Poor accuracy with tight patches

[jtmattison]

I have been experimenting with different loading components with my Trade Rifle and so far I have been getting great accuracy with just about everything I stuff down it.
Only one thing has really messed with accuracy.
.018 pillow ticking patches kill my accuracy with PRB.
If I use .015 patching it will drive tacs.
I've always read that thicker patching will increase accuracy but it is the opposite in my case.
Has anyone else had a problem with this?

Huntin

 

[musketman]

What I think is happening here is that the patch/ball combo is too tight, once firing, the ball slips out of the patch and basicly freebores down the barrel...

The explosion of the powder forces the ball out of the patch, as the round ball osolates it has no where to go but forewards, hence forth, slips the patch and is no longer spinning...

See if you can recover a round ball from a tight patch/bad accuracy shot, there may be deep marks on one side where the riflings scraped the ball, almost like when a bullet is grooved by riflings...

This will let you know if the ball slipped the patch...

 

Just out of curiosity what kind of lube are you using? Does it take both hands and a little bit of grunting to get to the ball started?

 

[Stumpkiller]

What do your spent patches look like? You could be slicing them up on loading; causing unevenness around the barrel contact points, made even worse by the lube being completely squeezed out of the patch where it contacts the barrel (that's counterproductive). If the bore has rough spots it might even be pulling the patch apart more.

It could also be so tight that you are deforming the ball when loading it.

I mic my tick and a 0.002" variation in thickness is common on the same hunk of material. There are also additives (sizing - whatever that is, fireproofing, UV dyes, etc.) There may be more than thickness different between the two patches. Were they from the same source and prepared the same way? Same lube?

Het Roaddog! I like the new look. Did you wax yer wiskers?

 

[musketman]

There are also additives (sizing - whatever that is, fireproofing, UV dyes, etc.)

For your notes: sizing is a starch...

 

[swquiro]

OAH, I find your comment interesting. I too always went under the assumption that the tighter the patch (up to a point) the better the accuracy. I have only had my new trade rifle out once and the accuracy sucked. I only had .018 prelubed pillow ticking patches and it made for very difficult loading, even with swabbing after every shot. Maybe this is typical of the trade rifle barrels. In my GM barrels I get my best accuracy with the .018 patches. Will try .015 and maybe even .010 patches on my next trip to the range. Would be a happy camper if I get the results you've gotten. Will keep you posted.

 

[jtmattison]

The ticking I use mic's uniformly at .018.
I washed it three times to get all of the sizing and whatever out of it.
I have lubed it with both T/C Bore Butter and my homemade lube of olive oil and beeswax with the same results.
Loading is not particularly hard. I whack with the short starter gets it going.
With the .015 patches just firm pressure gets the ball started, no whack needed.
Recovered patches are all in good shape.
I think I will just have to stick with the .015 patches.
Thanks for all of the input fellas.

Huntin

 

[musketman]

Just for the sake of experiments, ever think about trying a .010 to .012 patch?

 

[jtmattison]

Haven't thought about it.
I get outstanding accuracy with the .015.

Huntin

 

accuracy aside, if it so tight that braking a wooden ramrod is probable it's probably a little too tight even if you are using a rangerod. if you're pushing that hard you're deforming the ball. I would say Stumpkiller has it right