patch materials?

[troy_mclure]

what do you guys make your patches from?

im shooting a .36 smooth bore(.35 ball)

[Baron von Trollwhack]

You may want to start with a piece of pocket drill (about .010" thick), a piece of blue or red pillow ticking (about .014/.016" thick), 10 ounce denim (about .020" thick), all cotton for sure. This would be for a .350 RB in a modern barrel. Jo-ann fabrics is the best place, some wally's have the same too. The clerks in the fabric stores know these names. Buy the minimum cut, wash with normal laundry. I iron for smoothness , tear a strip. On a new gun, I drop a piece of footlong metal rod down the barrel, put a strip about 6" long over the unloaded barrel, and short start a ball to just below flush. Start with the thinnest. If it won't pull out with the extra you left, upend the gun, letting the rod knock the ball out. May take a couple of hits.

Tight fit for target and a range rod, looser fit for in the woods and a traditional rod. You will need lube for actual shooting. See the lube part above.

BvT.

[Ohio Rusty]

I use both pillow ticking for a thicker patch or cotton pillow case/sheet material if I need a .10 patch for my .40.
Go to your local thrift store and look thru the 100% cotton shirts. Often you can get your patching material for little money. I have often been seen in thrift stores with a micrometer checking the thickness of likely materials. Most of these clothes have already been washed, shrinkage is unlikely, so the thickness is what it will remain.
Ohio Rusty ><>

[wgr]

for my .36 green mountain barrel i use blue striped pillow ticking and.035 round balls.

[10 ga]

Best find in a thrift store... Real linen! Usually in the womens clothes, pants mostly or a suit. One good score will usually last a good long time. 10 ga

[Jim]

I took my caliper and went to a fabric shop. I found some real, 100% pure linen that miked at .016. Works like a charm. I shoot a GPR in .54 caplock. With the linen patches and shooting from the bench, I can put .535 RBs in a 6 inch bull all day at a hundred yards.

[northmn]

I do like the otheres and buy from fabric stores. A yard of pure cotton patching cost about the same as a pack of 100 precut. Muslin, Duck and Drill are the three types I look at. 100% cotton and need to be washed. Buying pure white flannel for cleaning patches is not too dumb either as a yard is cheaper than a bag of cleaning patches.

DP

[1Shirt]

Back when I shot front stuffers in competition, I used pillow ticking that had been washed (to take the sizing out) and than ironed flat before I cut patches. Used square patches, as I had tried round and could not find any difference in accuracy.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[mooman76]

An old cotton dress shirt that you don't want or need as long as it has a good tight weave works well. If you have some different ones in the closet, cut some patch samples and see what works best for you.

[iron brigade]

went to goodwill and bought a 100% cotton sheet, took it home washed it a few times and turned out real good for patches. also found a couple yards of pillow ticking all for a few bucks.