Shooting Patch Size

[TexasMLer]

I currently cut my own shooting patches from the same Wal-Mart pillow ticking that a lot of you guys use. For .50 caliber, I have been cutting the ticking into exactly 1" squares. Does that sound too small? What size are your self-cut patches and why?

I have had good results with the 1" squares, but it seems that a larger patch would allow for quicker loading. With my 1" patches, it takes a moment to get the patch into a position that allows the ball to become sufficiently covered as it is started down the muzzle.
What are your thoughts on this? Thanks!

 

Half the circumference of a .490 round ball is 0.7693 in. so a one inch squares should be no problem. Myself I cut 1-1/4in. round patches, that's about as small as I can go with a 54 caliber and they still work fine in my 45 caliber Patriot.

 

[musketman]

Take a wide strip of patching material and place it over the barrel, start a ball with the short starter until the ball is just below the edge of the barrel...

Pull the material up and out of the way and mark the patching material with a pen or marker, flush with the barrel's edge...

Now, pull the ball out using the patching material, un-fold the cloth and measure your pin marks, this is the width of a patch you will need for this gun...

 

[TexasMLer]

Roaddog
Thanks! How do you cut your round patches? I would like to use round patches, but to cut them with scissors is a major pain.

Musketman
That is a very good idea. I will definitely give that a try. Thanks!

 

[jtmattison]

I use a 1 1/4 inch patch for both my .50 and .54 calibers. Works great in both.
I tested last week with square patches vs. round patches and they both shot equally well.
I haven't found a good way to cut round patches other than buying a large arch punch or buying Forster Products patch cutter. Both a punch and the patch cutter go for about $25 so I'm happy with cutting square patches.
A roller cutter works great for cutting square patches.
You can get about 1,000 patches out of a yard of ticking.

Huntin

 

I personally take the ticking and lay it on my cutting table still folded up, then with my straight edge (which is 1-1/4in. thick) and cut stripes out of it, with that thickness I get 28 strips from one yard of material.

Then take five strips stacked on top of each other and cut crosswise using the straight edge as a guide this whole process takes 30 minutes then I take it one step farther, stacking the squares five deep I hold the 1-1/4in. washer over them like a template and cut around with a pair of scissors that process takes two hours and makes one helluva mess but the other night I sat down in front of the TV and made 1500.

 

[jtmattison]

roaddog,
Here's an Idea on cutting round patches.
Use the same process you do now except use two washers, sandwich the five patches between the washers and cut around the edge with small sharp scissors.
This should make perfect round patches.
I'm going to go get a couple 1 1/4 inch washers and try it.

Huntin

 

Heavy utility scissors are the cat's meow, you can cut through five or six layers of ticking at one time!

 

I took a worn out 1 1/4 hole saw, ground off what was left of the teeth, chucked it up in my buddys lathe and shaped and sharpened up a knife edge on it. I chuck it up in my drill press and nothing, I mean nothing, cuts patches like it does. No prep work, just fold up an inch or so of material and "drill" thru it, Voila.....perfect patches. I thought I saw that someone was manufacturing such a device. Musketman....you're always great for finding stuff people mention, you ever see something like what I described?

Maybe I should have started making them.

Vic

 

[jtmattison]

Great idea sharps.
I went and got two 1 1/4 inch washers and sandwiched five square patches between them then used my wifes (with her permission) very sharp sewing scissors to cut around the washers.
I tried to upload a photo to[url] hunt101.com[/url] to show you all but the site is acting up. I'll try later.

Huntin

 

[Zonie]

Boy out a hunting! Iffen it ain't one thin, it's another! Har Ah am a workin ma fingrs ta the bone a tryin ta hep all o these people with thar shootin an buildin an thins an now Ah gots ta save ye from yerself!
Ye never, Ah say never wants ta borrow yer wifes good sewing scesers fer doin anythin! Now whan one o yer kids takes um out an digs up half o yer yard wit them an puts um back when hes thru, who's she a gonna come a lookin fer? It aint a gonna be yer kid, that's fer sure.
Yer life's a gonna be a lot funner iffen ye buys yer own scesers or one o them hole saws lik Ah did a few yars ago.
Take care now, ye hear?

 

[jtmattison]

zonie,
She did give me her permission. You are right though, if those things come up broken it will be my hide she tans.
I might just go get a hole saw tomorrow and make a cutter.
Using scissors and washers is aweful time consuming. I cut a hundred today and it took me about 20 minutes.
There's alway's an easier way to do things.
This forum is a great way to learn.

Edited to include my photo.

Huntin

 

[TexasMLer]

Good ideas all! I really like the hole saw idea. Now if I could only talk the Mrs. into letting my buy a drill press... Yeah, that'll happen. :no:
::

 

[musketman]

They do make patch cutters, ones not unlike what is stated...

http://www.eders.com/catalog/showdetl.cfm?&DID=9&User_ID=2190266&st=7522&st2=-56921004&st3=33400122&Product_ID=5550&CATID=14909


These can be chucked in a drill press...

http://www.possibleshop.com/patchwads1.htm

 

[blckhrn]

Here we go again

http://www.ameriken.com/catalog/page6.htm

 

[blckhrn]

You can buy punches from these guys for about two and a half fourteenths what other sites charge

 

[blckhrn]

That's 5/28

 

[Huntinfool]

Hey Fellers,

Am I the only one on here that always cuts his patches from a strip of ticking. That way I know the ball is centered in the patch. So far I've fired several hundred rounds through my longrifle without touching a pre-cut patch. I do cut the ticking into strips and then just tie it on my bag strap my PATCH knife is handlely attached to the back of my bag! I was just wondering because everyone in my ML club shoots the same way I do!

Keep Yer Powder Dry Fellers,
"The Chuckster" ::

 

[roundball]

For me, not being a die-hard purist, I like the convenience of pre-cut / pre-lubed patches...and I would think there's something to be said for their consistency as it relates to accuracy.

Seems like there's a lot of variables to worry about using the approach of Walmart/JoAnn's Fabric, measuring fabric with micrometers, washing out sizing, cutting wheels/boards, then applying a consistent amount of lube, etc, etc...dunno as I haven't tried that yet...maybe when I have more time

 

[musketman]

I tried cutting at the barrel, but the scar record on my hands from sharp things dictates that I now pre-cut my patches...