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Homemade patches for muzzle loading? Help!

travis3
What is the best material to use for making patches for a muzzle loading rifle? How does one figure the correct size? Should they be round or square? I am new to muzzle loading rifles but was given a T/C Hawken in 54 cal and a CVA Squirrel rifle in 32 cal and would like to make my own patches, also what is the best lube to use on these?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • allen griggs
    I answered this question on your thread on this subject a few days ago.
    This answer was based on years of experience, including building 2 muzzleloading rifles myself, and on many years of hunting with muzzleloaders, and killing 6 deer and 5 hogs with my muzzleloaders.

    I guess you didn't like my answer.
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  • dandak1
    I buy pillow ticking strips from the muzzleloading stores for use in my ML, and for lube you can use bore butter, or make your own. I make my own patch lube: 1 part beeswax to 1 part tallow. Round or square patches never made a difference for me. The already made round ones are convenient but lately I switched over to the strips you can buy. I lube it with my patch lube, then carry a strip of it in my possibles bag. Cutting off the patch with a patch knife adds an extra step but I like the historical aspect of it and dont mind it at all.
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  • travis3
    allengriggs, yes and no to answering my question before. You did tell me you used pillow ticking, and that the 54 cal was a great rifle. What I am asking is ( what diameter would a patch be for a 54 cal the same question for the 32 cal) If not a round patch then what size to cut squares for the 54 and 32 cal. I do thank you for the past information
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  • timhill100
    when i shoot round balls i used a old t-shirt, i would soak a portion of it in bore butter then roll it up and put in in a zip lock bag, when loading i would fill barrel with power put a sectiom of t-shirt over barrel and get my knife and cut a piece a little bigger than the diameter of the barrel, havnt shoot round balls in a long time though sine maxi balls are legal in pa now.
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  • Herschel
    When I first went into muzzle loader shooting I tried making my own patches. I learned that the thickness of the material was critical. Denim from old blue jeans was too thick and prevented the ball from being driven into the muzzle. T-shirt material was too thin and would be cut from the rifling so did not stay between the ball and lands. Pillow ticking was about right. Since bought pre-cut patches were so cheap I went to them.
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  • travis3
    Thanks for the information but PLEASE all I am asking is what is the correct size to cut the patches for the 54cal and 32 cal nothing else!!!
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  • Winston Bode
    Put a light charge of powder down your muzzle, (about half the max. load), put a piece of pillow ticking over the muzzle and then set a round ball on top of it. Take your short starter, (if you don't know what this is find out and get one), and push the ball into the muzzle as far as the short starter will push it. Take the rest of the material and pull it up as if it is coming out of the muzzle. Take your patch knife, (again if you don't know find out and get one), and cut off the material even with the end of the barrel. Seat the ball down on the powder and fire it down range. You should be able to find the patch somewhere not far down range. Use this as a guide as to what diameter patch to use.

    Or, an easier way is to order a patch cutter for the appropriate caliber from Dixie Gun works and just use it.

    Hope this helps.
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  • cussedemgun
    travis3,

    Go to the nearest thrift store. Buy a used (read soft) flannel sheet (bed size does'nt matter).

    Cut a few test patches twice your bore diameter & try them. When they are impregnated with bore butter they may have a tendency to stretch so you may have to adjust size slightly.

    Center the patch on the bore & seat the ball flush with the muzzle. If too much patch is above the muzzle, reduce your patch diameter.

    I shoot a T/C 50 & cut my patches the same diameter as across the flats on my barrel. Easy to center when loading & it shoots good!

    Jim
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  • v35
    If you expect to cut the correct size patch and not trim it per the above description, the ball wont be centered in the patch during loading and accuracy may suffer.
    Try the above recommended method and measure the resulting hole in the cloth to give an approximate patch size.
    I liked mattress ticking.
    For thinner, strong patch material try and find some aircraft Grade A cotton or linen used for recovering fabric covered aircraft.
    I question the value of soft, weak cloth as in undershirts.
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  • john w
    #1-Cut a patch oversize #2- put ball in patch and fold patch around ball and cut even along the top of the ball. #3- Measure patch and cut all of therm the same size. This is not rocket science you just want the patch to encase the ball around to the top of the ball when the ball is sacked up
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