BillyC
Shooting my .45 better every time
My grandson and I shot our SMR this morning. I am very pleased with the results but still have lots of load development to do. Do these patches look good to you guys?
First shots with flintlock
- Thread starter BillyC
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APG
45 Cal.
First of all the smile on your grandsons face says it all. As far as the patches go alot of it is like reading tea leaves, in my opinion that is. Looks like your getting it dialed in with the 45 grain loads.
Congrats on the rifle and initiating your grandson. 
Next, try 50 yards from the bench.
Those patches look fine.
Next, try 50 yards from the bench.
Those patches look fine.
BillKilgore
50 cal.
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It is so cool to see a young person interested in blackpowder muzzleloading. Great job! 
Regarding your patches. The dark streaks radiating out from the center on the left-hand patch indicates some burning powder got around the ball. Was that patch thinner or perhaps lubed less? The one on the right looks perfect to me.
What caliber is your SMR?
Regarding your patches. The dark streaks radiating out from the center on the left-hand patch indicates some burning powder got around the ball. Was that patch thinner or perhaps lubed less? The one on the right looks perfect to me.
What caliber is your SMR?
Same observation as yours, the patch on the left has blow-by, the right patch is just fine. What is the thickness of your patches? What is your lube? What diameter ball are you shooting? I agree about the young gentleman, and his grin! I invited a friend and his kids to shoot my smoke poles. They want to be invited again. Their dad stepped in, but I made it clear they are welcome anytime. Anytime!It is so cool to see a young person interested in blackpowder muzzleloading. Great job!
Regarding your patches. The dark streaks radiating out from the center on the left-hand patch indicates some burning powder got around the ball. Was that patch thinner or perhaps lubed less? The one on the right looks perfect to me.
What caliber is your SMR?
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WTG getting the grandson out there
Hard to tell on the left patch, but the right looks good. Is that slight tearing/cutting on the left patch at 1 and 8 o'clock?If that is damage to the patch, you could have a sharpened bore edge at the muzzle entry.
Larry
I'm a little behind the times on acronyms. Okay, WTG means "way to go". Do you have any idea what I first thought BFF meant?!WTG getting the grandson out there
If that is damage to the patch, you could have a sharpened bore edge at the muzzle entry.
Larry
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Dunno what you thought Best Friends Forever meant, just hope you can repeat it on the forum and keep the mods happy.
Larry
They do like to keep the replies based on the orginal posters topic.
Larry
The fact is, I can't repeat it! I bet you do know what I meant, though!
BillyC
Shooting my .45 better every time
We’re shooting a .45. I thought maybe just a sharp edge on the rifling. Going to try .018 instead of .015 patches.
Looks like you guys had fun! A larger ball or a thicker patch, either should help with the burned patches
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BillyC
Shooting my .45 better every time
.440 ball. I’m not sure if I have both patches showing the same side, not even sure if that matters. Also, I wiped the bore between shots with a denatured ethanol swab between but of course, being a rookie I forgot a couple of times.
BillyC
Shooting my .45 better every time
Also, I ordered preluded patches Then read here it’s better to lube your own so you know when and how they were lubed. I’ll be placing another order at TOW for more components and will try .445 balls and thicker, non-lubed patches that I will Iube with bees wax and olive oil mixture.
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Suggestion if you want to correct a sharp bore edge, this is what I use. Place is cordless drill and go easy. No matter how thick the patch, a sharp edge will always give you an issue. JMO
Larry
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@BillyC, it appears to me that you have shown us one patch with the side next to the barrel on the left and the other patch is the side wrapped around the ball. I agree with @Larry (Omaha) that the patch on the left is showing some cutting from a sharp land. It is nice to see the patch view from the ball side is not showing that the cutting is making it through to the ball. If the crown is cutting the path, the cut will be circular in nature. So, from my observation, you have a sharp land or two that with your patch and ball combination aren't bad enough to do any more smoothing of the lands other than going back to the range and doing more shooting. A thicker patch, keeping the round ball the same size may show more cutting.
It doesn't hurt to smooth the crown anyway. A good tool is a couple sheets of fine, 320 and 400 grit, metal cutting sandpaper to be used over your thumb as you rotate the barrel. Your thumb and the sandpaper make a convex shape curving smoothly into the bore. That's easier on patches and makes loading easier also.
It doesn't hurt to smooth the crown anyway. A good tool is a couple sheets of fine, 320 and 400 grit, metal cutting sandpaper to be used over your thumb as you rotate the barrel. Your thumb and the sandpaper make a convex shape curving smoothly into the bore. That's easier on patches and makes loading easier also.
Brand new barrel - send more lead down range, one patch does not tell the entire story. Keep doing what you’re doing and log your progress, if it is a sharp edge you will see it on many of the patches, probably just cut during the loading process. Smaller starter diameter, straighter push at the muzzle all things you’ll pick up as you shoot.
I shot a very tight patch/ball combo for many seasons and “occasionally” cut a patch if I wasn’t careful - it happens.
The smile on your GS’s face is all that matters.
I shot a very tight patch/ball combo for many seasons and “occasionally” cut a patch if I wasn’t careful - it happens.
The smile on your GS’s face is all that matters.
I get lost in all these acronyms, what is GS?
Yes I was lazy- grandson
TMA = Too Many Acronyms
Well, I'm very familiar with Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, but then I'm ex-military!
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