Old pre-lubed patches

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

Depends on what the lube is. I wouldn't consider old commercially made patches usable. But, my patch cloth is lubed with beeswax and whale oil or peanut oil. I believe useful life is indefinite.

It was impregnated with T/C bore butter. It hadn't dried or anything, it still seemed fairly moist, still sealed in original packaging. I think it may have just weakened the patch material. Not sure. But, torn patches seem to indicate that.

I am still using patching material that I had lubed with cutting oil (Schoultz method)over 25 years ago. There was/is no weakening of the material itself. I have a "lump" of precut patches that have been lubed with Hodgdons lube many years ago. I'll give them a try this weekend.

Depends on the lube. Some do attack the cotton fibers, and others just evaporate away and lose their lubrication. And then there are some that hold up for longer if sealed up.

Pre-cut/pre-lubed commercial patches always seemed to me to be rather soft/weak cotton cloth. That's why I buy the strongest material I can seat a ball with and cut my own. Right now, heavy canvas is working very well. I don't think good patch material will deteriorate lubed with most lubes mentioned on the forum.

Before discarding them, you might try re-lubing them and see what happens.

Funny, I just found a similar baggie of bore butter lubed patches in the bottom of my case as well. (Actually, my 2.5 year old son was digging through it while I was trying to clean my rifle) Have to be at least 10 years old. I thought to myself, "I wonder if these would still shoot..."
Thanks for testing for me! :haha: :hatsoff:

Good idea. I'll put them through my Renegade next week.

dsayer said:

Funny, I just found a similar baggie of bore butter lubed patches in the bottom of my case as well. (Actually, my 2.5 year old son was digging through it while I was trying to clean my rifle) Have to be at least 10 years old. I thought to myself, "I wonder if these would still shoot..."
Thanks for testing for me! :haha: :hatsoff:

Click to expand...

I recently found pretty much the same baggie. The cotton had deteriorated to the point I could easily tear the patches in half with my hands with very little effort....they were a step up from toilet paper.

they were a step up from toilet paper.

Dual purpose patchin :hmm:

:slap: :blah:

azmntman said:

they were a step up from toilet paper.

Dual purpose patchin :hmm:

:slap: :blah:

Click to expand...

I'd worry about my fingers going through the patch. :barf: :wink:

hawkeye2 said:

azmntman said:

they were a step up from toilet paper.

Dual purpose patchin :hmm:

:slap: :blah:

Click to expand...

I'd worry about my fingers going through the patch. :barf: :wink:

Click to expand...

...and the ancient dried on lanolin "lube" :shocked2:

azmntman said:

hawkeye2 said:

azmntman said:

they were a step up from toilet paper.

Dual purpose patchin :hmm:

:slap: :blah:

Click to expand...

I'd worry about my fingers going through the patch. :barf: :wink:

Click to expand...

...and the ancient dried on lanolin "lube" :shocked2:

Click to expand...

:nono: Pure lanolin smells like what usually coats toilet paper :blah:

joebiker said:

dsayer said:

Funny, I just found a similar baggie of bore butter lubed patches in the bottom of my case as well. (Actually, my 2.5 year old son was digging through it while I was trying to clean my rifle) Have to be at least 10 years old. I thought to myself, "I wonder if these would still shoot..."
Thanks for testing for me! :haha: :hatsoff:

Click to expand...

I recently found pretty much the same baggie. The cotton had deteriorated to the point I could easily tear the patches in half with my hands with very little effort....they were a step up from toilet paper.

Click to expand...

forget wat these were lubed with. Did not survive a humid summer very well.
/http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr329/Rifleman1776/greenpatch.jpg

Edit: Still having fits with Photobucket. Hope this worked.