Frozen Patches....how do they affect accuracy?

[roundball]

I've seen posts from time to time mentioning that 'frozen patches' cause poor accuracy...I don't understand how or why that can happen based on my following assumptions:

1) That the raging inferno at hundreds of degrees temperature would instantly melt the lube in the patch before it ever started moving;

2) And if it didn't melt, the frozen wads of patch material that is normally squeezed down into the grooves to rotate the ball should still do so even if frozen, as they would simply be like solid little 'rudders' in the grooves;

I'm sure I must have a misunderstanding about this and my assumptions are probably wrong...can someone please help me understand this frozen patch = poor accuracy situation?

::

 

[musketman]

I would only be concerned with this if you were using spit as a patch lube, then it could freeze to the bore if left exposed to the weather long enough...

The fire from the powder exploding would generate enough heat to melt any ice instantly that may form...

 

[Ron LaClair]

If your using spit patches in real cold weather you gotta work fast to ram the ball home before it freezes. I've never had a problem. :m2c:

 

[shmrck1]

roundball,
i've never shot b/p in sub 0 weather but shot many times in the teens and low twenties using moose snot
and i have never experienced any problems. if there was
an effect on accuracy it was very slight. :results:
snake-eyes eace:

 

[RussB]

Ya know? I have never experience anthing near what your talking about, but I have often wondered about what "spit ballers' do when it does get that cold.

Is it even remotely possible, that the patch could "freeze" to the bore causing the ball to strip free of the patch?

Along the same line of thought, even in nice weather, I have seen things happen on the range that made me wonder what had happened in the bore of another shooters gun...I have, on several occasions, actually seen the patch come out of the bore when the shot was fired....almost like it was late.
The impression I always get was that the ball has run off and left the patch. ::

When I asked the shooter if anything was different, they always said no. Patch and ball was tight when it was started.

Next time you're out with someone shooting, watch their shots, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has seen this.

To my way of thinking, you should never see that patch until it starts down at 10-15' in front of the shooter. I don't think you should see it come "strolling" along after the shot.

I think if a similar incident happened when it was freezing cold, that patch would surely stick in the bore...but I don't have a clue.


Russ

 

Ya know? I have never experience anthing near what your talking about, but I have often wondered about what "spit ballers' do when it does get that cold.
Russ

we switch to stuff like Moose Snot or Mink Tallow or Bear Tallow/Bee's Wax mixtures. I also do this when I use a loading block for hunting.

I've had a ball or two freeze half way down the barrel and it's a lousy moment. Nothing like trying to pound a ramrod with a rock to seat a ball.

:results:

 

[cayugad]

Something I had happen the other day that has never happened before, and it might be cold related was...

I was shooting the .50 caliber Hawkins Flintlock. I was loading 80 grains of Goex FFFg, a homemade wonderwad, and then a moosemilk patch and homecast ball. After I shot, as is my habit, I collect the patch and check it. Well on three of the recovered patches, the wonderwad was stuck onto the patch.

The accuracy of the rifle was exceptional, but I have never seen the wad still stuck to the patch like that. I just thought I would throw that out there.

 

[roundball]

Something I had happen the other day that has never happened before, and it might be cold related was...

I was shooting the .50 caliber Hawkins Flintlock. I was loading 80 grains of Goex FFFg, a homemade wonderwad, and then a moosemilk patch and homecast ball. After I shot, as is my habit, I collect the patch and check it. Well on three of the recovered patches, the wonderwad was stuck onto the patch.

The accuracy of the rifle was exceptional, but I have never seen the wad still stuck to the patch like that. I just thought I would throw that out there.

I see that often at the range...find patch/wonderwad combinations still together downrange...the patches get flared open and blown/wrapped backward around the wad, sort of trapping it in place...but I see it year round in all temperatures

 

[jaybeach]

What I want to know is how you guys get the moose to stand still long enough to get some snot from him? :huh:

 

What I want to know is how you guys get the moose to stand still long enough to get some snot from him? :huh:

yuh put ole bullwinkle into a headlock, pilgrim, and you tell him he's ugly and his mama was a buffalo, which makes him cry. You just puts a bucket under his nose and tell him he out to be glad yer not huntin' fer billets, powder measures and knife handles or yu'd be takin' yer saw to 'im!!!

So sayeth the Buffler.... :results:

 

[Stumpkiller]

What I want to know is how you guys get the moose to stand still long enough to get some snot from him?

Originally, I'd get out in early Spring and wait until one was facing a tree. Then I'd sneak up behind him with a two foot icicle, lift his tail and . . .

Well, when his eyes got back in focus and he got done a poundin on me I'd go back and scrape the snot off the tree.

Then I found a secret recipe written on the back of some old parchment entitled "The Canadian Declaration of Independence, Okay?" that I found in an ancient out-house on the beach at Hudson's Bay. Been making it that way ever since.

The meese approve, too.