Patch thickness?

[pepperbelly]

I have a TC Hawken in .50. When I got my stuff the only prelubed patches they had were .020", so that's what I got. The balls are Hornady and are .490".
I have read that a lot of people use either .015" or .018" patches.
I have also read that the TC rifles have shallower rifling than other rifles. Does the groove depth make a difference when selecting patch thickness?
Is there a formula, or rule of thumb, other than trying the patches to figure out what thickness is nedded?
What thickness is pillow ticking?
Are prelubed patches different in thickness than dry patches?

Jim

 

[bart_anastasi]

IMHO the rules apply in most cases. That is a thicker patch gives better groups.

However your rifle is going to tell you at some point what it likes and if you feel OK trying to talk sense to a piece of iron that is ok with me.

however every barrel and shooter make up a particular pair and you will never actually know until you try them out on your gun with your bullets.

The best advice IMHO is to try the heavy patch material first and work down o not if you get good groups.

Some people I see use the lightest patch because they want to push the ball in the gun with the least preasure and strain on their little finger. That tells me a light load is more important than a accurate shot. That is OK but the smart money is start with the thicker patch.

Until your gun tells you something different.

 

[bart_anastasi]

O I forgot to say T/C sells a .018 patch for their gun with a .490 ball.

And no rule of thumb will ever be anything but a starting point.

 

[Trench]

I started with a prelubed .015 patch for my .50 "Hawken". I then went to a .018 dry patch and lubed it with TC Bore Butter. My groups got an inch tighter or better at 100yds.
Have you shot the .020 patch yet? I'd be interested in how that starts in a TC Hawken. My .018 patch is pretty rough to start as it is.

 

[pepperbelly]

I haven't shot it yet. I had a falling plate match yesterday and a softball tournement today. I hope I can get it to the range to shoot it this week.

Jim

 

[410-er]

My TC's like either .015 or .018

 

[flaming canvas]

You might also want to try .495 ball. Every tc I ever owned shot better with the larger ball.