What size patch for a .310 ball? Thanks, Hank

Finding the right patch for a round ball muzzleloader will take a bit of experimenting. Here are a few things to consider. Do not use any cloth having synthetic components.  All natural cotton or linen will serve best. Easy to get pillow ticking you will find comes in several thickness and weave patterns, you may have to try several thicknesses. One of the things I have always done is wash all patching material to remove the sizing so as to reduce bore polishing, and for me it opens the weave a little and makes it a bit easier to get the ball and patch started - I am a spit patch guy, always have been and will go to my reward as one. You are looking for patching for a .310 ball. I have a 32 caliber flintlock with probably a Douglas barrel which has been shot maybe 10,000 times since 1973, it remains a very accurate gun. It takes a .32 pure lead cast bullet and likes a simple thinnish strong flower print cotton cloth kinda like your Mom’s apron was made out of. Once I got on to this stuff I went through yards and yards of it. On the other hand I have a flintlock in .50 caliber with round bottom cut rifling which will only perform accurately if it is patched with pure linen material of a medium weight. I don’t know why but suspect that in this case linen stands up to friction and fire better protecting the ball. One final tip given to me when I first started shooting flintlocks was that in picking a patching material for a new rifle once you have some balls cast or purchased, set a ball with the chosen patching into the muzzle leaving enough patching free to pop the bullet out and inspect it to see if you are getting a nice even print of the material pattern in the lead all around the ball. This will be a good starting place. Beyond that point you will enter that mysterious realm of fired patch analysis as you work to tighten your group, which is another story.

Bob