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Patch material thickness?

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Zeb

32 Cal
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
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I notice that .015" patch thickness is commonly recommended with .490" round balls in the slow twist .50 cal rifles. My question is how do you measure the thickness?,or is it best to buy store bought patches?. I know the pillow ticking is commonly used, but I figure there is probably different grades.. I figure this will sound like a dumb question, but I have very little experience regarding the muzzle loading scene.
 
There are different ways to measure patch thickness, The key is to measure it consistently. I use a calipers. Some guys use a micrometer. Neither is absolutely necessary. Your gun will tell you what thickness it likes. Walmart blue stripe pillow ticking typically runs .015-.018
I have had success with buying pre-cut patches, but don't get them pre-lubed.
I prefer to buy pillow ticking or drill cloth by the yard, for both economics and consistency. Sometimes I get lucky and find a piece of clothing that is the right material and thickness, and i can salvage that. If you buy cloth by the yard, be sure to wash it.
Some guys cut at the muzzle, I don't. I prefer to pre-cut my patches for convenience. It's a decision you'll have to make.
Patches can be cut round or square.
Lube and method of lubing are also choices you'll have to make.

There's really no bottom to the rabbit hole.
 
Measure with a dial caliper. Fine wolven 100 percent cotton. If a .490 and .015 loads too easy try a .020 patch or a .495 ball and .015 patch.
If a .490 +.015 loads too hard try a .010 patch.
I use muslin I think it mearures more uniform. Make sure you wash it befor using it.
That should get you started
 
No question is dumb.
Here's mine. Do you own a micrometer or dial caliper?
No,I own a set of digital calipers, but I figured thin cloth would be hard to measure accurately. I guess if one measures it with calipers you would let your calipers squeeze it hard,or am wrong? I use my calipers for reloading, and they function plenty well enough for the task ,but they probably are not idea for measuring material thickness.
 
No,I own a set of digital calipers, but I figured thin cloth would be hard to measure accurately. I guess if one measures it with calipers you would let your calipers squeeze it hard,or am wrong? I use my calipers for reloading, and they function plenty well enough for the task ,but they probably are not idea for measuring material thickness.

A digital calipers is what i use and I think it does a better job than a micrometer because it has a wider measuring surface. Actual cloth micrometers have large feet. and spring loaded tension. The key is consistent pressure when measuring. It should be snug, but not crushed tight. Don't worry, You'll pick it up quickly, The numbers are really arbitrary if you measure consistently.
I'm sure the next guy will tell you just the opposite, That's muzzleloading.
 
You get your most consistent measurement with a micrometer. You want to apply some pressure to the fabric to observe the compression of the material. That compression can be attained by using your fingers to feel the initial contact with the fabric and then just twist a bit more. Some loose weaves will compress half the initial measurement. You would like the compressed thickness to be about the depth of the grooves. The clicker adjustment of the micrometer will only compress a little bit, 0.001 to 0.003". Finger twist will compress my cotton drill from the initial 0.016" to 0.009" The difference is pretty consistent for all my micrometers. (I inherited several from my father, a tool maker). You don't want to abuse a micrometer by over twisting it, just between your thumb and index finger. A dial caliper will give a thicker compressed result (but only a few thousandths of an inch) as you can't really apply as much compression as you can with micrometers.

The cheap Harbor Freight Micrometers and digital calipers give good enough results. If you use only one brand, you should get consistent results. Note: when you take your micrometer or calipers to the fabric store, the material has sizing added so the fabric feels smooth to the touch. Once the fabric is washed and dried, the initial thickness will increase and it may compress more.
 
No,I own a set of digital calipers, but I figured thin cloth would be hard to measure accurately. I guess if one measures it with calipers you would let your calipers squeeze it hard,or am wrong? I use my calipers for reloading, and they function plenty well enough for the task ,but they probably are not idea for measuring material thickness.
Dial calipers will be fine. Firm squeeze should do it. If you want to check you can buy some patches of a specified thickness for "calibration".
 
but they probably are not idea for measuring material thickness.
;), good answer.
It doesn't matter. The measurement only pertains to the way "you" measure with the tool.
How I measure my fabric, and relate that measurement to you is meaningless.
What's important is that you are able to measure different fabrics the same way YOU measure fabrics each time,
Get it?
We may be close as we share the info with each other,, but the actual difference between a fabric you measure as .016 and that I measure at .015, is mute.
The technique to finding a proper thickness of patch fabric is in experimentation and the ability to know the difference in choices, by using your measurement (with your tool).
Don't get all spun around with what one guy or another tells you is the "Proper Way" to measure,,
It doesn't matter, what matters is that you know the difference.
 
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My T/C .50 likes the blue pillow ticking from my local fabric store with a .495 ball, ticking measures .018 after washing and .010 compressed with calipers
 
I use a pair of Lyman calipers I've had for decades. I measure by squeezing the jaws together using both hands.
 
My T/C .50 likes the blue pillow ticking from my local fabric store with a .495 ball, ticking measures .018 after washing and .010 compressed with calipers
That is my finding also, be sure the fabric is 100% cotton NO poly.
What happens if the Blue Pillow Ticking at your store is suddenly cheaper for them from another supplier,, and it's not the same stuff. But the Red Pillow Ticking they have is the same as the old Blue,,
Still gonna buy the "Blue" Pillow Ticking because that's what worked best?

My point is "color", and not even being listed as "pillow ticking" is not the end game of "best" fabric.
The idea that "Pillow Ticking" is best is an olde wives tail,, there's nothing to it any more,, hasn't been since the 20th century began.
 
If your rifling is deep use a thicker patch and a smaller ball.
If your rifling is shallow use a bigger ball and a thinner patch.
The objective is to have a tight ball with a complete fill in of the space between the lands and the bottom of the grooves.
It took me a while and some great advice from Dutch to finally understand the dynamics of sealing the bore.
The best combination for MY rifle is NOT going to be the best for YOUR rifle.
Use a good lube, every hole likes a good lube.......
Every barrel is a finicky woman, they like what they like and all else is a failure....
 
What happens if the Blue Pillow Ticking at your store is suddenly cheaper for them from another supplier,, and it's not the same stuff. But the Red Pillow Ticking they have is the same as the old Blue,,
Still gonna buy the "Blue" Pillow Ticking because that's what worked best?

My point is "color", and not even being listed as "pillow ticking" is not the end game of "best" fabric.
The idea that "Pillow Ticking" is best is an olde wives tail,, there's nothing to it any more,, hasn't been since the 20th century began.

I call it blue stripe pillow ticking because that is how the store labels it. If I should ever run out (I bought a lot when I found what worked) then I will go through the same process again of measuring, washing and testing a sample of the next material. The material I purchased does exactly what I want it to do, the place I buy it from calls it "blue stripe pillow ticking", it doesn't really matter if it's an old wives tail or not if it works.
 
I was in Joann's fabric measuring fabric one day. I found what i wanted then proceeded to leave my calipers in the cart. I made it to the parking lot before I remembered. I ran back in and they where gone. I asked customer service and they had them. They said a lot of guys come in and measure fabric.

Their red ticking measured .015 blue measured .018.
 
What happens if the Blue Pillow Ticking at your store is suddenly cheaper for them from another supplier,, and it's not the same stuff. But the Red Pillow Ticking they have is the same as the old Blue,,

Be very careful about the color. Blue always shoots to the left and red always shoots to the right.;)
 

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