What's the smallest caliber you folks have paper patched?
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What's the smallest caliber you folks have paper patched?
Where in eastern Iowa are you?
6.5mm is the smallest I have tried. A total failure too. That was 20 years ago and long before this forum was known to me. I should give it another try someday. The smallest cal that has worked for me is 30 cal.
n.h.schmidt
.250 savage , results haven't been great so far but I haven't had much time to play with it
I have patched some 22cal and have them loaded in the 223rem. but not yet had the chance to test them
I did once manage to get a patch onto a 224 boolit. I tried making little sleaves and fitting those to the boolit. That trick worked but first I have get around actually casting the little boogers! The longer 25's are OK to cast and patch. They load and come out the barrel and disintegrate the patch just fine. Never did test them for accuracy. One day maybe - when I've gotten my 303's sorted.
I can do bout a dozen bators, after that I'm ready to toss the whole mess out the back door,:groner:.
Noe 25 cal wraps fairly easy, makes a good 6.5 "core" for one of my swedes & 260. Hopefully it will work in a 6.5 tcu bbl also. Two wraps of tracing paper that it up to 0.2665, bbls are 0.264.
n.h. schmidt
Did you get my pm?
161
I used to patch for my 25-06 but no more. My old hands just wont take it any more. 30cal is as small as I go now.
It can be done but is too much a PITA so I dropped it.
The mould... throws at .218
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...xpMould189.jpg
Then sized to .216 for patching
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...bullets002.jpg
Wrapped with 25% dilution of Rooster patch lube...dried dia = .225
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...bullets008.jpg
NOT sized further, loaded as is.
221 Fireball...40gr RN, 15gr LilGun @ 100yds, 5 shot group
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...n_100yd006.jpg
As above, also 5 shot groups [2nd group was the left one, adjusted scope..then top group 3rd, re-adjusted scope..shot for diamond]
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...n_100yd007.jpg
On the last group I let the barrel completely cool between shots.
Rifle fore-end cradled in sandbag, left hand not touching barrel but using two fingers to pinch and pull down the fore-end in front of sandbag, the toe of the buttstock was cradled/on sandbag with the butt pulled tight to shoulder.
Note 1: this is a MAX load using 50gr jacketed V-Max, I did not chronograph but primer pressure signs were much lighter with the 40gr PP.
Note 2: neither Spitz shot well, nor the larger RN (8" groups!) On the smaller RN this may have had something to do with the fact that with the base of the bullet just seated to the case shoulder the patch just touched the rifling. On the longer RN the base of the bullet was inside the case, exposing the PP to the hot gas.
No leading with over 100 rounds fired, barrel was slick/shiny and almost looked like it did not need cleaning (I did anyway!)
That's some fine work Windrider. Good shooting too.
I spent 2 1/2 shooting seasons shooting nothing but pp in a Hornet & .222 Rem. Custom Tom Ballard adjustable cup-base mould. Made templates from 1/16" stainless.
Ya know, I got up this morning and looked at this thread I started and just realized what the title could also mean. I'm getting old.
161
I din't think anybody wants to compare . That's done on other sites.
n.h.schmidt