pillow ticking patches

ciffer · March 6, 2009, 01:37 AM

today i started making my own shooting patches from pillow ticking. i tried loading my rifle, which is a .50 cal Lyman great plain rifle. i was not able to get the ball (.490) into the barrel. i have been shooting traditions .015 patches with a .490 round ball with very good success.

if i remember correctly, pillow ticking is .018 thickness. is there a slightly smaller ball i need to buy in order to use pillow ticking patches?

Smokin_Gun · March 6, 2009, 02:28 AM

Yup that's what I get at Wally World, the blue striped tickin'... be sure to throw it in the wash before use in' it... I stick the end of a strip about 3.5 stripes wide on a .50cal...that's tied to my possibles bag & patchknife.

ciffer · March 6, 2009, 03:07 AM

that is about how wide i have been cutting it; about 1.5 inch squares.

what about ball diameter?

Smokin_Gun · March 6, 2009, 03:29 AM

I don't precut them, I cut the tickin' when it's in the barrel with a ball in it and flush to the barrel. Usin' my patchknife to cut from the strip... It's alot faster and easier...

A standard .490" R.B. with .018" blue tickin' work for me ...

ciffer · March 6, 2009, 04:30 AM

just tried a .020 patch, works fine. maybe i'll have to work the lube in better, or try the pillow ticking from walmart.

i have heard of people using strips of cloth for patches but don't like the idea of fumbling with a knife during muzzleloading season. it is often to cold for me to have much in the way of manual dexterity, wouldn't want to cut myself.

Hawg · March 6, 2009, 04:47 AM

Some folks say there's no difference in ticking but the blue I have is .020 and the red is .015.

March 6, 2009, 01:37 AM	#1
ciffer Junior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Posts: 3	pillow ticking patches today i started making my own shooting patches from pillow ticking. i tried loading my rifle, which is a .50 cal Lyman great plain rifle. i was not able to get the ball (.490) into the barrel. i have been shooting traditions .015 patches with a .490 round ball with very good success. if i remember correctly, pillow ticking is .018 thickness. is there a slightly smaller ball i need to buy in order to use pillow ticking patches?

March 6, 2009, 02:28 AM	#2
Smokin_Gun Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, CA Posts: 1,195	Yup that's what I get at Wally World, the blue striped tickin'... be sure to throw it in the wash before use in' it... I stick the end of a strip about 3.5 stripes wide on a .50cal...that's tied to my possibles bag & patchknife. __________________ "I Smoke Black Powder" "Favor an 1858 Remington" SGT. Smokin' Gun, Mosby's Rangers 43rd Virginia Cavalry C.S.A. SASS# 19634, ... Admin:http://blackpowdersmoke.com/oldcoots/index.php Last edited by Smokin_Gun; March 6, 2009 at 03:27 AM.

March 6, 2009, 03:29 AM	#4
Smokin_Gun Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, CA Posts: 1,195	I don't precut them, I cut the tickin' when it's in the barrel with a ball in it and flush to the barrel. Usin' my patchknife to cut from the strip... It's alot faster and easier... A standard .490" R.B. with .018" blue tickin' work for me ... __________________ "I Smoke Black Powder" "Favor an 1858 Remington" SGT. Smokin' Gun, Mosby's Rangers 43rd Virginia Cavalry C.S.A. SASS# 19634, ... Admin:http://blackpowdersmoke.com/oldcoots/index.php

March 6, 2009, 03:07 AM	#3
ciffer Junior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Posts: 3	that is about how wide i have been cutting it; about 1.5 inch squares. what about ball diameter?

March 6, 2009, 04:30 AM	#5
ciffer Junior Member Join Date: March 6, 2009 Posts: 3	just tried a .020 patch, works fine. maybe i'll have to work the lube in better, or try the pillow ticking from walmart. i have heard of people using strips of cloth for patches but don't like the idea of fumbling with a knife during muzzleloading season. it is often to cold for me to have much in the way of manual dexterity, wouldn't want to cut myself.

March 6, 2009, 04:47 AM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	Some folks say there's no difference in ticking but the blue I have is .020 and the red is .015.