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50 cal patches

pabiggun300pabiggun300 Member Posts: 33 ✭
edited January 2014 in Black Powder and Cowboy Action Shooting
what do you shoot ? iam new to black powder, iam shooting 50 cal Hawkins getting all the stuff together , shooting .490 ball , have read to use .10 patch or .15 or .18 or .20 not sure what to get , can someone help with loads and sizeing of patches ? and 2f or 3 f I know you can use either , any advantages of 2f over 3 f ?
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Comments

  • CapnMidnightCapnMidnight Member Posts: 8,038 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Patch and powder are a matter of trial and error.
    Either 2F or 3F will work in your gun, I prefer 3F.
    Try .015 patches, shoot where you can pick your patches up, after you shoot. If your patches have a large for size hole in them, go to .010 patches.
    The point is, if your tearing a hole in your patches, they are too tight. According to theory, 3F powder and .010 lubed patches should be ideal for your rifle, but, every gun is different, and requires different care and feeding.
    I have found that pillow ticking makes the best patches.
    Have fun, be safe.
    W.D.
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  • navc130navc130 Member Posts: 1,245 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What thickness patches to use can depend on what kind of shooting you do. Competition shooters use very tight fitting patch and ball combination for maximum accuracy. Casual target shooting and hunting may use a looser fitting combination for ease of loading and still get satisfactory accuracy. It's a try and see situation.
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