I like to know about a fouling shot?

[lonewolf5347]

I like to ask because I always clean my guns after a range session.I am lucky that all my gun do not need a fouling shot to print excellent groups but I do have a 7MM-08 that will cut holes when the barrel has a few fouling shots threw it.
My Question the last rage session or a day or two before hunting season if I fire a few shots and NOT CLEAN it will I cause any problems as far as rust???
I also have 2 flinters that need not be fouled and will shoot cold clean barrel in the same hole.

 

[R.W.Dale]

My Question the last rage session or a day or two before hunting season if I fire a few shots and NOT CLEAN it will I cause any problems as far as rust???

if stored in reasonable conditions NO

I make a point of NEVER hunting with a clean rifle. Besides folks obsess way too much on bbl care, A modern rifle bbl chambered for mainstream hunting cartridges is good for a couple three or more good range sessions between cleanings.

I cleaned my Ruger 30-06'es bbl the other day and even though there was well over 100rds since the last cleaning I still got nothing in terms of copper fouling and only an insignificant amount of carbon

 

[rcmodel]

No, it will not cause rust unless you just happen to live in a rust prone environment of some kind. Salt sea air for instance.

All modern CF ammo is loaded with non-corrosive primers and the bore is no more likely to rust dirty then it is clean.

I never clean the bores on my rifles during hunting season unless they get wet or something.

Black powder rifles are another matter, and they do have to be cleaned every time you fire them.

rc

 

[jmr40]

Over cleaning or improper cleaning has probably caused more damage than rust. I shoot a lot during the off season and other than running a boresnake through the barrel I do not give the barrel a thorough cleaning until it starts to show signs of the groups opening up, or if it gets wet. I always wipe down everything and lubricate where needed, but don't mess with the barrel unless I have to.

Once per year I will usually take a day where I remove all of my rifles actions from the stocks and thoroughly clean everything including the barrel. I usually do this in August. I then go to the range and fine tune any sighting and do not touch the barrel or remove the action from the stock until hunting season ends unless it is an extreme emergency.

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

+1 on the centerfire comments.

With a flinter, you have 2 options:

1) Learn where the first shot will hit from a COOL, CLEAN, OIL FREE barrel, by cleaning BEFORE AND BETWEEN shots and letting the barrel cool. Makes shooting a couple of groups an all day affair, but flintlocks like to be "doted on" . Then, after arriving at the hunt, DRY swab the bore to make sure it is clean, pick the vent, charge it, and pick the vent again to make sure powder is present at the pan.

2) Learn where the first shot will hit from a cool, DIRTY barrel. Then, shoot it once or twice the day before and store in a cool dry spot before the hunt, or shoot a pan and 15-30 grains of POWDER ONLY before leaving camp to foul the bore.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would not worry about cleaning after a couple centerfire rounds. I have rifles that have not been shot much that get cleaned every few years. They hit where they are supposed to and I have never seen rust in one of my rifle barrels.

 

[Acera]

I find that it is different for each rifle. Some it does not matter, others it makes a difference.

Best thing I have found is to clean the gun like I normally do, bore snake the barrel, then fire it and note the bullet impact. Then continue to fire it noting the impact point of each subsequent bullet. On some guns they "walk" into a group. But I know where the first bullet will hit when clean. Usually it is nothing more than an inch or so at 100 yards. I use CLP on the inside of the barrel after cleaning, and understand that not all of it will be removed when I run a bore snake through it before the first shot, so there is a little lubrication there that disappears after that first shot. That seems to effect the flight path for me. The following shots do not have that extra lubrication and seem to print consistently together.