Making patches

[Grenadier1758]

Now, @aussie pete, make your square patches with the side of the square the same as the diameter of the round patches. Too large of a patch and the excess material can get caught in the loading jag and pull the ball off the powder. In either case what you have that is not covering the circumference of the ball is excess material. I have no objections to square patches over round patches or even cut at the muzzle as accuracy is going to be for all practical purposes the same.

 

[aussie pete]

Now, @aussie pete, make your square patches with the side of the square the same as the diameter of the round patches. Too large of a patch and the excess material can get caught in the loading jag and pull the ball off the powder. In either case what you have that is not covering the circumference of the ball is excess material. I have no objections to square patches over round patches or even cut at the muzzle as accuracy is going to be for all practical purposes the same.

Yep. My patches aren't too big. Initially, quite a few years ago, I did just as you suggested to establish a good useable size. I used a commercial round patch designed for a 54-calibre rifle, using that diameter as a guide. My patches go up around the ball on loading, creating a good seal; importantly, they do not grab on the short starter or the loading jag.

Cheers, Pete

 

[longcruise]

. For cleaning patches I use washed baby blanket cotton flannel and cut into aprox. 2" squares and store in a plastic baggie just like the original mountain men did.

Pretty sure they stored those in a brain tanned beaver stomach

Thanks, that sounds like a good guideline. The 1" works, but I really have to work to center the ball perfect.

If I use squares I go with equal to the circumference of the ball. I cut at the Muzzle a lot. It's pretty convenient at the bench. Squares are handy in the field. Takes out the fiddling with the strip of patches and the knife. It's also easier to re charge a loading block with pre cut squares.

Round does all the same as the squares but then there's that huge unnecessary rig a moroll and the tool and all that!