Manual

When a perfectly patched round ball is driven through the barrel, it will 

show cloth marks around the circumference of the ball. It will be heavily 

engraved where it bore on the lands and lightly engraved in the groove 

area. As it is too difficult to load by hand, a combination this tight is 

seldom used in a hunting rifle.

Ball Dia.Ball Dia.Ball Dia.Ball Dia.

The patch must be

thick enough to fill the

rifling grooves.

Ball diameter must make 

allowances for added

thickness of the patch

at the lands.

Patch and Ball Fit

For target shooting, an extremely tight fitting combination of patch and

ball is sometimes used. Often a bullet starter, shaped to the contour of the ball,

is employed and a hammer is used to start the projectile. Such a combination

is, naturally, too difficult to load under field conditions and, therefore, most

hunting rifles use a slightly looser fit.

T/C Patch Material is available (unlubricated or prelubricated) in sizes

which relate directly to the proper round ball diameter and barrel dimensions

of each specific caliber. (See the current T/C catalog). T/C Patch Material rep-

resents an optimum compromise between tight fit and loadability. Bear in

mind that the ball must be seated firmly against the powder without excessive

battering or flattening of the projectile itself. To obtain accuracy it is essential

that the front of the ball remain round. When used with the proper size (lead)

round ball, T/C patch material allows the shooter to load under field condi-

tions and obtain fine accuracy.

When targeting a muzzleloading firearm, it is wise to recover a few of the

fired patches and to check their condition. Fired patches can usually be found

lying on the ground about 10 yards in front of the muzzle. The following illus-

trations will help you to determine whether your patch and/or lubricant is

doing its job.

Lubricant is required to ease loading and prevent the patch material from

burning. The “spit” patch (wet with saliva) should be avoided as it will dry out

and cease to function as a lubricant. Thompson/Center recommends the use

of our Natural Lube 1000 Plus Bor

e Butter

. It should be r

ubbed into the patch

material with the fingers. Saturation of the patch material should be complete

but not excessive. Excessive lubricant may deactivate the powder char

ge.