How far does spent patches go ?

[ETipp]

If someone is set on finding shot patches, if you’re going to be shooting in a grassy area, it’s best to cut the grass short before time.

If you can’t do that, then I would reckon one could spread out a tarp about 15-30 feet out in front of your shooting bench.

 

[ohiochuck]

10-20 yds usually with my percussion rifle

 

[CyrusP]

think i may have you beat. found a round ball, wrapped in the patch at m 60 yard target.
but usually my patches are 10-15 feet from muzzle.

Your patch acted like a parachute on a drag racer.

 

[deerstalkert]

I got some red cotton canvas that is .018. even i can see them, especially in the snow.

 

[CyrusP]

My patches go to the same place my single socks go. Where that is I have no clue.

 

[sheriff john]

Usually into the nearest dry weed or patch of dead grass. Seldom onto the bare dirt next to them.

Sometimes they like to smolder a bit, then "come alive" with a bit of flame. In the words of a wicked witch ..."How about a bit of fire, scarecrow?" (Wizard of OZ quote). It can happen.

 

[hanshi]

Depending on the wind, the particular load and the material the patch is cut from it's normally around 15 to 20 feet from the muzzle. In even a mild cross wind the patches can blow about 12 feet or so to the left or right. Since the wind may be variable some patches will be blown farther than others.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

I use bright red Rit dye on some of my cotton drill patches when I'm working up loads for a new rifle. They are easy to spot. I dyed a half a yard or so of the material just for this purpose.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Usually no more than the distance a small child or invalid could toss an average sized mushmelon.

 

[Sparkplug]

At the last meet up we had here on my 50 yd range there were a LOT of patches sent down range. Most fall between the 10 and 20 yd target stands. However, that evening, I did find a few close to the 40.

 

[Caterpillar Hunter]

The use of red Rit dye is a very good idea. I've changed over to the gel type candy dye. You know, the dye you'd squirt a drop or two into cookie dough. Comes in little squeezy tubes at the grocery store. I rub a little into pre-cut patches and then apply patch lube. My eyes can see the blue dye color better than the red.

 

[fubar22]

15-20 yards. Depends on the wind.

 

[Mad L]

Sometimes they go this far and sometimes they go that far, and sometimes they fly clean into the next county!!!

Recently I found one not more then six or seven feet from where I was shooting! Another time I found one on my way up to take down my targets, about 60 yard on an uphill slope.

 

[bpd303]

When I was doing a lot of load development I had a schnauzer named Max that retrieved patches, so I really have no idea how far they traveled.

 

[Mad L]

I forgot to add that patches can sometimes burrow too!
Don't know how they do it but I have returned to shooting spots weeks, even months later, after a rain, after a snow...then when walking out to set up my targets - There One Is! It wasn't there last time I was out, and I am the only BP shooter out there!
Dern things just burrow underground then pop back up after you leave!

 

[2 shots]

my silk patches go past the ball 15 -20 yards on the 100 yard targets.not sure but i think they get there before the ball

 

[exPAtriate]

Funny how often that happens, $800 Aimpoints are no match for a bit of notched steel and a brass blade.

I call the guys like that the S&P 500: Spray & Pray 500 rounds or more to hit the steel. Their steel silhouettes sure do make some funny motions when I smoke them with my Renegade!

 

[tom in nc]

I usually find mine from 10 to 20 feet out, depending on which gun I'm shooting. But some disappear and I never find them.

 

[oldramrod]

It depends on hoe tight the patch is to the ball. I have had some patches that were in a loading block over the winter stick to the ball twenty five yards and into the target.