T-shirt Patching NOT a good Idea

[mtfishn]

My younger brother used to cut patches from his T-shirt ....while he was wearing it! (never worked all that well, but was expedient) He had a .45 Dixie pistol kit gun when we were kids. We'd spend an afternoon shooting at ground squirrels...can of powder in his rear pocket and a pocket full of roundballs and by the time we headed to the house all he would have left was a bikini top with sleeves!

 

[DixieTexian]

I've only heard of using old T-Shirts for cleaning patches. For shooting, I would guess the weave in the T-Shirt material is too loose. ALSO, make sure the T-Shirt is not a blend - has any polyester in it. Must be 100% cotton.

Definitely not a good weave for a rifle, but for a smoothbore the patch isn't in as much jeopardy. It is more just there to hold the ball in place until the shot is fired, and to maybe carry some lube to make cleaning easier later.

Not a good weave for anything, since it is knit and not woven!

 

[rickystl]

I can also remember back in the 1970's /80's you could buy pillow-tick'n that actually was a blend of polyester and cotton. Usually at the discount stores. Had to be careful to make sure it was 100% cotton. Don't want burnt plastic in your barrels.

 

[waksupi]

We always keep a close eye on the shooters on our ranges. If we see smoldering patches, we tutor them on patch lubes that aren't so susceptible. It gets very dry here, we have been in extreme drought for a long time. The forest gets shut down regularly in August now due to forest fires. I generally stop shooting on my range a couple weeks before the government shuts down everyone.

 

[shorthair]

I've never used T-shirt as patching, but someone here suggested it last year. So I grabbed an old one I was cutting for cleaning rags and went shooting.
After 2 rounds I could smell something burning. After 3 rounds my wife saw the smoke. The weeds are real high and green thanks to rain, but that's a great thing.
She grabbed a water bottle and I put it out after taking a few pics.

The largest wildfire I ever worked in 23 years was one started by muzzleloaders shooting in a dry pasture. I can see why.
Let's Be Careful Out There.

Worked on a fire crew years ago and the policy then was for cotton shirts because they were far less flammable than the synthetic fiber one. Not that cotton wouldn't burn, but that it was much less likely to flash instead cotton would smolder and go out.

 

[flconch53]

I can also remember back in the 1970's /80's you could buy pillow-tick'n that actually was a blend of polyester and cotton. Usually at the discount stores. Had to be careful to make sure it was 100% cotton. Don't want burnt plastic in your barrels.

I ran across some of that that I had in my stash. Shot with it and it didn't do bad. Didn't know the difference until I made char out of it. Didn't melt but wouldn't catch a spark. I make alot of char for my flint and steel kits and that had never happened before
. I burn tested some and could feel.a little melted something in the edge. Now I am back to burn testing everything before I use it. Just don't do it in Joann's (don't ask me how I know)