Wads and patches

Pillow Ticking

DS303

I use mostly pillow ticking as patch material cut at the muzzle. The ticking is measured with a dial micrometer by using the thumb wheel at the end. When the jaws are snug that is the measurement that I use. I just measured some ticking using a dial micrometer and caliper. I got the same reading but had to use firm thumb pressure on the caliper to do so. The caliper squeezes on a broader area and the mic on a smaller one. From my test use good firm thumb pressure on the wheel of your caliper and you will have a good measurement.
I too buy ticking in bulk from fabric stores. Look for ticking that has minimal (or best no) sizing on the back. You can tell sized fabric because it is shiny and kind of slick on the back. Wash the ticking prior to use then cut in 2” strips. I roll up the strips and bind with rubber bands.
Your plan for lubrication is fine, although you may have to scrape off excess lube. Because I’m storing the ticking for future use I’m careful not to pick up grit. This is much more of a problem if I prelube the material. Normally when shooting at the range I lube the ticking with some homemade soluble oil. Any commercial lubricant should work well as will spit.
Cutting patches at the muzzle ensures that the ball will be centered within the patch. From doing it both ways I don’t see a significant difference but this does remove a variable.
I know that I don’t need to say this but.....Sharp knives are used to cut patches at the muzzle (a straight razor is a great patch knife), use caution when cutting patches and cut away from your body.
Take care and have fun,
 
Thanks Trout,
My main reason for going this way is I'm running out of precut, lubed patches that I bought when I first got started, And I can get a ton of shots out of a yard of material. That and doing things the old way, peaks my interest very much.
 
corn meal under the ball in the revolver, 50/50 lube on top.

Pre-cut, but homemade patch on the rifle ball, lubed with whatever the maker liked to lube with, normally I pick em up in trades and I haven't run out yet. :D 'Good for me!

But in the .56 Renegade smoothie..... and don't read this if you are squeamish about somebody not following the herd.... :p . . ..... but I just squish a wad of newspaper down onto the powder pretty hard, drop a .542 ball down there somewhere and squish another wad of newspaper down on top of it to hold it there. :) And it works pretty darn good! Or at least at the distances I shoot my smoothie.;)

(and a big whoof of smoke followed by a string of flaming confetti is pretty interesting to watch too):D
 
and a big whoof of smoke followed by a string of flaming confetti is pretty interesting to watch too

^ Thats funny right there. Reminds me of the raining tin foil post, that Sureshot ( I think it was) posted. :D
 
to deerslayer knives

back in the day, some carried a knife especially for cutting patches.
Oddly, today it is called a patch knife.
Good ones that look authentic are $30 and up.
One of the more authentic patch materials over the years has been Pillow ticking.
For those of you two young to remember, this was a heavy cotton weave material
in more or less blue/grey and white stripes.
 
They really didn't carry patch knives per se. They carried small general purpose knives that happened to cut patches very well, as well as perform other duties.
 
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