Combined Technology BT shooting question

[Darkhorse]

I'm into my 4th week recovering from a Total Knee Replacement and I've finally been able to get outside to the shop for some reloading. Today I loaded some test loads for my 7mm with varied seating depths. Now I'm just waiting until I can hobble 100 yards to a target and back so I can shoot them.
My rifle has 8 shots from a clean barrel. What I'm wondering is; For those that shoot these coated bullets, is it best to start with a clean barrel and a few fouling shots with the CBT's or will it even matter?

 

[1Shot]

You will need to fire some fouling shots.

 

[Darkhorse]

To clarify my question. My rifle has 8 shots fired from a clean barrel with the regular Ballistic Tips, so it is fouled. I would prefer to just start right here with shooting the test loads.
But seeing as these new bullets have the lubalox coating I'm not sure that's the best course here.
So, is it best to clean down to metal, then fire a couple of the lubalox coated bullets, then start with the test loads?
From things I've read about the coating on these bullets it doesn't really matter, but I don't know that for sure.

 

[skidmark]

Highs in the low 90"s humidity 70% going to be rough there today. Take your time and bring some water :mrgreen:

 

[JD338]

I always start with a clean barrel. My 338 RUM shoots the 250 gr AB to the exact same POI with a clean or fouled barrel. Depending on your rifle and how long you can shoot before it gets fouled, you might be alright.

JD338

 

[NYDAN]

Darkhorse, I have shot three rifles back and forth between BT's and CTBST's. My observation with these rifles suggest there is a difference depending on order of shooting. This may not be the case for everyone, just my limited experience.

I think you will be fine with one fouling shot with the CTBST (either after shooting BT's, or with a clean barrel). I think my first shot with CTBST's have a different velocity than the subsequent shots. It is as if it takes one shot to "coat" the barrel.

However, I believe that it is better to clean the barrel when I want to shot the BT's after having shot the CTBST's. I believe I get different results with the BT's if there is any of the coating residue from the CTBST's left in the barrel.

 

[Darkhorse]

Skidmark, I won't be shooting today. It's probably going to be about 3 more weeks until I can handle going to the range for serious rifle work. In the meantime I'll be loading a bunch of .40 S&W and 44 Mag. Next week I should be able to do some pistol shooting behind the house.

I think I'll just clean down to metal then start fresh with the CB Ballistic Tips. Seems like the right thing to do.

 

[Alderman]

I am interested in what a rifle will do with any load from a clean barrel. The reasoning is I load mostly for hunting and it rains so much around here, the barrel gets cleaned or at least some patches through it nearly every day of the season.

 

[Darkhorse]

It depends on "Your" rifle. I've had rifles that it made little visible difference on a target. However my Browning .300 Win Mag it makes a big difference. This rifle needs a minimum of 3 fouling shots before it will shoot into the POI group.
One of my older Nosler loading manuals has a section on this where they shot and chrono'd several calibers starting with clean barrels. Concensus was a rifle barrel needs a fouling shot or 2 before accuracy and velocity settles down.
After shooting for so many years and keeping records, I never hunt or shoot for good groups on a clean barrel anymore.
But if other variables come into play, such as the environment, then I would certainly do what I had to do to ensure maintaining my rifle and not worry at all about it.

My purpose in posting this question was not about shooting from clean barrels, though that is a good subject for discussion, but about what effect a barrel fouled with regular gilding metal would have on accuracy when shooting the coated CBTBT's on top of that fouling. I just didn't want to clean that barrel with only 8 shots through it I guess.

 

[skidmark]

Does the coating come off the bullets and deposit on the rifling ?
I have never shot a coated bullet and am truly wondering.
Thinking about that full knee job makes mine hurt too...Hope you get back
up and around soon. Wouldn't surprise me if it snowed next week...or got
up over 100.

 

[Darkhorse]

Does the coating come off the bullets and deposit on the rifling ?
I have never shot a coated bullet and am truly wondering.

X2 on that. I've never shot any either but my research indicates this proprietary winchester coating doesn't behave like the other stuff. That's why I was thinking about just shooting them without cleaning.
I think I'll be pleased with the new knee considering what I've gone through the last decade or so on the old one. Between my wife and the Physical Therapists I'm going stir crazy. I want to go shoot something and go fishing or work on my new box stand or something. But no. I'm supposed to take it easy.
We will see what the next couple of weeks will bring...

 

[skidmark]

Yep..With that knee I think their right. Best take it
easy for a while. When I am down I clean an prep brass
and the like. Stuff like that you know, anyways you will be
back at it again soon no doubt.
As for the Coated stuff I believe I would clean all the way
down, no copper,nothing and shoot a fouler or two of the new
fodder, and go from there.
Oh yeah...the fish arn't biting the weather can't make up its mind.

 

[Darkhorse]

Before I went under the knife I cleaned, annealed and sized all my fired 7mag and .300 mag cases, then took the case trimmer, neck turner, scales and calipers into the house so I'd have something to do. Now all my 7mag's are trimmed to length and neck turned.
The .300's are next.
A good thing; After cleaning the .300's I noticed a shiney little ring just above the belt on a couple of cases. After checking with my sharpened paper clip sure enough some of the case heads were approaching separation. So I went through them all and discarded the bad one's.
Glad I caught that one.

 

[DrMike]

After cleaning the .300's I noticed a shiney little ring just above the belt on a couple of cases. After checking with my sharpened paper clip sure enough some of the case heads were approaching separation. So I went through them all and discarded the bad one's.
Glad I caught that one.

A good catch, indeed. That could make for some interesting range time if it were missed. :shock: