Subdeacon Joe Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 The mention of them on the 50-90 thread got me wondering about them. What is the advantage? The only thing I can think of is that you would cut down, or eliminate, the lead fouling. Any others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 You mentioned lack of leading. Done properly no it won't. In general: It allows you to shoot a wide array of bullet alloys...from dead soft to pretty hard. You can if you wish, using patched to bore, add more powder to a point. We call it the 50-90 now but it was never factory loaded with less than 100 grs. The 47 2 7/8 we calle the 110 was commonly loaded to 120 gr. This can be done with a long bore riding greaser too but it exposes the grease to all kinds of nasty stuff. I can roll patches a lot faster than I can lube bullets. Its what the Old Dead Guys used! Another way of reliving history. When Dixon made that shot it was with PPB. Style points! Nothing sexier than a belt of PP rounds. Its fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 You can also write love notes to you gal friend and shoot them over to her place. Maybe not. That might require a rethunk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knarley Bob Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 You can also write love notes to you gal friend and shoot them over to her place. Maybe not. That might require a rethunk. Wouldn't that smudge the ink?? Knarley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Wouldn't that smudge the ink?? Knarley Nah, but the main thing is it'd be hard to read. A patch should come off the bullet near the muzzle. The result is lots of confetti in the air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfgang, SASS #53480 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 The bullet never touches the rifling and is considered to have a more aerodynamic shape with no grooved insiced into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Thank you, gentlemen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 The original reason for the patch was to put a spin on the bullet. Before the invention of the Minie ball (which expanded to engage the rifling grooves when fired), balls/bullets had to be undersized to be stuffed down a barrel. If the bullet was too close in diameter to the bore, loading became difficult as the bore accumulated fouling. In addition to deforming the bullet by pounding it down the barrel, it took longer to reload which was dangerous when rapid reloading in battle was necessary. It also reduced the risk of a "short start" where the bullet doesn't make it all the way down the bore to sit on top of the powder charge. As you know, air space between a bullet and black powder can burst a barrel. Since the bullet was so undersized, it wouldn't engage the rifling grooves by itself. Paper and linen patches were used to take up the space in order to engage the grooves and put a spin on the bullet. I'm not sure about the paper patches, but the linen patches were often soaked in lubricant to aid reloading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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