30 grains of 3F under a snug (not too tight, don’t want to bust the stock) patched roundball is what I remember as a target load. TC max recommended load was 35 grains of 3F. DOM is hard to establish because of TC factory fire destroying most of their records, but @bubba.50 is correct about it being an early one. I have a TC manual dated May 1979 and it shows the brass nose piece. I purchased a used one in the late 1970s with no brass nose piece. TC replaced the stock around 1980 and it had the brass nose piece if my way back memory is working correctly.
As @Pietro pointed out, loading stand style shown on page 4 of the TC Patriot manual Supplement was a real stock buster, as it did not support stock in line with the barrel. My original stock (and others) broke where the red arrow is pointing while loading. Suggest you just grip the barrel and stock about where the wedge is when you load. Replacement stocks are hard to come by.Welcome to the board, Jim !
The Patriot won't stand heavy loads very long before the stock breaks; and it should also be loaded in the hands ILO a vertical stand, to also avoid stock damage from ramming the ball home.
Here's suggested loads, directly from the horse's mouth:
http://www.tiropratico.com/manuali-pdf/T/Thompson-Center_Patriot_Supplement.pdf
Good post, SDSmlf! It should be required reading for anyone who has or shoots single-shot muzzleloading pistols. I built a stand of that general type for my Lyman pistol, and intend to build one or two more for pistols acquired since then. The stands are great for display, "grounding" the pistol at the range, and loading powder, but the pistol should be removed from the stand, pointed in a safe direction, and held by the barrel for ramming a ball or wad, and even for use of a tight-fitting jag and patch for cleaning.
