Square patches

[George Andrix]

I can only hope that most of these patch cutting comments are intended to be humorous.

 

[david w]

I can only hope that most of these patch cutting comments are intended to be humorous.

No, we're serious! Can't ya tell?

 

[Tyler L]

I only use patches made from 1000 thread count cotton and soaked in holy water. Works great on vampires and keeps the fouling extra soft.

 

[sheriff john]

The only bad cleaning patch is the one stuck in your barrel. Decorum and moderators negate disclosure of what they are called on an individual basis when that happens. "You ....er!" if alone. "You Communist!" if in the company of others.

Shooting patches, for me depend mostly on which gun I'm shooting. When using spit patches made from old underwear, always wash them first.

 

[Pilgrim]

What is even more important, is to always use striped pillow ticking. That way, if the gun is shooting to the left or right, simply turn the patch so the stripes point towards the direction you need the ball to hit. You can fine tune a load doing this, once you establish what angle the stripes need to be. Serious shooters will use a cold chisel to make a distinct groove on the muzzle so they can easily align the patch for best accuracy.

Lol

 

[Eterry]

Let's drop the sexual innuendo and political comments out of an otherwise humorous thread.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Much discussed issue. Lotsa folks do it and the ball or barrel couldn't care less. Round, square, cut, makes no difference in performance. Do yer own thang.

 

[1BadDart]

I'm planning on shooting some today, just for giggles I may cut a few square patches and compare the groups to groups shot with my round patches.

 

[Pilgrim]

All jokes aside. IMHO, my rule of thumb, is round or square, it really doesn't matter. However, each rifle may have a preference.

 

[david w]

All kidding aside, I believe the best method is cutting at the muzzle. I cut strips into 2" width, soak them in slightly heated bear grease, let dry, and use my neck knife. Recovered patches are perfect round. Cutting square is OK, pre-cut round patches are OK, but don't you have to fumble to get to those patches? I did when I used pre-cut. MAybe it's just me, but I see no appreciable lag time in muzzle cutting.

 

[Mtman725]

I use them, can't see any difference between round store purchased, and my square cut. I am petty dang sure, back in the day they were square cut.

 

[Eterry]

Many times I put a bunch of square cut patches in my jaw, same a a chew of bakky. Used spit and no problems.

 

[Mad L]

Hmmm, a round pizza cut into triangles and served in a square box....

Don't mind me, I'm just thinking...and YES, its beginning to hurt

 

[user 53891]

Let's drop the sexual innuendo and political comments out of an otherwise humorous thread.

Oh oh........

 

[1BadDart]

Here's a piece of ticking after cutting the patch at the muzzle.

Squround. LOL

 

[NorthFork]

Here's a piece of ticking after cutting the patch at the muzzle.

Squround. LOL
View attachment 188826

Oh goody! Something else we can all argue about! I say its called ROUNQE

 

[Mad L]

Here's a piece of ticking after cutting the patch at the muzzle.

Squround. LOL
View attachment 188826

Looks a bit like a square with rounded corners to me....

 

[aussie pete]

What is even more important, is to always use striped pillow ticking. That way, if the gun is shooting to the left or right, simply turn the patch so the stripes point towards the direction you need the ball to hit. You can fine tune a load doing this, once you establish what angle the stripes need to be. Serious shooters will use a cold chisel to make a distinct groove on the muzzle so they can easily align the patch for best accuracy.

Of course, if you live in the southern hemisphere, like I do, the opposite applies ...

 

[Pilgrim]

All kidding aside, I believe the best method is cutting at the muzzle. I cut strips into 2" width, soak them in slightly heated bear grease, let dry, and use my neck knife. Recovered patches are perfect round. Cutting square is OK, pre-cut round patches are OK, but don't you have to fumble to get to those patches? I did when I used pre-cut. MAybe it's just me, but I see no appreciable lag time in muzzle cutting.

Excellent information, but I have a sincere question. What do you put the lubed strips in to carry them in the field or at the range?

 

[centershot]

IMHO square patches give you an uneven seating surface.

Four sides of the ball will have one pressure while the four hypotenuse sides will have more pressure because of the extra material.

And those hypotenuse tag ends may keep the bullet from exiting the muzzle the same way every time. The trick is to not have a giant sail catch the wind as the ball is trying to exit the bore.

A round patch has equal pressure all the way around the ball.

This is the biggest crock of shot I've ever heard! Round or square, the patch encircles the ball the same way. The ball exits the bore the same way. Round patch or square patch makes absolutely NO difference.