patch interpretation please

[pinemarten]

So, with newish .50 call barrel, my first shot shows a different result than the rest. Ball is .490 with patch a ticking from Walmart of washed blue/white ticking, and light bear grease. The first patch looks as though the bullet tried to pull through the ticking; like stretched it where the fibers of material are opened up in stretched out holes making a circle around where the ball was. They do not look burned through. After that, patches look much darker and no more holes. Is this the fowling protecting the patch after the first shot? I need first shot to be the best because it will be the one that counts for hunting.

Thanks!

Daniel

 

[smo]

Is the 1st ball harder to load than the next ones? If so maybe you should use a little more lube :hmm:

 

I need first shot to be the best because it will be the one that counts for hunting.

How was the first shot? Was it accurate?

 

[pinemarten]

To answer the questions from you both. No, it seemed a bit easier to load than or about the same as the following. For accuracy, I am just roving around in the woods right now and getting used to firing the gun. No consistent accuracy yet due to my own limited level of shooting and practice.

Thanks to you both for your replies!

Daniel

 

[Rifleman1776]

newish .50 call barrel

Keep shooting. That barrel might just need some shooting to get rid of sharp edges.
hotoSmile:

Some pics of yer problem patches would help us diagnose yer situation.

 

[necchi]

Keep shooting. That barrel might just need some shooting to get rid of sharp edges.

Yep, it's a little too soon to start doing patch diagnostics, just keep shooting and cleaning.
Your going be setting up a bench and putting that thing through it's paces for load development pretty soon,
That's right, you want some accuracy you'll have to bench it and learn how to do that.
It's not a big deal, we'll walk ya through it when the time comes, but getting 100 rounds through it first while you learn loading technique and cleaning needs to come first.
:wink: