corbin9191
Handloader
- Dec 2, 2007
- 724
- 0
I am just wondering, after you get one scrubbing your barrel how many fouling shots does it usually take to foul the barrel again for accuracy? Saying that your barrel shoots best with a dirty bore.
fouling shots
- Thread starter corbin9191
- Start date
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,513
- 6,539
While rifles each show individual characteristics, usually one shot is usually enough to foul the barrel on my rifles. Many of the rifles I have shot shoot to the same POI with a clean barrel, which is always sweet.
I agree with DrMike, mostly.
One shot usually is enough.
After I am satisfied with load testing, and I have set the scope to the desired "zero" and I am satisfied with the components to be used, I clean the rifle. Then each and every day before a selected hunt day, I fire one shot into that target, and return each day, hopefully at a different time of day and different weather conditions, to fire only one round into the same target at the same distance. At the end of time before the hunt (lets say a week), I have developed a level of confidence in the load, the rifles reliability to deliver it, and my own ability/ consistency with the rifle.
This has worked for me over the last 50 years or so.
Good luck in finding what works for you,
One shot usually is enough.
After I am satisfied with load testing, and I have set the scope to the desired "zero" and I am satisfied with the components to be used, I clean the rifle. Then each and every day before a selected hunt day, I fire one shot into that target, and return each day, hopefully at a different time of day and different weather conditions, to fire only one round into the same target at the same distance. At the end of time before the hunt (lets say a week), I have developed a level of confidence in the load, the rifles reliability to deliver it, and my own ability/ consistency with the rifle.
This has worked for me over the last 50 years or so.
Good luck in finding what works for you,
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,526
- 9,521
It depends on the rifle and load. My 338 RUM shoots to the same POI clean or dirty. The first shot in this group left a black oil ring on the target.
JD338
JD338
Antelope_Sniper
Handloader
- Jan 25, 2008
- 2,618
- 0
Usually one fowler will do.
roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 1
I like to shoot three fouling shots, each from a cold barrel, before the hunt. By the third shot, I can see that my bore is sufficiently fouled to give me consistant groups and they are hitting the zero that I want from the cold barrel.
Take more than one rifle to the range and wait at least 20 minutes between fouling shots. Do you cheat yourself by firing while the barrel is still hot.
Steven A.
Take more than one rifle to the range and wait at least 20 minutes between fouling shots. Do you cheat yourself by firing while the barrel is still hot.
Steven A.
C.Smith
Handloader
- Oct 11, 2006
- 1,411
- 0
One of my co-workers (who is currently one of our SWAT teams snipers) was telling me about one of his last classes he went to. Fouling shots came up.
They were taught to run a patch soaked in rubbinng alcohal down the bore to get any oil and cleaning residue out of the barrel. The thinking there is that cleaning solvents leave a residue as well as oil. LIquids do not compress so they believe this is what causes the first shot to be off on a clean barrel.
My co-worker says it works, but I have not had a chance to play with it yet.
Corey
They were taught to run a patch soaked in rubbinng alcohal down the bore to get any oil and cleaning residue out of the barrel. The thinking there is that cleaning solvents leave a residue as well as oil. LIquids do not compress so they believe this is what causes the first shot to be off on a clean barrel.
My co-worker says it works, but I have not had a chance to play with it yet.
Corey
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,513
- 6,539
Interesting, Corey. I have always run a patch wet with isopropyl alcohol through the bore between solvents, but never as last thing. I usually run a patch soaked with G96 followed by two dry patches. I may have to try this. It makes sense.
C.Smith
Handloader
- Oct 11, 2006
- 1,411
- 0
Yes it would be bare metal on bare metal. I always thought that was what happened anyway, so I guess what other or more can it cause? I wish I could have been in the class because it certainly has some interesting points to as well as what you brought up. I will be trying it with my new SAvage during the break in and just plain shooting it and see what I find out. I plan on trying it both ways to see if it works on a sporter type rifle.
Corey
Corey
roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 1
russ808 wrote : " But wouldn't the bore be bare metal at that point."
The "bare metal" of the bullet, lead or copper, bears against the "bare metal" steel bore. That is as things should be. After "fouling shots", heat and pressure remove all semblance of lube, solvent and any other gummy substance that was left in the bore after cleaning. Those chemicals in the bore will alter zero. Nothing short of fouling shots will guarantee to remove all of the residue that alters zero.
As some have written, there are rifles that appear not to be affected by cleaning residue, but I wager that most rifles are affected and in order to get the consistant groups that the rifle should deliver, one needs to shoot out that residue.
I run a swab through with Acetone, followed by two dry patches, just before shooting. This serves two purposes : One, it dries the chamber so that the first round does not create too high pressure when fired in a lubed chamber. And two, it removes most of the lube from the bore.
Always use a bore guide and a good rod, like a Dewey, and wipe the rod often. As many bores are ruined by dirty rods, scrapping down the bore, as are ruined by firing too hot for too long!
Steven A.
The "bare metal" of the bullet, lead or copper, bears against the "bare metal" steel bore. That is as things should be. After "fouling shots", heat and pressure remove all semblance of lube, solvent and any other gummy substance that was left in the bore after cleaning. Those chemicals in the bore will alter zero. Nothing short of fouling shots will guarantee to remove all of the residue that alters zero.
As some have written, there are rifles that appear not to be affected by cleaning residue, but I wager that most rifles are affected and in order to get the consistant groups that the rifle should deliver, one needs to shoot out that residue.
I run a swab through with Acetone, followed by two dry patches, just before shooting. This serves two purposes : One, it dries the chamber so that the first round does not create too high pressure when fired in a lubed chamber. And two, it removes most of the lube from the bore.
Always use a bore guide and a good rod, like a Dewey, and wipe the rod often. As many bores are ruined by dirty rods, scrapping down the bore, as are ruined by firing too hot for too long!
Steven A.
big rifle man
Handloader
- Dec 21, 2005
- 850
- 0
I would have to agree with Dr. Mike and JD in regards to some rifles. My .338RUM and .300WSM don't change impact point from a clean barrel. Prior to shooting I run two dry patches through the barrel and thats it.
