Patch width?

[shooter93]

Anyone know the approximate width....not thickness....of the cross patches used in the old muzzleloading rifles that used a false muzzle? This would be for 40 and 45 caliber rifles. Thanks.
Scott

[mooman76]

Never loaded one with a false muzzle before but if the patch is big enough to wrap around the ball, it's big enough. That gives you a little leeway in case the ball turns a little with the patch. It doesn't hurt to have the patch a little too big. It just drops away anyway.

[shunka]

These are used in "slug guns" - The dimensions of the cross-shaped paper patch depends upon the length of the bullet (slug) you choose to use - this link should help

http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=175611&sid=0052237271c3e51b24289cbe46a0b882

[shooter93]

The length is variable with the bullet, I was wondering about the width.

[Baron von Trollwhack]

1/4 of the bullet circumferance. To touch as do well cut rolled paper patches. Object of the patch was to isolate the lead from the bore.

BvT

[Tatume]

On some false muzzles there is a set of shallow perpindicular grooves. The paper should be cut to exactly fit these grooves, in both width and length. The two pieces of paper are then placed in the grooves, aligned to the edges with the finger tips of one hand, and the bullet placed base down in the center of the resulting cross with the other hand. The bullet is then pushed into the false muzzle. Some false muzzles use a specialized arbor press to push the bullet.