Who starts with a Fouled bore?

[Cuboodle]

My 1st shot from a whistle clean bore is always a flyer. I read an article online that condones a spoiler shot before going afield. I admit my 2nd and future shots after just a wiping patch are on there mark. With PA flintlock around the corner I was going to give it shot pun intended. Anyone else do this?

[thelongrifle]

Never. My first shot is usually the best of the day. I hate to waste it.

[bob in the woods]

Since I'm not willing to walk around with a rifle having a fouled bore for the entire hunting season, no , I don't start with a fouled bore.  My hunting loads are pretty much spot on from 1st shot on. Now, if by a fowled bore , you are referring to the use of goose grease as a lube, I'd be willing to give it a try      Honestly, with a mink oil lubed patch /ball combination I've not had a problem.  I would take a look at your patch and lube and see if you can get rid of that 1st shot flyer.

[Pukka Bundook]

I too start with a clean bore.   If I don't get a shot, it's Still clan that way! 

[jmdavis]

Clean dry bore

[Fred Hembree]

I start with a clean bore and my first shot is usually a good one. I agree with bob in the woods that perhaps you need to give some attention to patch lube combinations etc.

[Mad Monk]

My 1st shot from a whistle clean bore is always a flyer. I read an article online that condones a spoiler shot before going afield. I admit my 2nd and future shots after just a wiping patch are on there mark. With PA flintlock around the corner I was going to give it shot pun intended. Anyone else do this?

If you were to shoot the gun over a chronograph you would see that the first shot out of a clean bore has a lower velocity than a second and 3rd shot even when you wipe the bore between shots. That lower velocity with the first shot gives you the flyer.  Here in PA I suggest that the flintlock deer hunters use a big larger charge for the first shot.  Try adding 10 more grains of powder for that first shot.  Should bring the velocity up to what would be seen in a bore that has had a few rounds through it.

Bill K.

[Huntschool]

I have to agree with others.... try some different patch and lube combos....  All my guns, both flint and cap shoot first shot spot on...….

[OldMtnMan]

Is the first shot on a clean bore consistent? If it is and should be. Sight in the gun for that first shot. Then all the shots with a fouled bore will be the flyers.

I always hunt with a clean bore.

[Mike Brooks]

I foul, always have.

[WadePatton]

For hunting, a clean bbl here. That way I don't have to clean it if I don't shoot it.  Block the terch and it stays loaded for the hunt, one day or 21 no difference.  No way I would do that with fouled bore in our moderate temps (blatant humidity).

Fouled for competition shooting absolutely.

Also I really dig what Bill (MM) says up here in this thread, paraphrased:  If your first and second hunting load shots are too far apart---GAS UP the first shot, and only the first shot to bring it back into the group. Seems rather easy no?

Absolutely ballistically proper. Does anyone here do that?

[Silky921]

The first shot from my Lehigh 36 is always a flyer,  but that's the only gun of mine that is like that..

[Daryl]

Some day,  a person should take some water to the range and make a 1st shot group. My old .69 is pretty consistent with the first shot- usually an inch and 1/2 higher than the subsequent, fouled  group.
When using the thick .034" patches & an identical load for powder, the balls strike in line with the sights that were 'set' in 1986.  With the thin .022" Canvas patch, I actually got some right windage, and of course a lousy huge group for shots 2 through 5.
With the thick, patch, the fouling is useful, one simply has to 'hold' for it. I-too leave my gun 'clean' but loaded, for the season until it is used.

[Mike Brooks]

After putting some thought to this I think starting with a fowled bore would be difficult...unless you loaded it with very small fowl.

[recurve]

 For sighting in cold clean barrel(first shot). How do I get that same "barrel" condition for sight in shots, water and many patches or windex type cleaner?  What do you do?

[OldMtnMan]

Small spray bottle of water.

[hanshi]

I never foul the barrel and the first shot always seems to be well within the group.  Of course one shot is all I get at a deer.  But I've also shot multiple deer within an hour or so of stand time and the shots hit just where the sights say.  If I don't get any shot at all I can leave the gun loaded until the next time in the bush.

[alacran]

I used to just fire a pan full of primer before I loaded. The idea was to burn the oil out of the touch hole. Out in a dry clime, didn't have any problems with that procedure. Rethought that and now I run a few dry cleaning patches to take up any oil in the barrel. Then I take my ball discharger and shoot a blast though the touch hole. I load the gun, the bear greased patch lubes the barrel when I ram the ball on the powder.  Compressed CO2 really dries out a barrel.

[Flint62Smoothie]

My 1st shot from a whistle clean bore is always a flyer. I read an article online that condones a spoiler shot before going afield. I admit my 2nd and future shots after just a wiping patch are on there mark. With PA flintlock around the corner I was going to give it shot pun intended. Anyone else do this?

I too ‘had’ this problem and used to hunt with a fouled bore. But with a long season, no shots at game, and add in rainy weather ... and it isn’t ideal. In my case, I use mink oil as the lube whilst hunting. So my regimen “was” (key word here - ‘was’) to put a patch through the barrel  w/ mink oil on it, thinking I was conditioning the bore, with a fouled shot.

I now believe I added TOO much lube to the bore, making it far slicker than a typical shot. So I now take the clean gun, put some dry patches to it, then load it for hunting. But after loading I can the bore to and above the load with another dry patch. Lo’ and behold that has made the 1st hunting shot fall within my typical group. And yes ... I too hunt the late PA muzzleloading flintlock season.

[hanshi]

I always use alcohol with pipe cleaners and Q-Tips to dry out the pan, frizzen and touch hole.  And since I preserve with Barricade, I can wipe out the bore - usually do - or not.  Barricade dries so no oil is left in the bore.

[smokinbuck]

I always take a "fouling" shot , wipe, not clean, and proceed to  reload. I'm one that wipes between every shot on the range, Probably mind over matter but I feel it creates similar bore conditions for every shot.
Mark

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

I've always started with a fouled bore, for that very reason. 

Mr. Knights idea of boosting the first charge has me intrigued.  I may have to test it out.

Either boost the first charge, or experiment to see if there's a quick-n-easy way to get it to the "whistle clean" state in the field.  Maybe carry a tin of cleaning patches soaked in MAP solution?  Keep a wool mop in a small bottle of MAP? 

[Daryl]

Lol after reading bjj's post, a funny thought struck me. When hunting, all of my charges are boosted.
When hunting  I am using 165gr. 2F Goex.
With the Mink Oil I use, the first shot from the clean bore is on the group.
With the squib-load of 3drams(82gr.) to 85gr. 2F, there is a difference in poi which amounts to about 1-1/2in. at 50 yards.

[OldMtnMan]

Using my simple system. I don't get shooting different loads. I sight the gun in with my clean bore with a hunting load. Usually around 80gr for all the game I hunt. 2nd shot will also be on a clean bore and to the same POI as the first shot. Why wouldn't it be?

I've never needed a 2nd shot, so I don't concern myself with it too much, except to make it just like my 1st shot. It's a muzzleloader. Swabbing is part of shooting/hunting a muzzleloader for me. I have lots of patches and time.

I'm not sure how I could be any more consistent?

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

I just finished reading a similar thread somewhere else.  This idea of the first shot being the only one that matters is perplexing.  Is the only game people hunt with muzzleloaders deer and larger?

I went rabbit hunting with my .36.  I think it would kinda stink if I had to clean between shots the same way I do at the end of the day.  It would also kinda stink to take one shot at a rabbit then call it a day.