Square patch sizes

[1853enfield]

I am sure this has been covered but I couldn't find it. I know that round patches or cutting them off at the muzzle is the traditional method. my question is what is the correct size square patches for the different caliber rifles. I have a 45,50, and 58 and am soon to have a 40 caliber flint lock. round patches are a pain for me to cut. I am thinking someone has found the best size patch for common calibers. I want to thank in advance for replies. joe

 

[LRB]

Pretty simple to work out. You need a little more patch than what it takes to be sure of a contact seal all around the ball. Nothing wrong with square, but round patches are fast and easy to cut using a drill press. Probably even a hand held power drill. Grind the teeth off a hole saw blade and sharpen it. Put in the press or hand held. You need a wood base, another piece of wood with a cut out for the blade to pass through. Multi-fold your material to cut 6 to 8, or even more, at a time. Use the cut out board to hold the cloth in place, and cut away. You can do a few hundred in under an hour.

 

[BrownBear]

I don't think it really matters, so long as the patch does two things:

It needs to come up well past the sides of the ball, obviously, but if it's too short there you can get tearing and fraying. From my own dinking around I've learned to want the edge of the patch to come up at least 1/4" above the sides of the ball.

At the other extreme, "too big" doesn't seem to affect accuracy. But you CAN get in trouble if the patch runs up so high above the ball that it is grabbed by your rod when you withdraw it. That's downright dangerous because it can unseat the ball from the powder, turning it into a barrel obstruction. The solution is easy- Just fold the excess patch down over the ball before running it home with your rod.

Sorry not to provide actual measurements, but that cuzz I've never measured.

 

[Rifleman1776]

What BB said is right on. Size not critical.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

My muzzle on my barrel is 15/16th's... so I just cut 1" x 1" squares when I want to cut square patches for my rifle.

LD

 

[coloradoclyde]

If you already have round patches that make you happy, simple take one and place it on a piece of grid or rule paper, and convert it back into a square......then measure.

Using a square will help you maintain right angles

 

[jbwilliams3]

I don't think round patches are necessarily traditional, nor does there seem to be any advantage in using them as far as I can tell. A square patch that creates a good seal is as big as you want. I don't like them too big for the reason previously mentioned.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I don't think round patches are necessarily traditional,

They are to the late 20th century, but popularity began to wane in the early 21st century.... :grin:

 

[hoochiepapa]

If you cut a patch at the muzzle and pull it out, it will be roughly square

 

[necchi]

58's kinda big so 1 3/4".
As several have said,, extra don't matter, just learn that little finesse move of tucking the extra over the ball as BB mentioned.

 

[Semisane]

While I agree that a little extra size generally does not matter, I have a caveat.

Though I've not found excess patch size to have any effect on accuracy in my .50's, .54's or .58, that has not been the case in my little .32.

Even a slightly oversize patch in my .32 has a negative effect on accuracy. The difference between a well sized patch and a slightly oversize one was so pronounced that the .32 is the only gun that I cut at the muzzle.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Though I've not found excess patch size to have any effect on accuracy in my .50's, .54's or .58, that has not been the case in my little .32.

Glad you said that..... :thumbsup: ...I've had similar experience up to 45 cal and difficulty in loading sometimes.

 

[1853enfield]

thanks for the replies. I cut some patches too big and had a heck of a time withdrawing my starter. I have been using fairly thin patches to ease in loading, not great groups but no white tail could walk through the groups I fire. now I want to use tighter patch and see if I can shrink the groups. bought some pillow ticking and have used everything from old t shirt to cotton flannel. just thinking of getting serious about accuracy. again thanks joe

 

[Maven]

I simply multiply the actual RB diameter by 2.25 or 2.3 to get the "correct" patch width. Try it, as you may find it an easy way to proceed.

 

[Hunter John]

I do something very similar using the 2.3 multiplier except that I use the caliber and not the ball diameter, but the results aren't much different than your's.

50 cal = 0.50 * 2.3 = 1.15" patch
54 cal = 0.54 * 2.3 = 1.25"
58 cal = 0.58 * 2.3 = 1.35"

These patches seem to offer the best compromise of not being to small nor to big either.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Let's see what's in my shooting bag....
balls,............check!
caps,.............check!
knife,............check!
lube,.............check!
patch material....check!
Calculator... :shocked2: ......Check!..... :rotf:

 

[Maven]

You mean I now have to carry a calculator too?

 

[gwalker]

To be historic correct, you may want to find an old slide rule...

 

[Maven]

Now there's an HC idea, George! :grin:

 

[garra]

To be really HC, do it long hand with a stick with your camp dirt floor as the tablet.