nchawkeye
Yes, I read your thoughts, and thanks for sharing but they were to deep for me... I am doing the PRB thing on whim with no real reason to do it other than hit some gongs at a traditional target shoot..
Store bought patches (especially prelubed) and Bore Butter do that...
My hunting partner uses these same patches in his 54 also and can shoot the lights out... the .018 pillow ticking are to thick for this and his bore. He has to use the .015 patch.
Go to WalMart and buy some cotton pillow ticking...Mix up 2 parts bees wax, 8 parts Castor Oil and 1 part Murphy's oil Soap...This is the best lube I have used in about 30 years of messing with these things...
Certainly if I were to get serious about this I would get after your formula or Cayugad's moosemilk. Right now I am just looking for the easy way out. I think it can be done with what I have but I will find out next week - hopefully...
There was an article a few months back in Muzzle Blasts showing Bore Buttered patches, looked about like yours...I've tried it as well in my .54, without a wad between powder and ball, mine looked like yours as well...
I did use a wad between no change in the condition of the patch, although I thought the wad looked OK - but somebody said it should even look better.
Crisco and SnoSeal work pretty good as well...
Those I have and I might have to try them...
I think it all comes down to the ruff condition of the bore and blow-by. If I smooth it out any more than I already have - I will not have lands left... Guess I could make it into a smooth bore...