yep i used to do the same as rollingB , and used a empty cap tin to hold pre lube's
i never did stitch patches together as i only used pre cut for maybe a year .
what i did was take a strip of ticking and cut it a little larger then the patch i wanted . then i folded that strip back and forth , also the width of the patch . . then cut around the stack so as that you leave just about 1/8 of the fold left on two sides of the stack of patches . this leaves the patches connected by an 1/8 inch area . If you want more the 4 or 5 , then just fold 4 or 5 at a time . Cut them out , then refold another 4 or 5 along the same strip . You can continue and have all the patches connected , even if you want 100 on a strip .
To load , simply place the patch on the muzzle , just as you would if you were cutting patches at the muzzle start the ball , then grab the next patch in line and give a yank . the patch will disconnect from the one you just loaded .
No fumbling around with opening a tin , no trying to separated just one patch so you don’t accidentally double patch .
To lube them , just heat up you chosen mix to a liquid state . Once there ., just soak your patches in it and squeegee out the excess that doesn’t absorb into the patch .
Another miss conception IMO is that a lube must be sticky and goopy to work I don’t believe this is the case. its also where a lot of new folks trying to use spit patches for the first time go wrong and then get the idea that spit will foul a charge .
Simply put , you don’t need a lot just enough to dampen the patch , be it lubed or spit .
If any of you were to see me at a shoot , I will have a long strip of ticking tied off to my rifle bag strap . But when hunting I only have a piece about 12 inches long . Enough for approx 10 ball .
I always carry a minimum of 10 balls no mater if im planning on just a day hunt
As to how fast one can load ? Again I would agree with Rolling .
But you have to be organized . Be able to reach into your bag , while locked on your target and instantly grab what your wanting .
Shooting event wise , im not very good at the speed events . Best I ever did was 8 shoots on target at 25 , in 2 minutes . But that was only loading a Patch on the first shot and spitting balls after that .
It wasn’t even good enough to place in the top 5 .
Hunting wise though is much , Much different .
When I first started our I did a lot of reading. One of the reads was on British loading standards . As I recall it listed 4 shots shouldered and fired in under a minute .
I worked like a beaver all summer trying to get to that . Never did . But I did get 3 loaded and off . OHHH I was all set . . Opening morning I dropped a big muley doe in the snow . She flat dropped like a car had hit here . I started to reload . Im locked on her boy I tell you what .. I was big time now .!!!
When I walked up to her she was done . Was a wonderful shot ..
that’s when I hear my dad laughing . I thought he was going to literally fall down .
He would slow down look up , wipe the tears and go right back at it
Finally he says , you know you might want to unload that rifle . And then starts in laughing again . So im thinking
/
I picked it up pointed it at a big pine . She went pop and the ball shot out maybe 15ft .
Seems all my practice was wasted . The blood was pumping so hard I had dumped most of my load of powder all around the muzzle and onto the snow. When I had thought I was putting items back in my rifle bag , I was missing the bag and thus had a nice trail of coderments which my dad was picking up behind me .
So today I tell folks . Make that first shot count . Then reload like the Calvary is on your tail , but don’t go so fast that you brain shifts to neutral, but forgets to tell your hands .
Take enough time to load properly . Never EVER walk up on a downed animal with an empty gun . Even if you think its all over especially not one with horns .
I cant say about white tail , but have seen mule deer , elk and moose males and females use their last spark to get up and try there very best to stomp a mud hole in you .
