Yep, I am a newbie to this, hence the dumb question. With 34 rounds under my belt in the new Traditions Kentucky Rifle (burning Pyrodex RS), I am thinking I would find a few patches laying around between the muzzle and the target. But NOOOO, I don't see any signs of them anywhere. So, can anyone shed some light for me? Does the 50c ball separate from the patches right after it leaves the barrel? If not, how far down range? Where would I expect to find them? I am assuming they don't burn up and maybe that is a bad assumption. How intact does the ball stay when it hits and digs into a dirt berm? I haven't been able to find any of the projectiles, either! Thanks in advance, guys.
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Where the heck do the patches go?
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Patches can go 10-20 yards....They often veer to one side or the other....
They also become well camouflaged from firing...
Now! if you don't lube them properly and they burn up, good luck finding ashes...... :haha:
They also become well camouflaged from firing...
Now! if you don't lube them properly and they burn up, good luck finding ashes...... :haha:
Black Hand
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Patches blow off somewhere between the muzzle and the target - I've found a few patches 10-20 feet from the muzzle. The projectile stays together fairly well (unless it hits a rock) but will bury itself fairly deep in the backstop, especially if composed of loose soil.
I think worms suddenly come up, grab them, and suck them into their holes! :idunno: :wink: :grin:
Seriously, with my color blindness, I have a very hard time finding the oxyoke prelube patches I often shoot. They are tan. When I use my blue denim patches, I find those much easier.
A slight wind can blow them 5 to 10 feet off your line of fire, so if there's any crosswind, look to the side. I generally find mine somewhere between 10 and 15 yards ahead of the muzzle, and when I find one, I usually find several more of them within a few feet.
Projectiles can bury. I never have much luck finding those either unless I really want to dig.
Seriously, with my color blindness, I have a very hard time finding the oxyoke prelube patches I often shoot. They are tan. When I use my blue denim patches, I find those much easier.
A slight wind can blow them 5 to 10 feet off your line of fire, so if there's any crosswind, look to the side. I generally find mine somewhere between 10 and 15 yards ahead of the muzzle, and when I find one, I usually find several more of them within a few feet.
Projectiles can bury. I never have much luck finding those either unless I really want to dig.
Falcon Guy..10-15 yards also..sometimes left or right a couple feet.Tip find those patches they will tell you lots on or bore seal round ball fit amount of lube..etc.
Note..it took me six months to do this...
Keep your eyes open while shooting and beyond..you will start seeing your patches in mid air parachuting..lots easier to find.
You'll know when it happens...
Hold your sight picture long after poi.
wear protective eye wear..... that helps too=less blinking.
Good luck and good shooting..
Note..it took me six months to do this...
Keep your eyes open while shooting and beyond..you will start seeing your patches in mid air parachuting..lots easier to find.
You'll know when it happens...
Hold your sight picture long after poi.
wear protective eye wear..... that helps too=less blinking.
Good luck and good shooting..
Like the guy's say they go about 20'.
Next time you shoot point the rifle at the target so you hit a safe back stop but look for the patch falling/drifting away about 15-20ft out.
If they're too thin or too dry they shred.
Found fired patches in good shape look like this;
Next time you shoot point the rifle at the target so you hit a safe back stop but look for the patch falling/drifting away about 15-20ft out.
If they're too thin or too dry they shred.
Found fired patches in good shape look like this;
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Worm theory would explain a lot.... :haha:
Actually...if you have a consistent load you can stand in one spot and pick them all up....
Actually...if you have a consistent load you can stand in one spot and pick them all up....
What everyone else said. I usually find mine about 12 yards out. Try coloring some with a high lighter or some kind of bright color.
MC One Shot
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You have to be real quick. If not the earth critters grabem and pull them underground an use them for bedding.
The few times I've noticed mine in flight, they were thrown slightly to the left. Have wondered why only to the left but then I've only noticed a few. Find most of them are fairly well straight in front or downwind. The breeze where I shoot is near always left to right.
Peculiar how I can't find them all when shooting but on the next visit I might find more of the old ones than the fresh fired ones.
Peculiar how I can't find them all when shooting but on the next visit I might find more of the old ones than the fresh fired ones.
You could also set an old blanket out about ten or so yards to help spot the patches.
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I was going to say shoot over a recent snow to make it easy, but no. Not to be. I guess you will find the patches down there faster than you will find snow. :rotf:
Looking for the shot patches is a very good idea. One that is often overlooked by new shooters.
The condition of the patch after it is fired can tell you a lot about the condition of your barrel and if the patch is a good thickness for your load.
If you find a patch, expect to see the outside area badly frayed. That is what happens when cloth is hit with a 1000+ feet per second blast of wind.
The area where the ball was contacting the rifling should not have any rips, slits or tares.
It also should not be charred.
Rips, slits and tares happen during the initial loading or shooting and it can be caused by sharp rifling groove edges or sharp edges where the rifling meets the muzzle.
If the contact area is badly charred it indicates the patch thickness is too thin and hot powder gasses are blowing past it.
The center of the patch can look like new or it can look slightly burned.
If you are using Hodgdon 777 powder, a burned center area is often seen because that powder burns hotter than most of the other powders.
If your patches look like the ones in necchi's pictures you and your patches are doing fine.
I usually find my shot patches about 15-40 feet downrange and if a breeze is not blowing, within 2 feet to either side of the line of fire.
A small breeze can blow them 5-10 feet off of the line of fire.
The condition of the patch after it is fired can tell you a lot about the condition of your barrel and if the patch is a good thickness for your load.
If you find a patch, expect to see the outside area badly frayed. That is what happens when cloth is hit with a 1000+ feet per second blast of wind.
The area where the ball was contacting the rifling should not have any rips, slits or tares.
It also should not be charred.
Rips, slits and tares happen during the initial loading or shooting and it can be caused by sharp rifling groove edges or sharp edges where the rifling meets the muzzle.
If the contact area is badly charred it indicates the patch thickness is too thin and hot powder gasses are blowing past it.
The center of the patch can look like new or it can look slightly burned.
If you are using Hodgdon 777 powder, a burned center area is often seen because that powder burns hotter than most of the other powders.
If your patches look like the ones in necchi's pictures you and your patches are doing fine.
I usually find my shot patches about 15-40 feet downrange and if a breeze is not blowing, within 2 feet to either side of the line of fire.
A small breeze can blow them 5-10 feet off of the line of fire.
Once after I had developed an accurate smoothie load, I once shot, recovered, and re-shot the same patch 7 times. I just gave up after that. And it was only 0.010" homespun over a 70-grn FFFg charge in a 62-cal. Mink oil lube by TOW.
rdstrain49
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That is frugal to an epic degree. :thumbsup:
Rake a path to your target and they will be easier to find.Mark that spot on the first ones cause the rest will be close by.If your shootin a small bore you will need good vision as their harder to find.I keep my shootin lane mowed and that helps too.curt
Mooman76 said:
Same for me. 12 to 13 paces out.
I protest sir ... it wasn't frugal ... rather it was confirmation of a well matched lube to bore to powder to patching load; accurate to boot.rdstrain49 said:
Now if I were indeed frugal, I wudda kept going ...
I shoot into a 30" dia. log end 24" long..
zero pass through's. Will recover lead later.
Good chance shooting prodex rs.... your patches are burning- shredding into fuzz.
pre-packaged patches may be old with material fatigue.
what do your groups look like?
zero pass through's. Will recover lead later.
Good chance shooting prodex rs.... your patches are burning- shredding into fuzz.
pre-packaged patches may be old with material fatigue.
what do your groups look like?
