Patch size?

[10acres]

I‘ll start this by saying I know cutting at the muzzle would alleviate this, but I don’t as of now. I may in the near future, but I don’t right now.

I am fairly new to traditional muzzleloading and have a question about what everyone else does that buys or makes their own patches. I received an order from TOTW yesterday in which I ordered separate patches for my 32, 45, 50, and 54 cal muzzleloaders. Right now I have 3 patch sizes. Does everyone use separate patches for each size ball or do you use one patch size for multiple sized round balls without issue? Basically, if I use the 50-59 cal patch on a 45 cal, would there be an issue with accuracy?

 

[painter]

I've used 50 cal patches in my 45 with no apparent loss of accuracy. You just need to be sure you don't get the excess doubled up.

 

[ord sgt]

No, there would not be an issue with accuracy. There is more than enough patch material to firmly hold the ball and still be able to fill the gaps in the grooves of the rifled barrel. Undersized patches might not do as good a job getting in the grooves to be able to grip the rifling. The phrase "better too much than not enough" says it all.

 

[Grenadier1758]

@10acres, A little oversized won't hurt accuracy much, but too large can pose problems. If you use the cleaning jag to load your rifle, like most of us do, with our working rods, an oversized patch can catch on the jag and you will pull the ball back out.

You shouldn't have problems with the 50-59 cal patches in your 45. I wouldn't use them in the 32.

 

[mooman76]

I basically use small patches for the smaller calibers and a large patch for the larger calibers. 32, 36, 45, 50, 54 & 58.

 

[user 49399]

I use .50 caliber patches for .45 and .50 caliber with no problems.

 

[hanshi]

I don't worry a lot over patch size and use a particular size for more than one caliber. They should be small enough to not "wad up" when started and large enough to grip plenty of ball.

 

[Grenadier1758]

My patch is 1 1/2 inches wide and about 45" long. Yes, I cut my patches at the muzzle.

 

[mhb]

The general rule for pre-cut round patches is that they should be twice (2x) the diameter of the ball. Slightly larger does no harm, but smaller can't be depended on to properly wrap the ball.

mhb - MIke

 

[Boomerang]

Just go to a fabric store and buy a couple yards of the correct thickness of pillow ticking, duck cloth, mattress ticking, pocket drill or whatever is 100% cotton and cut square patches in whatever size you need.