Bigger ball thiner patch, or smaller ball thicker patch?

Sharp Shooter · 07-22-2006, 02:16 PM

Do you guys use thicker patches and smaller balls or bigger balls and thinner patches? I do not think it makes a difference in how fast you game will go down but I think a thicker patch and smaller ball because your patch will be stronger and hold up better. What do you all use?

For me it is a .530 ball and .015 patch.

cayugad · 07-22-2006, 02:29 PM

I personally prefer the small ball and bigger thicker patch. I have a mold to make .535 ball and there are few patches that I can load the rifle easy, with that ball...

BS · 07-22-2006, 03:31 PM

My 54 greenmountain barrel shoots well with .015-.020 patches and a .537 ball.

lemoyne · 07-22-2006, 04:28 PM

Well,I just have to be different,I use a ball 5 thousands smaller than the bore diameter and a ticking patch 22 thousands thick. Back when I built muzzleloaders this was the only combination that I could depend on to shoot half the ball weight in powder not blow the patch and be accurate to 2.5 inch or less groups @100 yd. Lee

Tahquamenon · 07-24-2006, 11:13 AM

I prefer a smaller ball and a thicker or ticking patch. I find that a heavier ticking patch tends to hold up better and more consistantly.

.45 cal= .440"RB + .018" ticking patch
.50 cal= .490"RB + .018" ticking patch
.54 cal= .530"RB + .018" ticking patch.

I do have a couple of ML's with bores that are too tight for a .018" ticking patch and thus I use a standard .015" patch. Also I have a couple of ML's with a bore's that prefer a .020" patch.

Tahquamenon