The “weight” designation in pounds per ream is pretty worthless as an indication of the paper’s thickness.

Best way is to go to a paper store with your micrometer.  I use the Dutch Schoultze technique of screwing the thimble down hard, as he does to determine the thickness of linen, for muzzleloader patching.

That said, most of the “tracing” type papers are in the 1.2 to 1.5 thousandths thick range, and work well for me.  I use Strathmore Tracing paper.  But if I could find a package of Esleek Erasible Bond typewriter paper or K&E Graph paper, I’d be delighted.  Other papers are described and recommended on the Shiloh Rifles forum and the Paper Patching section of the Cast Boolits forum.

I don’t find rag content all that critical.  As long as the paper is thin enough to be translucent, and hard and “crackly” when crumpled, it is a likely candidate.   Xerox, computer printer and other such papers are generally too thick and lack strength.

I don't paper patch, probably never will, but I just went and measured good ol' Reynolds parchment paper from the kitchen and it measured a very consistent .0013. So, maybe two wraps of this might work for some of the situations. It sure crinkles when you try to wad it. Won't cost a thing to go to the kitchen and rob a few inches from your little lady. If it works, you can get a bunch of if cheaper than good paper costs these days.

I have some SC 55W if you want try it.  It wet patches great!

Cheers,
Steve

I use ladies dress patterns.  I have hundreds if not thousands that I carried out of my grandmother’s basement when we cleaned out her house.  She had been saving every dress pattern she used since the early 1930’s.  I don’t think she ever bought a complete dress at a store.  I check the thickness of the paper, but it all seems to have been very consistent for decades.

A suggestion:
Patch one of your .002" over bore diameter bullets and push it into your rifle chamber and down the barrel a couple of inches with a cleaning rod. How much drag do you feel? If the amount of drag is acceptable, make up a dummy round with patched bullet and see if you can chamber it with acceptable amount of pressure.