For those that prep their barrels (meaning firing a fouling round or more thru their rifles) prior to their hunting season/s, do you run anything down the barrel (maybe just simply a light coat of oil) after the fouling shots or do you just leave it as is (no touch) and clean at the end of the season? Thank you for the help.
Barrel Ready Question
- Thread starter Steve S.
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Alaskan Ironworker
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Leave it as is after the fouling shot. I believe a coat of oil after would defeat the purpose of a fouling shot.
Very good AI - makes sense. I guess if I drill down into my next question - is it the copper/ lead residue that promotes fouling accuracy or is it the burnt carbon residue or, is it all of what is left behind in a barrel (I initially asked about a light coat of oil just for rust prevention purposes during the season carry time). Thanks again.
it's not that it "promotes fouling accuracy" so much as to achieve accuracy, you need to be consistent.
the most consistent you could probably get would probably be to clean to bare steel between each shot. that way the barrel is always the same. after a shot, there's some fouling in the barrel that changes the friction, which affects the velocity and pressure. after the second shot, there's a little more.
since cleaning every shot is highly impractical, the next best thing is to shoot with a consistent coat of fouling on the barrel. while copper tends to adhere to itself and build up inconsistently, powder somehow, magically, seems to be self regulating, as it hits some point and just stays there.
in my experience, you need 5-10 rounds to foul it in, but after that, it seems to be consistent.
i don't know if you could apply oil in a consistent way, but if you could, i suppose that would work too. you'd have to test it.
the most consistent you could probably get would probably be to clean to bare steel between each shot. that way the barrel is always the same. after a shot, there's some fouling in the barrel that changes the friction, which affects the velocity and pressure. after the second shot, there's a little more.
since cleaning every shot is highly impractical, the next best thing is to shoot with a consistent coat of fouling on the barrel. while copper tends to adhere to itself and build up inconsistently, powder somehow, magically, seems to be self regulating, as it hits some point and just stays there.
in my experience, you need 5-10 rounds to foul it in, but after that, it seems to be consistent.
i don't know if you could apply oil in a consistent way, but if you could, i suppose that would work too. you'd have to test it.
I clean the barrels on all of my hunting rifles a few weeks before hunting season then make one more range trip to shoot a few rounds to confirm zero. Then I don't touch them until after hunting season unless I get caught in a rain. Then I'll clean everything, but won't hunt with THAT rifle again until I get it to the range for a few shots to foul the barrel. Fortunately I have several to choose from.
I'll usually break all of them down for a good cleaning after the season. During late winter and spring is when I get to the range to shoot for fun and experiment with different loads etc. I will always clean any crud from the action and wipe down the exterior after each outing, but rarely clean the barrels.
I'll usually break all of them down for a good cleaning after the season. During late winter and spring is when I get to the range to shoot for fun and experiment with different loads etc. I will always clean any crud from the action and wipe down the exterior after each outing, but rarely clean the barrels.
Varminterror
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Leave it dirty. No oil.
Too many folks were indoctrinated by a generation of GI’s which were trained to keep firearms clean enough to lick, and frankly, doing so is at the detriment of the rifle and the shooter. Leaving the rifle dirty for a few weeks or months of hunting season won’t hurt anything, and cleaning too often can and will.
Frankly, I have a couple rifles which get cleaned once or twice per year, which corresponds to only once or twice per barrel life, and are shot every other weekend or more throughout the year, and these are some of, if not my absolute smallest shooting rifles.
Too many folks were indoctrinated by a generation of GI’s which were trained to keep firearms clean enough to lick, and frankly, doing so is at the detriment of the rifle and the shooter. Leaving the rifle dirty for a few weeks or months of hunting season won’t hurt anything, and cleaning too often can and will.
Frankly, I have a couple rifles which get cleaned once or twice per year, which corresponds to only once or twice per barrel life, and are shot every other weekend or more throughout the year, and these are some of, if not my absolute smallest shooting rifles.
earplug
Member
Knowing what your hunting gun does with a lightly oiled bore is helpful. If its hits within the kill zone of a dry fouled barrel you can hunt in humid salty environments without fear.
If I think the there is high humidity after sighting in. (Who can predict Wisconsin weather, eh?) I will sometimes run a tight clean flannel patch down the barrel of a conventional rifle. But that's all. Fouling can collect and hold moisture. Flannel is soft, rough and a highly absorbent cloth which makes it a great patch material for all types of firearms. I have found this method not to cause any first shot flyers.
sarduy
Member
I don’t know man, i hear all these stories and procedures about rifles and stuff, I respect them all because what work for me might not work for others and vice versa plus i was tough to respect the elders however this is what i do.
clean the rifle, go to the range to confirm zero and test the ammo, go hunting, return and clean the rifle for storage.
clean the rifle, go to the range to confirm zero and test the ammo, go hunting, return and clean the rifle for storage.
