Who starts with a Fouled bore?

[Carney Pace]

Never had an Elk wait while I fired a fouling shot and reloaded.

Work a load up where your rifle will shoot where you are holding it.  .  Work the cleanest load up shootin off the bench then shoot off hand to finalize point of aim.

Carney

 

[OldMtnMan]

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.

Yes, my system is for big game. However, hunting for small game can still be done with a clean bore. You'd just be swabbing more. Nothing really changes.

If swabbing is too much work? Shoot a fouled bore. Your choice.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

OldMtnMan,

The OP says he does do a 'tween shot wipe. 

I've noticed the same thing.  That first shot from a pristine bore is off the mark.  Just running a spit-moistened patch down the bore once-and-out doesn't really clean it that thoroughly.  Thus the subsequent shots group in a different spot.

When I get home, before putting my gun up for storage, I will run up to 6 patches or more down the bore to really get it clean enough that I don't think it will rust in storage.  Shooting once at an elk, then taking the piece home to thoroughly clean seems tolerable.  But trying to run half a dozen patches down the barrel between squirrels seems a bit discouraging.  To paraphrase Waylon Jennings, "Are you sure [Dan'l Boone] done it this way?"

[OldMtnMan]

OldMtnMan,

The OP says he does do a 'tween shot wipe. 

I've noticed the same thing.  That first shot from a pristine bore is off the mark.  Just running a spit-moistened patch down the bore once-and-out doesn't really clean it that thoroughly.  Thus the subsequent shots group in a different spot.

When I get home, before putting my gun up for storage, I will run up to 6 patches or more down the bore to really get it clean enough that I don't think it will rust in storage.  Shooting once at an elk, then taking the piece home to thoroughly clean seems tolerable.  But trying to run half a dozen patches down the barrel between squirrels seems a bit discouraging.  To paraphrase Waylon Jennings, "Are you sure [Dan'l Boone] done it this way?"

His shot is off what mark? If you sight in the gun for the first shot on a clean bore the fouled bore shots will be the flyers.

This only works if your gun can shoot consistently with a clean bore. A gun that will shoot the same with a clean bore and a fouled bore is the best but are rare. So, you have to pick one of them to sight the gun in. I like guns that will shoot small groups on a clean bore. That way I can hunt with a clean bore. I usually hang onto those guns.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

OldMtnMan,

Hey there we go!  I like guns that will shoot best with a dirty bore.  That way I can keep hunting after I shoot once.  So all those guns that don't shoot well with clean bores you can just send 'em on over to me!

[OldMtnMan]

When you're retired you look for stuff to do. I choose swabbing as one of them.

[alacran]

When shooting an NMLRA 6 bull target, my first shot on the practice bull is usually a 10 or an X with a clean bore.  It goes downhill from there.
Are my subsequent shots flyers?
Put your rifle in a mechanical rest to see if your first shot with a clean bore is a flyer or if it is just you.

 

[hanshi]

In the bush after game, large and small, mink oil is my lube of choice.  Perhaps one of the reasons that the first shot from a clean barrel centers my groups is that I load tight combinations.  The fact that I'm a lousy shot doesn't enter into the equation.   

[stubshaft]

I'm with the fouled bore gang.  I pour a half charge of loose powder down the barrel, point it skyward and let her rip.  THEN, load her up for hunting.

[Daryl]

Imho, firing off a "fouling shot" then reloading for the hunt  can get you into ignition troubles in humid conditions.

[Cuboodle]

Was simply talking of loading about 50 grain of 2f and firing that off. Then a dry patch rodded down flipped and rodded again then tossed then load with my sighted in load of 120gr 2f Shooting a .58 cal rice bbl on a mark silver Virginia. Truth be told I do use a Co2 discharger and do a clean between long delays.

[okawbow]

In my .54 deer rifle, I’ve found that I can get the first shot to shoot the same as following shots by:
First, getting the barrel and touch hole clean and dry of oil or grease. Loading with a tight patch lubed with just a film of bear oil. It’s important that the load does not have a too slick lube.

Following shots are loaded with a slightly thinner patch that allows quick reloads with the wood ramrod, but still fit well enough to shoot reasonably accurately. I don’t wipe between shots. All shots will group in the same area at 50 yards. I can leave the gun loaded for the whole season without worrying about rust or moisture until I shoot it once.