Frayed Outer edge on patches?
RR,
You don't mention what kind of patching you are using, assuming precut cut ones? Also, have you mike'd your barrel? On my .53, I use a .525ball (only thing I could find for this oddball) and .020 pillow ticking. It's hard to get down, but the accuarcy is great, I'll usually go down to .015 ticking for hunting. You may be getting blowby, but sounds like at least it is consistant, its when you have a patch that is partly gone more to one side that will cause severe accuracy problems. I would try thicker material or a larger ball, .535. At least for me, I will live with lesser accuracy so as not to mess around with extra steps in loading, such as nesting material and wonder wads, I don't even like to use precut patches. I'll cut my patch material after the ball is just in the bore. Oh yea, do you have any slices in the patches from the rifling?
Wallynut
RR,
You don't mention what kind of patching you are using, assuming precut cut ones? Also, have you mike'd your barrel? On my .53, I use a .525ball (only thing I could find for this oddball) and .020 pillow ticking. It's hard to get down, but the accuarcy is great, I'll usually go down to .015 ticking for hunting. You may be getting blowby, but sounds like at least it is consistant, its when you have a patch that is partly gone more to one side that will cause severe accuracy problems. I would try thicker material or a larger ball, .535. At least for me, I will live with lesser accuracy so as not to mess around with extra steps in loading, such as nesting material and wonder wads, I don't even like to use precut patches. I'll cut my patch material after the ball is just in the bore. Oh yea, do you have any slices in the patches from the rifling?
Wallynut