Different strokes for different folks but IMO, your pro at the range was only giving you his opinion.
Here's mine: As long as the patch completely covers the place where the ball meets the bore and rifling, it is doing all that is needed.
Having extra material doesn't add any benefits unless you are using a pre-cut patch and not cutting it with a knife.
The benefit of having a larger than needed pre cut patch is that it is the shooter doesn't have to be real careful to get it centered on the bore before ramming the ball down the bore. If the patch is a little off center, it will still be close enough to completely cover the junction between the ball and the bore.
The next time "the pro" reminds you about using a larger patch just thank him and say something like, "Cutting the patch at the muzzle seems to be working fine for me and I don't have any pre cut patches. "
Here's mine: As long as the patch completely covers the place where the ball meets the bore and rifling, it is doing all that is needed.
Having extra material doesn't add any benefits unless you are using a pre-cut patch and not cutting it with a knife.
The benefit of having a larger than needed pre cut patch is that it is the shooter doesn't have to be real careful to get it centered on the bore before ramming the ball down the bore. If the patch is a little off center, it will still be close enough to completely cover the junction between the ball and the bore.
The next time "the pro" reminds you about using a larger patch just thank him and say something like, "Cutting the patch at the muzzle seems to be working fine for me and I don't have any pre cut patches. "