I have 2 rifles I hunt with or did hunt with. One puts the first shot from a wiped oiled barrel in the same group as the rest of the shots. The other puts the first shot 1" to 1.5 inches to the left of the group at 100 yards. I did not take the time to determine if that was because of the oil or the temperature. I decided to just hunt with the oily bore. I would wipe it as dry as I could before the season. I think you need to try your rifle and see if you actually need the fouling shot or fouled bore. For hunting that first shot is the only one that matters. I made quite a few trips to the range to be sure where the first shot was going.
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25-20 WCF
Member
As others have stated, there is no shortcut here. The OP will have to try his rifle to see if a clean bore will put the first shot inside the group. If not, a few fouling shots prior to the season will increase his chances for a first-shot hit. There is no universal correct answer.
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Ifishsum
Member
Agreed, I have a couple of hunting rifles where a cold clean bore hits to a different POI, and also ones where it doesn't matter. But I've found no downside to leaving them alone after sighting in for the season. I clean bore before season starts, shoot a few to verify POI then leave it fouled until after the hunt.
Been fooling around with this for years. I have a file of "first shot" targets for several rifles. I always fire one cold bore shot to begin a range session, noting whether bore is clean, fouled, oiled and dried (I never shoot out of an oily bore), and then file it with the others from that gun. Fouled bore, cold, fired with same load is most consistent.
Back in my black powder competition days I would clean the bore with alcohol, load powder and a wad, fire into the berm, do my normal between shot wipe and start the match. Consistency is the key. I have a 64 Anschutz that takes from three to ten foulers to settle down. Then it is good for days.
Back in my black powder competition days I would clean the bore with alcohol, load powder and a wad, fire into the berm, do my normal between shot wipe and start the match. Consistency is the key. I have a 64 Anschutz that takes from three to ten foulers to settle down. Then it is good for days.
troy fairweather
Member
I just about ridd my hunting rifles of oil and grease before season, nothing like watching the cocking piece of your gun move in slow mo as your sights are on a animal.
JFrank
Member
I ensure my zero with a couple rounds, don't like a oily bore I doubt it helps accuracy in my pea size brain it can only increase pressure. Dry patches make for happy hunting.
Just my 2 cents.
Just my 2 cents.
JFrank
Member
Yep
Varminterror
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This.
I always fire a fowling shot or two after cleaning whether it's a hunting rifle, a play toy, or a match rifle. Oil is for rifles that will sit in the safe a really long time without being shot. Most don't sit that long. Always check zero/first round impact with a fowled bore.
I shot both of my .308 rifles at my range yesterday. It took about 5 each rounds for the rifles (and me) to settle down and start their normal grouping - both rifles started with squeaky clean bores (Boretech Eliminator).
When I got home, I ran a very lightly oiled patch down each bore to remove the burnt particles - I did not use the Boretech to remove any copper wash/ residue.
This morning, I returned to the range to observe the effects of the oil rub, all I did before i shot again was run a dry patch down both bores to remove any oil from the prior day’s application.
I shot 5 rounds from each rifle; they both grouped in the exact position and manner as the prior day - grouped very well from the very first round.
The only variable that I cannot speak to that may have made today’s shooting more consistent from the get-go is that I did not feel the need to settle down - I had just shot both rifles the day before and I was not as green as usual at the first shots.
With that said, it seems that the oil had no effect on the fouled bore seasoning. I guess that both rifles are now readied for deer season. Thanks to all for the input.
When I got home, I ran a very lightly oiled patch down each bore to remove the burnt particles - I did not use the Boretech to remove any copper wash/ residue.
This morning, I returned to the range to observe the effects of the oil rub, all I did before i shot again was run a dry patch down both bores to remove any oil from the prior day’s application.
I shot 5 rounds from each rifle; they both grouped in the exact position and manner as the prior day - grouped very well from the very first round.
The only variable that I cannot speak to that may have made today’s shooting more consistent from the get-go is that I did not feel the need to settle down - I had just shot both rifles the day before and I was not as green as usual at the first shots.
With that said, it seems that the oil had no effect on the fouled bore seasoning. I guess that both rifles are now readied for deer season. Thanks to all for the input.
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