There are a lot of variables at work here. As an example, I have two 50 cal rifles. They shoot the .490 and .495 RB's One is the Lyman Great Plains Rifle which I've had now for about 15 yrs or so and I have it dialed in good enough to hit squirrels in the head. It'll shoot one hole groups at 35 yds from a bench rest. The other is a CVA Mountain rifle that I just acquired not long ago so I'm not completely finished dialing it in yet. My GPR best likes a .495 ball with a .015 spit patch (one hole groups at 35 yds). Although it will still shoot a .490 with a .020 or .022 spit patch really well, plenty good enough for deer hunting, that load still doesn't come close to one hole grps at 35 yrds that it's favorite load the .495/.015 spit patch will produce. On the other hand, the CVA won't even load a .495/.015. I haven't tested that ball size in it with a thinner patch yet, but it does pretty well with the .490/.017. With that load at 25 yds it'll print a 1 1/2" 5 shot grp, but like I said, I'm not finished testing it yet, either. Every rifle has a particular ball/patch/powder/load combo that it prefers best over everything else, you just have to wring it out real good with all of the various combinations to find that load. You'll find it sooner, if you're lucky enough LOL, or later, just keep testing till you do. If you buy pre cut/pre lubed patches from the many different retailers they are pretty much only available in certain thicknesses for example .010, .015, .018, and sometimes .020. Some retailers offer more than others, but odd numbered thicknesses, not so much, you just simply have to find them. For example, to get the .017 that I needed for that CVA MR I took my dial caliper to the local fabric shop with me and measured the thicknesses of their different varieties of 100% tight woven cotton fabrics, because although it would load easy enough and felt right, resistance wise while loading that is, with a .015 patch, it still wouldn't shoot worth a manure with it. I hope all of this doesn't sound too daunting to you, but it's the best detailed example I can give you so as to help you understand what you need to do in order to help you find the very best most accurate load for your particular rifle. Always test by changing only ONE variable at a time and fire at least a three shot, but more preferably, a 5 shot group, from a bench rest, with each and every change in variables, and that includes changes in powder charges as well. Test test test! And you will find that perfect load combination :wink: