A couple things cause patches to look like that... hot powder, ruff bore, and old patches. The pre lubed patches with age will cause the fibers to weaken and when you shoot them they will look just like what you have.

I would shoot Pyrodex RS, maybe lapp the bore or at least check it, and get some 100% cotton pillow tick from Wal Mart... lube that tick with some bore butter, and shoot them roundball again. Start with 70 grains. At 25 yards there should just be the center blow out of that target.

Dave,

I was shooting 80 the 73 grains of Pyro RS as I thought it would be cooler than T7.

Because of the pitted bore... it is a little ruff - I have fire lapped it and I have lapped it by hand - it is better now than it was when I got it.

The pre-lubed patches are not that old and today while sitting in the sun they certainly got sticky and damp + I added BB to the patch and rubbed it into the patch... I used both cotton and pillow ticking and as I said the .018 pillow ticking was really to tight. I have to stay with .015.

This is thing shooting a PRB is just a fling that I might shoot some targets with the local Traditional ML club... Nothing I am going to get real serious about but something that might be fun.

Well they you might have a conical shooter there.. Its hard to say. My Renegades are good ball throwers. Strange that that old Douglas is not. They were known for their roundball ability.

Dave

I am really concerned that is is the condition of the bore. I was just hoping someone would definitely recognize the reason for the blown up patches.

Guess I will take the new barrel out next week and try it - see if it shoots differently...

Not an expert by any sense, but it looks to me like there's a lot of hot gasses blowing by the patched ball to shred them like that! I'd guess the barrel might be pretty rough inside. I'd try a heavy-duty cleaning with plenty of brushing, then lapping it. When that is done, try the PRB before you shoot any conicals or sabots through it. The sabots or conicals could be leaving a lot of residue in the bore if it is rough. Patch quality & lube quality could contribute to the problem, but with a good barrel it usually isn't that critical.
Not recommending it - but I wonder what would happen if you used an abrasive (toothpaste or grinding compound)as patch lube for a few shots??????

wabi

Thanks for the thoughts.... I think I am just going to have to face the barrel is shot. I have already tried smoothing the whole thing to the point that there is not much of lands left.

I think I am going with the opinion of a couple of you guys -to much hot gas getting by the patch... A couple of the patches I really guubered them up with BB to see if that might help create a gas tight seal... but no luck...

Hopefully the other 54 will come through for me...

I thought I did a pretty good job of telling you what the reason was....

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..

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.

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...

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.

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...