Making my own patches - help needed!

Claven2

Claven2

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Looking to make a bunch of patches myself for .440 round balls in a .45 cal rifle. I couldn;t get real pillow ticking, but did get a similar tight weave cotton cloth that should be a good substitute. I didn;t get much b/c if the thickness doesn;t work out and I need to switch, I don;t want to be stuck with too much! :)

Anyhow, I know it makes no difference if I cut 'em round or square, but I need to know what minimum diameter to cut to for .45 - anyone know?

Thanks!
 
fer .50 cal mine are cut out round about 1 1/2 inch dia. so .45 just a bit less, ??
why not just get a strip of material an cut them at ther muzzle as you load??
i do that mostly.
good luck
 
if you cut it in strips and cut it off as you load it will be more accurate. i've found it makes a slight diffence if the patch is off center (cutting as you load ensures a centered ball)
 
i just keep a bottle of hoppes #9 and a sharp knife cut the strips a little wider than the width of the barrel. lube as much as your gonna use that shot. in the old days they just used to chew on the end of the strip lubing it with spit.
 
I was going to just ballistol the whole strip as it doesn't evaporate anyhow.

What do you use as a patch knife? Just any old sharp knife?
 
you could lube the whole strip but consider that you will be handling a lot of the strip and it will get all over (messy) also you will need to encase it in your bag or box. I take the dry strip and tie it to the strap of my bag and yes any good sharp knife will do. some use old straight razors I just have a good sharp folder in my pocket
 
Good point! however, I don't want to spit lube when hunting as my patch will likely be dry and will moisten some of my powder charge if I have to sit stand for a long perior of time with a loaded rifle.

Perhaps I'll just use pre-oiled patches for hunting and use spit and cut for range work.
 
i am not familiar with the lube you mentioned but hoppes #9 comes in a plastic bottle with a spout i just toss it in my bag and when it's time to load i just lube as much as i'm gonna use then put the bottle back in my bag. our range has a trail walk where you go around and shoot different targets at different ranges 28 rnds per walk so you carry as little as possible. sitting for a long time while hunting doesnt affect the powder that much as long as the powder by the nipple is dry it will shoot fine.
 
Yes, but the patch will dry out - even with Hoppes. Also, I'm a little surprised that you use Hoppes in Black powder guns since it's a mineral solvent, while most writers suggest using animal or vegetable based lube.
 
we used to load with strips, put your strip against the muzzle then lube the one inch circle you have against the muzzle then short start the ball then use your patch knife, you can lube with hoppes 9 plus, or spit, both works very good, or you dont have to cut your material in strips at all, just lube and cut from your cloth, wade
 
My mistake, meant to say Hoppes 9 Plus.
I prefer to use a 1'' hole punch for 45--54cal, find it works perfect for centreing the patch.
 
you just need 100% cotton cloth, preferably tight weave, in .010, .015 or .018" thicknesses depending on ball and bore diameters. I just bring my calipers to the local fabric store and dive in the "on sale" bin till I find somethign suitable, often in a hideous color - LOL.

Real Pillow Ticking is the preferred material, but few stores carry it and it's more expensive. Cheaper cotton broadcloth of the correct thickness works nearly as well and is ALOT cheaper an easier to find.

And FWIW, cutting round patches is only for us anal people. Square patches cut with scissors work as well. Or even patch-knife cut strips.
 
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