Dry patch system

[Evan Ebersole]

Dry patch system with alcohol and oil work the same as oil and water?

 

[Bnewberry]

Seems to for me. Evaporates faster as well.

 

[necchi]

Nope, you either use the system as designed/explained,, or ya don't.
It's simple, "water soluble" oil doesn't mix with alcohol like it does with water.(period)
Go ahead, experiment, no problem with that at all. But if you want to become an accomplished shooter using the system,, follow it, or loose the match to someone that does.

 

[EC121]

I shot this 5 shot group off the bench at 50 with 2F, .562 ball,, square patches, and without wiping. The high shot is the first clean barrel shot. Used #9 Plus for lube. If I can do better with the dry patch method, I'll be a real winner. This is the first 5 shots out of a brand new .58cal. Kibler colinial.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Use an oil that is compatible with an alcohol mix such as castor oil. @AZbpBurner posted success with this mix back in September. Dutch gets fixated on one method that works even when there are often alternatives. Dutch's method works and so does the following.

When you're finished using all the exotic patch lube recipes, consider making a batch of "dry" patches to compare. Dutch Schoulz made his renowned recipe using Ballistol to treat patches, allowing them to dry before use. I use a mix of 5 parts denatured alcohol to 1 part castor oil. The DA evaporates out, leaving behind a fine amount of castor oil distributed evenly within the patch fiber.
I had used a classic beeswax + tallow blend previously on patches, but the castor oil 'dry' patch wirks much better, producing much less fouling than anything else I've ever used. Accuracy is outstanding.

 

[Booneliane]

How does the dry patch work for hunting where the rifle may remain loaded and I fired for days?

 

[necchi]

The reality of "The System" is it's a tutorial of the basic process of elimination. Isolate the variables of patch properties and thickness, lubrication and the result fouling using the foundations of each individual shooters available products of ball size, materials and powder.
If those things are properly learned by an individual, each variable can be adjusted to acquire superb accuracy with every rifle he handles using the knowledge of isolating and adjusting those variables.
Consistency, during the shooting regime of each rifle is the key.
That said,, there's no way to answer a question about a single variable as asked by the OP the way it was presented.
Will the "dry patch" work with alcohol, No. Will it work with castor oil and alcohol? maybe well enough for someone.
Will it work with beeswax + tallow?, maybe, but according to one it won't work as well.
How about toad sweat, cat snot and possum squeezing's?
Maybe, but was the toad sweat gathered during a full moon?
And then there's the "spit", and the "wiping patch" or not to wipe???
Oh Lord, as the world turns,,

 

[Grenadier1758]

How does the dry patch work for hunting where the rifle may remain loaded and I fired for days?

Actually the dry patch system will work quite well in a hunting situation for the initial loading. If the bore has been protected by a film such as provided by Barricade or similar, the dry patch has the dried lube in the patch and will stay good for the hunting period of several days. The concerns would come after firing the first shot and wanting to reload a dry patched ball in a fouled barrel. Then you want some sort of liquid lube to soften the powder as the second shot is loaded and how long will that shot be left in the barrel. I would spit on the dry lubed patch. That would be good enough for the subsequent shot and at the end of the day shot out or otherwise discharged for cleaning of the rifle.

 

[Barry Strickland]

I have used Denatured Alcohol and castor oil for some years. I use a mix of about 1:8 castor to DA I have found the mix is not critical. Be sure to dry the cloth strips horizontally, I use a plastic mesh to lay them on while the alcohol evaporates. Do not hang the strips the oil will run to the bottom of the strips and create a different amount of oil from top to bottom when the evaporation completes. The strips of oiled cloth are then rolled up and stored in small plastic zip lock bags. I have experimented with a lot of different lubes on my machine rest and do not see any difference in any of them to speak of. Just find a method you like to use and be happy.

 

[user 36911]

A higher ratio of oil is better for hunting.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Evan , Good to see you posting, are you going to the New Frontiersmen rendezvous in May?

 

[11Bravo]

I found this thread very interesting. I was shooting with dry patches all the way back in the 70s. I kept certain range targets so I remembered what to load my guns for hunting. This target is from maybe 1975 with my .45 underhammer. At 74 I would be happy to hit a 2' square off hand. Went looking for my Muzzle blast magazines, no luck with the search so far.