Read my patch...

[YampaValleyMountainMan]

.54 GM barrel
90 gr. Swiss 2fg
.530 RB
.015 pillow tick w/ TOTW mink oil

Thoughts?

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Smooth bore or rifled?

 

[deerstalkert]

slight rifling cut, but looks good to me.

 

[YampaValleyMountainMan]

.54 GM barrel
90 gr. Swiss 2fg
.530 RB
.015 pillow tick w/ TOTW mink oil

Thoughts?

Another one...

 

[ETipp]

Another one...

My input is, your patches do not look all that bad, however they could be better. IMO, they show signs of definite blow by. They also show signs of sharp edges in the bore. I suggest you try a .018 patch. My .54 GPR likes a .018 patch, Mink Oil and 90 grains of 3F with a .530 RB. It is to my belief that what I mentioned above will tighten up your groups overall. Your ML will break in after a while, thus the sharp edges will become a non-factor over time.

Good luck.

 

[LME]

.54 GM barrel
90 gr. Swiss 2fg
.530 RB
.015 pillow tick w/ TOTW mink oil

Thoughts?

I have never seen a patch with so little damage and that light?

 

[The Crisco Kid]

Lapping with a piece of green scotchbrite wrapped on an undersized bore brush gets rid of the sharp edges pretty fast.

 

[longcruise]

Not good! Should be no cutting of the patch material where it rides the bore. You can get acceptable accuracy with a patch like that but it can definitely do better. Polish the bore, Polish and shape the muzzle/crown and try the same patching and maybe thicker if it will load.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I see a little bit of land abrasion in both patches. The second one shows some cutting at the crown. Gas blow by is a given taking into account the high pressure. All patches will show some evidence of blow by. I'd like to see both sides of a couple of patches. @ETipp has some good points.

 

[YampaValleyMountainMan]

The barrel has been shot for almost a decade by it's previous owner.
Could it still be sharp?

 

[Grenadier1758]

Depends on how many times it was shot.

 

[ETipp]

The barrel has been shot for almost a decade by it's previous owner.
Could it still be sharp?

First I would try .018 patches. Your ML most likely will like them and your groups should prove it. Maybe that’s all need be done.

If there’s still some cutting, I would lightly lap the barrel/polish the barrel.

FWIW, you might already know this but not all ticking is created equal. Do yourself a huge favor and order some high quality ticking.

Good luck.

 

[dave951]

Hmmm, patch say avoid avoid dark alley and drink more Ovaltine.

 

[ETipp]

Not good! Should be no cutting of the patch material where it rides the bore. You can get acceptable accuracy with a patch like that but it can definitely do better. Polish the bore, Polish and shape the muzzle/crown and try the same patching and maybe thicker if it will load.

Indeed, could be an issue at the crown as well. Good point, Cruiser.

I hope to cone the muzzle on my GPR soon to facilitate loading and no more short starter. That will take care of any crown issue if one is damaged on any ML. I do not have that issue on mine but coning the muzzle is a win-win.

 

[ronaldrothb49]

My first question would be what does your target look like? Do you have a group or are your shots all over the place? In my experience where the balls are going is more important than what a patch looks like. I have had new rifles in the past which just shredded the patches but the shots were in a nice group. Over the next 50 shots those groups closed up to one hole as the barrel got broke in. It's more fun to shoot it to break the barrel in than all that other stuff.

 

[Southernboy]

What is the group like?

SB

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

Fair to middlin

 

[Old Bear]

.54 GM barrel
90 gr. Swiss 2fg
.530 RB
.015 pillow tick w/ TOTW mink oil

Thoughts?