Are fouling shots needed after barrel cleaning?

[mjrodney]

It seems to me that I need to fire a few shots through a cleaned barrel before my usual level of accuracy is achieved. Just the first 3-5 shots.

But I have to ask.

Are fouling shots for real, or is a clean barrel just as accurate as a fired barrel?

Is it just me needing a trigger finger warm up that causes a bit of early inaccuracy?

LSWC bullets.

[Hoser]

Pistol shot offhand? Most likely you wont notice anything.

Rifle shot off sandbags or a prone hard holder? 5-10 shots before it settles down.

[rchernandez]

Highly recommended especially for Bullseye. It's like warming up! You're after consistency shot-after-shot, a clean barrel will add a variable...until its been fouled.

[mjrodney]

Thanks for replying.

Yup, it's handgun, fired off hand.

I've been assuming right along that the issue is probably me (they call me ol' Shakey, after all) but someone mentioned barrel fouling could be an issue.

[KINGMAX]

Try this in preperation prior to opening day of deer season:

A). Clean your primary rifle.
B). Take that freshly cleaned rifle to the range.
C). Fire atleast 2 - 3 fouling rounds through it.
D). Begin to zero scope using 3 round groups at 25 yards/meters, and work out to 50, 75, 100 and 125 yards/meters.

Once I have zeroed my scope, I only wipe down the outside of the rifle w/ just a touch gun oil on a clean cloth. I do not run either a patch nor brush down the barrel during hunting season.

My choice of rifle is a Remington 700 ADL in .270, topped w/ a BUSHNELL Banner scope, 4-12 X 48.

It has brought home meat evertytime it has crossed path's w/ MR. Whitetail unless I allowed him to pass without taking the shot.

[Carl N. Brown]

My first shots from a clean, cold barrel are always a little high.
For a match, I always set aside loads that did not inspect
to final standards purely as fouling shots, to dry and prep
the barrel, before checking zero with match shots.

[Charles S]

The only pistol a fowling shot matters in that I own is my Ruger Match 22. It shoots better after about 10 shots after a cleaning.

Kingmax actually has really good advice and I pretty much do the same thing.

Once I have zeroed my scope, I only wipe down the outside of the rifle w/ just a touch gun oil on a clean cloth. I do not run either a patch nor brush down the barrel during hunting season.

I will run a bore snake down the barrel with a CLP (Breakfree in the past...Weapon Shield now) after hunting in the rain. I just try to shoot a fouling shot at the first chance I get thereafter or accept the fact that the gun will shoot off.

Some of my rifles are more affected than others. I have a Remington 700 Custom rifle that the fowling shot is critical. My Winchester Model 70 only shoots about 1/2 inch to the right on a wet bore.

I believe all the match shooters in benchrest use a fowling shot.

[Mark whiz]

I too would recommend a few fouling shots before shooting for record. With black powder, the fouling shot is essential and even with air gun shooting the difference is very noticeable.

Here is another variable to consider: I've also heard it said that you need to use the same powder/bullet combination for both the fouling and record shots. I can say that when working up different loads for testing - changing powders does seem to affect accuracy until you've put 2 or 3 rounds with the new powder thru the bore.

[Walkalong]

clean barrel just as accurate as a fired barrel
Yes, it just does not necessarily shoot to the same spot as when it is fouled. Benchresters always shoot one or two foulers before shooting their group.