Clean bore to fouled bore accuracy, and patches..
What is normal between the clean and fouled bore shots?
I was just at the range today, my clean bore shots were at the 2 oclock position and 5 inches high, and the fouled bore were two inches high, but were at the 10 oclock position,(80 grains FFFG)..
Tried a 60 grain charge on a clean bore, and it was 8 inches low, and at the 7:30 position.
70 grains, clean bore, produced a 9 oclock at about 5 inches, and the fouled bore was 3 inces high. (12 oclock)
75 grains, produced a 2 oclock at 4 inches high, and the 70 grain follow up again was 3 high. (which would keep me in about a 5 inch group between the first shot and a follow up, which more likely wouldn't happen because any critter would be long gone by the time I got reloaded..)
Does this make sense as far as what normal should be between clean and fouled bore shots?
This is a 54 cal, the bore across the grooves is .556, with a .554 across the lands. I use Kik powder. The ball, .531. I was using .006 patches (that were marked as .010 patches,..so much for Cabella's patches). These patches burned through, which I don't like.. but the .018 patches with the prb seem too tight, but the patches look like they could be used again.
What should I be using for patch thickness? Should the patch completely fill the grooves, or just grip the ball and not burn through?
Any help will be greatly appreciated..