Patch Thickness

[Deschain19]

I took my new Traditions Kentucky Pistol out yesterday and am having some trouble... I've been using .490 balls and .10 patches lubed with bore butter. I'm still having a heck of a time getting it jammed down the barrel, and I really feel like the .10 are still too thin... Any ideas what I'm doing wrong here? What changes should I make? I'm still fairly new at muzzleloading, and its a whole different world that brass cartridges!

 

[longcruise]

Your crown may be too abrupt and probably too sharp to boot.

If it's hard to load all the way down, your bore may be a bit undersize, which is not uncommon with the european made ml guns. I have an FIE ".45" caliber that requires a thin patch and a .431 ball!

You can get molds in .485 but maybe you could mooch some off forum members to experiment with.

 

[Deschain19]

I meant to post this under the pistol thread, oops!

 

[Rikeman]

If the loading is tight all the way down, I would start looking for a smaller ball. Find one that works with at least a .15 patch because I dont think you are going to get the same accuracy from the thinner patch.

I have a traditions Ketuckey in .50 as well. My .490 balls load simi hard with .15 patches, but I have gotten used to it and it really shoots well. To qualify what I mean by semi hard to load, I have a wooden short starter that I made from a 3" wooden ball. I start the patch and ball by tapping it in with the short start ball sort of like a mallet. One shot with the short start and then the rest of the way down with the provided ramrod. It takes a little effort to seat the ball with the ramrod, but it can be done in one smooth motion.

Clear as mud? :wink:

 

[J.D.]

While you may, or may not have an undersize bore, IMHO, in cool, dry weather the yellow miracle lubes don't work.

I suggest trying spit, Windex, or Hoppies # 9 Plus lube.

 

[rafterob]

If you are using the ramrod that came with the pistol, it is going to be hard. I have a stainless steel range rod that is about 3" longer than the barrel with a wood ball on the end. I use a short starter because the muzzle on these pistols is tight. The best thing for these pistols is a combination short starter with a ram rod long enough to drive the ball home. I used to have one years ago that I sold, wish I still had it now. If you plan on shooting in the field with the ramrod provided, find some undersized balls that will get down the barrel without much difficulty. I get great accuracy out of mine with about 23 grains of fffg. I shoot .490 and .495 balls with .015 patch.