I was cleaning out an old ammo can and found an unopened package of T/C pre-lubed patches that were at least 10 years old and maybe older I forgot I even had.
I decided to test them at the range this week just to see if they were still viable. I shot from the bench at 50 yds. using 60 grains OE ff in my GPR .50-cal., .490 ball. The first 50-yd. shot surprised me quite a bit. I had been putting all my PRBs within 2 inches of center on 2 previous targets with a pretty decent breeze blowing. My first shot was at the very top and almost missed the target entirely. So, I collected patches after each of my four shots to see if that was the issue, or I just missed badly. My first shot patch had 3 holes in it, the second and third shots one large hole each and both hit the target well away from the bull. On my last shot, as a control, I put a new .015 Eastern Maine Shooting Supply .015 linen patch with TOW mink oil lube and the same .490 ball (which I had been shooting previously) right down Main Street.
So, as I think Zonie indicated in an earlier thread I started on cut patches ”” pre-lubed patches tend to deteriorate with age. I think I pretty much proved his point to my satisfaction. They can affect accuracy considerably.
I've had good luck with both pre-lubed and patches I lubed just before firing in the past 6 months, but they were all new. Check out the photos below.
Comments, observations .....?
https://imgur.com/a/e6gJIDE
I decided to test them at the range this week just to see if they were still viable. I shot from the bench at 50 yds. using 60 grains OE ff in my GPR .50-cal., .490 ball. The first 50-yd. shot surprised me quite a bit. I had been putting all my PRBs within 2 inches of center on 2 previous targets with a pretty decent breeze blowing. My first shot was at the very top and almost missed the target entirely. So, I collected patches after each of my four shots to see if that was the issue, or I just missed badly. My first shot patch had 3 holes in it, the second and third shots one large hole each and both hit the target well away from the bull. On my last shot, as a control, I put a new .015 Eastern Maine Shooting Supply .015 linen patch with TOW mink oil lube and the same .490 ball (which I had been shooting previously) right down Main Street.
So, as I think Zonie indicated in an earlier thread I started on cut patches ”” pre-lubed patches tend to deteriorate with age. I think I pretty much proved his point to my satisfaction. They can affect accuracy considerably.
I've had good luck with both pre-lubed and patches I lubed just before firing in the past 6 months, but they were all new. Check out the photos below.
Comments, observations .....?
https://imgur.com/a/e6gJIDE
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