Patch material

[jebbesen]

What would you recommend for patching .53 Hornandy round balls in a .54 cal Pedersoli Cabelas Blue Ridge? Is there a method for determining this by measuring the rifling depth?

 

[FishDFly]

.015

 

[jebbesen]

Thanks.

 

[Dibbuk]

Suggestion: Hit your local fabric shop, and buy a scrap of each of the different pillow ticking they have. Explain what you want, the people there should be able to cut you a 2" wide sample of different thicknesses either free, or for a nominal charge. Once you know which works best, be sure you go back and buy a yard or two.

 

[Grenadier1758]

What would you recommend for patching .53 Hornandy round balls in a .54 cal Pedersoli Cabelas Blue Ridge? Is there a method for determining this by measuring the rifling depth?

I have great success with the cotton drill cloth from JoAnn's Fabrics. The drill cloth will measure 0.017" thick with good compressibility. I think drill colts has a tighter weave than pillow or mattress ticking. Some of the canvas fabrics have proven to be very good as well.

There is no real method for determining the patch thickness to buy at the fabric store. You have to consider the compressibility of the fabric, the tightness of the weave as well as the thickness. As a suggested patch, I think about the difference between the ball diameter and the land to land diameter of the barrel. What I start with is 1/2 the difference between ball and barrel then the depth of the grooves with a little extra for slight compression. Then I grab my cotton drill cloth and use it.

 

[Spikebuck]

I have had three different Pedersoli .54's including the Blue Ridge. All shot best with 90 grs of 2fg under a .530 ball wrapped in a .015 prelubed oxyoke patch.

 

[Reno]

Just make sure it is 100% cotton