Mimic a Fouled Bore?

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josmund

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When shooting saboted bullets and to some degree full bore conicals, the first few shots from a clean bore have a different POI than others.

I've tried shooting primers and various pre shot techniques with poor results.

Does anyone know of a bore application which would mimic a fouled bore but but not have corrosive properties? There must be some trick out there. I'd rather not have to shoot prior to hunting and I don't like the idea of a fouled bore for extended periods.

ideas?
 
For hunting it's generally the FIRST shot that counts anyway. Particularly so with a muzzle loader. Why not clean the bore at the range between shots so each shot taken is a clean bore shot. Once sighted in you're good to go.

Then you can get a feel for how much sights or scope adjustment is required to match the second and subsequent shots for times you're working on your accuracy.
 
Correct. You are not going to be able to reload and shoot the same deer unless you really messed up the shot and you took out a couple of legs instead of hitting the vital area. Reloading is simply too slow, even with so called "speed loaders". I have seen two fellows actually make a second shot on the same deer in 38 years of black powder hunting.... and the first guy had a double rifle from Pedersoli with both hammers cocked, and the second guy had a swivel breech rifle, so had two barrels loaded as well. Those second shots were on running deer, too, and how many of us get to train to hit a running target with our hunting rifles?

So make the first shot count, as that's the only good one you're going to get.

Then do a proper reload, and wait about 15 -20 minutes before you go looking for a deer, IF it hasn't dropped where you can see it. Just in case something went amiss and your shot mortally wounded the animal but didn't drop it in a few yards.

In places where you are allowed more than one deer, especially if you bagged a doe, in that 20 minutes one or more does may come back looking for the one that was shot...so be patient. When you move out to find the bagged deer, move slowly, again, you may get a shot at a straggler, AND you want to creep up cautiously just in case something went amiss and the deer hasn't died...in that case you might get a second shot on the same deer.

So as long as the shot from the fully clean barrel, and the one just after, match where your sights or scope are set, you're good.

LD
 
Thanks folks but I need to clarify my issue.

Through considerable range time, I've discovered that the first and second shots from a clean barrel on my MZ are unpredictable. They may go left, they may go right. By the time I get to the 3rd shot ( and all subsequent shots ), I'm on my POA.

Knowing muzzleloader hunting is a one shot hunt, it doesn't do me much good to have a great shooter after two shots.

My only current option is to shoot two fouling shots and hunt with a fouled bore.
Many hunter do this but worry about corrosion and it's often not easy to fire a few shot before hunting.

I'm looking for some bore application I could test which would mimic the fouled bore and not be corrosive.

Thanks.
 
Well..... how about firing two or three fouling shots beforehand, then loading for the hunt? You may be loath to leave a bore dirty for a day or two, but would you have confidence in your POI with a clean bore?
 
After cleaning , try a patch with a light coating of Olive oil. I think you will find what your looking for. ;).
 
Ah, I see. I was thinking it was just a case of the first shot printing low or high but doing so consistently until the bore grunge steadied the elevation point. Left, right and all around is a whole other issue for sure.

I recently learned that the patch fit and seating friction is quite a critical factor to muzzle loading PRB accuracy. So perhaps the patches which work when the bore is fouled and sticking a little are too thin for a clean bore?

Try some various patch weaves and thicknesses along with various patch lubes to see if there's a magical "clean bore" patch that really zeros in the shot. Of course to do so you need to clean the bore at the range consistently to mimic your home cleaning. So it's going to be a LONG day. But if you want to avoid bore fouling at the beginning of a hunting day I don't see any other option.
 
I don't th ink the OP is speaking of shooting patched RB's. Mechanics might differ in the unpatched, saboted, evil Inline lol.
 
Check out this link, as it shows the comparative corrosive qualities/results of real black versus several of the modern subs.

If I recall this right, you might be able to "shoot 2 or 3" the night before with 777 (how dare I say that versus the holy black!) and be on-target with the 1st shot the next morning.

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/281879

I'll admit, I wasn't surprised by the corrosion on the others, but the 777 results really surprised me.

Tight groups!

Old No7
 
You're right. Even after a re-read before my last post I STILL missed the "sabot" in the opening line.

I still think that there's a happy load that'll print at POA consistently. If the present load was arrived at by shooting a lot with a fouled bore then it's likely that some lesser or greater amount of powder will give a consistent first clean bore shot. The labour intensive trick is to correctly clean the bore between shots to find what that load might be.

The selection of "patches" in terms of trying different brand sabots might also be a worthy avenue to try as well.
 
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