Newbie Question: Which side of the patch do I grease?

[rafterob]

Extra care must be taken when using the striped pillow ticking. It is imperative that you lube the side with the predominant color (the outside). Bad juju may occur if you lube the inside.

 

[Grenadier1758]

If you have striped pillow ticking with one side of more color that the other side, you have material that has the stripe printed on the fabric and that printed fabric is inferior to the fabric with the woven stripes that have the same intensity of color on both sides.

 

[cynthialee]

Also, try different patch thicknesses. My Thompson Hawken flint likes a .495 ball and .015 patch. For many years I shot .54 with .530 ball and .020 patch.
Have not yet been able to shoot my .50 Deerstalker cap, but we will have to see what it likes

those precut and lubed patches only have a shelf life of about 18 months, they deteriorate in quality rather quickly

my advice is to prepare a small amount of patches or a strip of cloth you cut at the barrel and keep lube and patching cloth in your bag, or just use spit lube patches in the moment, they work very well it turns out

 

[cynthialee]

those precut and lubed patches only have a shelf life of about 18 months, they deteriorate in quality rather quickly

my advice is to prepare a small amount of prelubbed patches or a strip of cloth you cut at the barrel and keep lube and patching cloth in your bag, or just use spit lube patches in the moment, they work very well it turns out

 

[Wheatmusket]

I buy them pre-cut and pre-lubed. I guess it shows I am lazier than others.

You are not lazy, just efficent.

 

[wiscoaster]

I buy them pre-cut and pre-lubed. I guess it shows I am lazier than others.

I spit-lube, so I guess I'm cheaper as well as lazier.

 

[M. De Land]

New BP/ML shooter here. I have a .50 cal Hawken & intend to shoot .490 balls with patches.

Which side of the patch do I grease? Outer/barrel side? Inner/ball side? Both?

Thanks, Andy in Virginia

The most course side of the patch out side the ball, contacting the bore wall.