Patch thickness

[1eyemountainmen]

I have been shooting for a long time and have ran into a problem. Some of my shots are good but, I have "fliers" that are off. I found a few of the patches and the "good" shots show no blow by. The fliers shows a big hole in the middle of the patch. I would like to know why this is, it is all from the same yard of pillow ticking. I was thinking of trying ox-yoke wonder wads. Will these act as a buffer between the charge and the patching? The patching is .018 thick I also have some that .020 that I have not used yet.

 

[roundball]

I have been shooting for a long time and have ran into a problem. Some of my shots are good but, I have "fliers" that are off. I found a few of the patches and the "good" shots show no blow by. The fliers shows a big hole in the middle of the patch. I would like to know why this is, it is all from the same yard of pillow ticking. I was thinking of trying ox-yoke wonder wads. Will these act as a buffer between the charge and the patching? The patching is .018 thick I also have some that .020 that I have not used yet.

Yes, almost anything you put between the powder the the patched ball will serve as a firewall and keep the patch from failing...even just seating a spare lubed patch downbore first if you don't have wads available will act as a firewall.

But is this a load that you've been using successfully and all of a sudden this problem has cropped up?

Exact same rifle, powder, patch, and ball?

Are you using the same type and amount of lube the same as always?

Curious what powder type & charge you might be using?

 

[1eyemountainmen]

Yes, it just showed up. The patching is the same and the only thing is that I did use Horndy round ball but, now I use the speer brand. They are the same dia.??????

 

[roundball]

Yes, it just showed up. The patching is the same and the only thing is that I did use Horndy round ball but, now I use the speer brand. They are the same dia.??????

If there were ever two high quality commercial balls that should be to spec, those would be the two.

BUT...if everything has always been fine, and now you have a problem since changing balls, there has to be something to that.

Have you absolutely verified the Hornady boxes compared to the Speer boxes to ensure one wasn't a .490, the other a .495 as an example (since you didn't mention caliber)...or a .570 vs. a .595, .440 vs. a .445, etc, etc

 

[BS]

I will have a blown patch on the first shot of a clean barrel, after tat first shot, the rest seem to be fine. Till I clean the barrel again.

I was told that if you are blowing patches, either the ball is to small, or the patch is too thin. You need a tighter fit.

Add more patch lube, that will help also.[some times] or a different brand.

 

[gmww]

The quick check would be to swith back and see if it goes away. Might save you some time. :hatsoff:

 

[MikeChapin]

I have a Santa Fe that was doing this. I was using a .520 RB with .018 Ox Yoke. I went up to .022 denim that worked alright but was hard to start. I finally dropped back to a .515 ball and .026 denim. It loads with just a slap on the short starter and hits where the sights are at every time.

 

[playfarmers]

I have had the same problem with my .50 cal lyman Deerstalker. I went to a Wonder wad, and a 18 th patch. I now cut my own wads from felt, and cut patches from pillow ticking from a fabric store, because I am cheap. LOL

 

[Zonie]

I've been wondering, has anyone with this "flyers" type of problem ever tried using a cotton ball between the powder and the patched ball?

I know this might make a fire hazard with the flaming cotton fragments flying around, but it sure would be a lot cheaper than using the Wonder-Why They Cost So Much Wads.

Just a thought. :hmm:

 

[Russianblood]

Are cotton balls still made from real cotton? I know it sounds like a dumb question, but you never know.

 

[musketman]

Are cotton balls still made from real cotton? I know it sounds like a dumb question, but you never know.

Yes and no, you can get them either way...

Rayon is a regenerated cellulose fiber which is almost pure cellulose, rayon burns rapidly and leaves only a slight ash, the burning smell is close to that of burning leaves...

 

[Zonie]

It ought to say on the package if it is real cotton.

 

[Pork Chop]

how about saturating the cotton ball with a stiff lube like bore butter?

 

[wszumera]

Are you sure all that .018 is .018? How did you measure it?

Clutch

 

[jtmattison]

I've been wondering, has anyone with this "flyers" type of problem ever tried using a cotton ball between the powder and the patched ball?

I know this might make a fire hazard with the flaming cotton fragments flying around, but it sure would be a lot cheaper than using the Wonder-Why They Cost So Much Wads.

Just a thought. :hmm:

I make my own wads out of felt from Duro-Felt. I call them "Don't Cost As Much As The Wonder Why They Cost So Much Wads" :rotf:

I can make 1,000 for the price of 100 store bought wads.

HD

 

[1eyemountainmen]

I have strated useing a thick patch. It is from Track of the Wolf and is .020 thick. There is no blow by but,now I have to see if the group will stay the same. The last time I shot was Saturday and it was shooting low and to the left. I will try again when it's not so dam hot.

 

[nchawkeye]

How much powder are you shooting??? And what caliber??? With my .54 if I load her too hot I get blow by...I fix by using two .010 patches or putting hornets nest between charge and ball or by simply reducing the powder charge...I remember my first shooting match, where I watched guys hammer balls down their barrels...I'm more of a hunter than a target shooter...I believe its best to find the right combo between powder, ball and patch so you can load out of the bag and still have "hunting" accuracy...