip to try the cut as I go method. What is it that you folks do; seat the ball just in the muzzle with the stud on the short starter the cut the excess material? I am trying to give this a go to get close to being authentic. Thanks to all.

 

[Many Klatch]

If you want to keep it simple try spit patching. Put the end of the strip in your mouth while you find another round ball and put powder in the barrel. Spread the wet patch material over the end of the barrel and put the ball on it. Push the ball below the end of the barrel. Cut off the excess and ram the ball home.

Many Klatch

 

[MikeC]

I do it all the time to use up thin patches. Performed and informal range test and no change in accuracy over a single patch. :thumbsup:

 

[old ugly]

i am glad you asked that question , i am going to try it aswell .

spit patch and cutting at the barrel is what i do . it works real good . you can do a lot of shooting before you need a cleaning patch .

 

[bingo1952]

Plain old spit works for me as well. About the only time I will clean in a match is when the buildup in the breech gets heavy enough that I have to start pounding it down that last inch or so to get it on the charge.