Patch fit - Getting small burn holes

[PeteA]

Need some advice. I'm new to muzzleloading. Shooting a CVA Hawken percussion rifle, 1:48 twist with a .490 Round Ball and a .015 Pre-lubed patch atop 68gr of Pyrodex RS.
The rifle was given to me over 20 years ago as a gift. I've pulled it out of retirement and cleaned her up and started shooting. I have about 45-50 rounds through her and I'm loving every minute. Even cleaning! In trying to improve my accuracy I found some spent patches. I'm finding small holes 4-5 look like they are forming to the sides right behind the ball in the radiating pattern that forms on the patches. They look like slight burn marks. Or could the be cuts from the rifling? Some patches, not all, are also frayed on the edges. The patch and ball combo seems to be not as tight a fit as I would have expected. Once I short start it the P&RB seams to go down the barrel with minimal resistance on the ramrod.I can feel the ram rod twist in my hand as I seat the P&B.

I went to the fabric store an picked up a yard of pillow ticking. The store couldn't tell me the thickness but from everything I've been reading I believe the ticking should be .018 thick. Can I use this with the .490 round ball? Will that be too tight of a fit? If not will the tighter fit give a better seal and better velocity? Will I notice an improvement in accuracy?

 

[necchi]

Tight patch combinations usually provide more accuracy,, it's all about experimenting.
Here's some patches from a rifle of mine that's had a few 1000 rounds through it and is a nice accurate rilfe and load,,
These look just fine;

 

[krshade]

The frayed patch edges are perfectly normal, that patch is facing one heck of a head wind as it exits the barrel.
To check for patch burning, you might seat a patch on top of your powder and then load your patched ball.
The holes may be from rough spots in your barrel and will smooth out as you shoot more.
Good luck.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Mine look like this . . .

Pretty much reuseable.

 

[azmntman]

I once confessed to reusing patches and was called every form of cheapskate known to man and a few new ones so I no longer confess to that, even though it works :redface:

 

[coloradoclyde]

I stopped reading when I read....

015 Pre-lubed patch

Store bought pre=lubed patches are junk IMO.
I'd fix that first.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I once confessed to reusing patches and was called every form of cheapskate known to man and a few new ones so I no longer confess to that, even though it works :redface:

I'll see your used patches and raise you some used balls....

 

[M. De Land]

Nah, your just extremeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeely frugal ! :rotf:
I must admit I too am one of those fellas that comes back from the land fill with more than he took over there. It amazes me what some folks pitch out though!

 

[ohio ramrod]

Burn through can be eliminated with an "over powder" wad. A simple way to see if this will help your problem is to just fold over a cleaning patch and use it as an over powder wad. It doesn't cost a thing to try . :idunno:

 

[rushlake1]

Get your self a dial caliper and go patch shopping.
pre-lubed patches...not so much.
polish the crown.
try a over powder card or patch.
find a lube that fits your needs.
my most accurate loads require a short starter.

 

[Don Steele]

I use some 0000 steel wool and my thumb to smooth the crown of new barrels that exhibit the holes you are referring to.
Also: the good folks at JoAnn fabrics won't be able to provide much information about the fabrics you will be looking at, and you definitely cannot assume anything. IF you are going to be buying material for your patches...by all means purchase a micrometer and learn to use it.
I've walked in to a JoAnn Fabric store, found a bolt of material that "looked just like" the material I had been using, only to put my micrometer on it and find it significantly thinner.

 

[don hepler]

I use a wooden mallet and ball starter, to get the tight patches started. Once the cloth is compressed, it will go down the barrel easier. Tight patches give me the best accuracy.

For hunting you can load a tight patch for the first shot, then follow up with a slightly looser patches. I would test this prior to hunting. Accuracy, will not be to much difference, in most cases.