Paper patch ?

[Dan]

Conventional wisdom from folks I have a lot of background on patching has it that wrapped patches tend to be the least accurate of the three styles (Chase, cross strips, wrapped). I know there are some that get a lot of mileage (pun intended) out of wrapped patches and understand as well that Chase/CS patches are not practical for cartridge guns for the most part. Well, except maybe for ML cartridge guns. I have one of those by the way, but it uses GG bullets.

What I don't understand is the reasons for putting wrapped patches in 3d place. What am I missing on that? Hard facts or ol' wives tales?

[Don McDowell]

With a modern chamber the wrapped patches we use in cartridges can be a real challenge to find true accuracy. But with the original Sharps/remington type chambers, the accuracy delivered by the wrapped patches take a back seat to nothing.

[bobw]

Dan it 's the guns. Slug guns are big and heavy not what you would call hunting portable or convenient to use off the bench. They are loaded from the muzzle down to a charged case. Not practical from my view point for field use. They are very accurate though. If a slug gun had a normal diameter barrel it might not be anymore accurate than a gun shooting wrapped bullets. Have to get KW to give you some of his first hand experience on this ,he knows. bobw

[Dan]

I certainly appreciate the difference in guns and dynamics of loading as well as the form of chambers best suited for paper patch work. Perhaps the point where this was put to me was during discussion about patch style alternatives. Now I'm not saying one could not contrive the necessary tools to Chase patch a .45-70 case, or even perhaps a cross strip patch. However, when I suggested a foray into wrap patching a slug rifle there immediately followed hoots and so forth. Well, maybe they are right, but for the life of me I don't see why.

I know some such as KW use tighter dims and thinner paper with cartridge guns with great aplomb. He also made a Bresien slug rifle smoke awhile back with teflon chase patches as I recall. Too bad they aren't legal under NRC rules, but I get that part. Maybe KW has an inside line to the paper gods? My own experience is limited to 9# onion skin and bore diameter bullets. I don't know how well they hold up accuracy wise beyond 100 yards, but suspect they would do well in the .44 out to 200 or a bit more.

Of course there are other variables in the mix, such as the penchant for slug gun builders to make choked barrels and such. Maybe I spend too much time pondering these things. Was working on the .25-20 earlier this AM and despite the diminutive size of the bullets I've decided to patch them up a little ways down the road. The gun shoots well and I'm way tired of fooling with alloy voodoo...already. Soft lead works well at high speed for hunting, keeping the lead where it belongs is the trick that paper covers well. The .30-30 too..... Will report on that as it develops.

Dan

PS: I have be lucky in integration of patched bullets in modern guns, having failed to date in finding a chamber/throat that will not work with such loads. That includes a Ruger Redhawk.