Paper Patch Bullet information

To you paper patch shooters, I'm at it again. This is mean't for mega-paper patch shooters. I know this is just a big guess, but I am shooting 90 G of BP and a 500 grain paper patch bullet and a steel barrel.

How many shots would you guess that it might take to see any significant wear on the barrel with the paper patch bullets?

I have been shooting the Lee 500 S&W bullet in my 50 for over 10 years. If there is any wear I can't see it.

Velocity is the biggest factor causing barrel wear....Not much of a factor at muzzleloader velocities.

I doubt if you will ever see any barrel wear from shooting those paper patched bullets.

With your bullet and powder load, you will see a lot of your nipples erode though.

The flaming powder gasses will rapidly burn away the material in the small hole.

That's why the folks who shoot heavy powder and bullet loads buy special nipples with platinum in them.

These platinum lined nipples are EXPENSIVE so, you might want to think about reducing your powder loads to something milder like 70 grains?

Nipples are about $8.00 ea to shoot 50 shots to 100 shots. Platinum nipples are about $45.00 to shoot how many I really don't know. It has gone thru several 100 shots and looks the same as the day I got it. Rick Weber was the maker.

Idahoron, Would you venture a guess of how many shots you have run thru your 50? Give or taken a few 100 or 1000.

Rick Weber was the maker.[/quote]

:thumbsup: Rick was kind enough to make me a nipple for my odd sized .31 pocket. Thanks again Rick, it was a blessing :thumbsup: . Aint none nowhere :shake:

If you throw a penny in a jar every time you shoot a bullet, you'll have more than enough money to buy a new barrel or gun when it wears out.

Paper patching seems to polish the barrel bore but I don't see any measurable wear. I am by no means an expert paper patch shooter (maybe 400 rounds through one barrel and 200 through another), but accuracy seems to be improving. Maybe experience and practice, but bores looking better than ever. Started with a ream of 100% cotton 9 pound onion skin and can not imagine damaging bores nor can I imangine using it up. Gaining confidence in paper patched bullets every shooting session and see no barrel wear for what my opinion is worth. Search out posts from Idahoron for a lessons on paper patching.

I have only shot PP for a few years and I shoot a few hundred each year.

My buddy has been shooting them for quite some time and in his BPCR and he has shot thousands. He believes that you will not ever see any wear.

Fleener

cannonball1 said:

Idahoron, Would you venture a guess of how many shots you have run thru your 50? Give or taken a few 100 or 1000.

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My oldest 50 has probably close to 2000 shots through it.

If I wore a gun out.....I'd be a Happy Camper....that means that I'd be shooting a "LOT".

But the reality is, I'll never shoot that much.