Don Steele
45 Cal.
I'm using Dry Patch material (7:1 water/Ballistol)in my 40 cal. Flintlock SMR.
I'm shooting 40 gns. 3f Goex and a .395 RB.
I have been wiping between shots with a .010" wiping patch, "just damp" with a Moose Milk concoction using a wiping jag that has been reduced in diameter to prevent pushing the crud in the barrel down to rest on the breech face and potentially clog the vent.
Yesterday, my shooting session started out great. Good score, no issues. I ran out of the .010" wiping patch material and began using some that measures .015". EVERYTHING else stayed the same. As I continued shooting, I began to notice a vaguely discernible VERY slight delay in the rifle's ignition. At the same time, my scores went downhill dramatically...from 8-9-10, to 5-6-7's. (25 yd. offhand on the NMLRA target). To cap it off...I also began to experience failure of the main charge to ignite unless I "picked the vent" REAL deep.
It seems pretty obvious (to me at least) that the increase in thickness of just .005" was sufficient to cause fouling to begin accumulating on my breechface. The result of which started to manifest itself in slower ignition, eventually leading to complete failure to fire.
My purpose in posting this is to inquire if other folks have had similar issues. The resolution would seem to be to either find more of the .010" material, or further reduce the diameter of my wiping jag.
Have any of you other flintlock shooters had similar experiences..???
Thanks.
I'm shooting 40 gns. 3f Goex and a .395 RB.
I have been wiping between shots with a .010" wiping patch, "just damp" with a Moose Milk concoction using a wiping jag that has been reduced in diameter to prevent pushing the crud in the barrel down to rest on the breech face and potentially clog the vent.
Yesterday, my shooting session started out great. Good score, no issues. I ran out of the .010" wiping patch material and began using some that measures .015". EVERYTHING else stayed the same. As I continued shooting, I began to notice a vaguely discernible VERY slight delay in the rifle's ignition. At the same time, my scores went downhill dramatically...from 8-9-10, to 5-6-7's. (25 yd. offhand on the NMLRA target). To cap it off...I also began to experience failure of the main charge to ignite unless I "picked the vent" REAL deep.
It seems pretty obvious (to me at least) that the increase in thickness of just .005" was sufficient to cause fouling to begin accumulating on my breechface. The result of which started to manifest itself in slower ignition, eventually leading to complete failure to fire.
My purpose in posting this is to inquire if other folks have had similar issues. The resolution would seem to be to either find more of the .010" material, or further reduce the diameter of my wiping jag.
Have any of you other flintlock shooters had similar experiences..???
Thanks.