When you can't take a fouling shot...

[Flynt]

Here's my dilemma. The place where I deer hunt doesn't have any place to make a fouling shot. I just checked my rifle's zero at the range (6 rounds through a very clean bore), and normally I'd clean the hell out of the bore when I got home. However, knowing that I won't be able to make a fouling shot before I see a deer, I'm wondering if there's some sort of "half way" cleaning method that won't remove the "good" fouling. Thanks, guys.

 

[Cosmoline]

Why not just sight in for the first shot out of a clean barrel? It should not make that much of a difference for a smokeless rifle in good working order, anyway.

 

[Win75]

With my smokeless powder rifles, I check my zero about a week before season and leave the bore dirty until after the season is over.

 

[Shawnee]

+1 for Win75's comment.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

With my smokeless powder rifles, I check my zero about a week before season and leave the bore dirty until after the season is over.

That's not gonna help him. He's not talking about smokeless powder loads (I don't think). You ARE talking about black powder or BP equivalent, aren't you, Flynt?

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

I keep my Muzzleloaders dirty also. Dirty bores until the season is over, or I get caught in the rain.

 

[Flynt]

Actually, I was talking about smokeless powder. Thanks.

 

[Coronach]

Just pre-foul it before you go. It won't corrode the bore unless you use corrosive ammo or allow the gun to get damp.

Does your rifle really vary that much between clean, cold bore and dirty, cold bore? I would think the difference between cold and warm would be bigger than the difference between clean and dirty, but YMMV.

Mike

 

[Geno]

Simple as punch...leave it fouled.

 

[rangerruck]

If you must, run a quick boresnake.

 

[.38 Special]

No harm in leaving a bore fouled for a few weeks. Gunwriter John Barsness claims that, since he began using Ramshot powders, he never cleans a bore. Ever.

There is, though, a very good case for learning what your gun does with the first shot. I used to keep "running groups" for my hunting rifles. This consisted of a single target, kept rolled up in the range box, that got set up at the beginning of each range day. The first shot from the gun was fired into that target, which was then rolled up and put back into the box. A few months of this was a real eye-opener -- some of those half MOA group shooters were more like 3 MOA "first shot" rifles.

 

[Powderman]

The folks above have it right.

If you have worked up a good load, or have some factory ammo that shoots well in your rifle, here's what you should do:

1. Take it to the range; while you're there, clean it VERY well, especially the bore. I recommend and use Sweet's 7.62; after all copper fouling is removed, I neutralize it with one patch dampened with Kroil; two dry patches, then Hoppe's until it's clean.

2. Now, shoot to your heart's content. Don't hotrod it--1-3 minutes between shots, and 5 minutes between groups. Let it cool sitting upright in a rack with the bolt open.

3. Clean it again, same way as before.

4. Now, fire 3-5 rounds of your chosen ammunition. Do NOT clean it, but let it cool COMPLETELY. A can of canned air will speed the process up, but still wait for at least 30 minutes.

5. Now, take a single shot at a distinct target--I use B27 repair centers. Note well the point of impact on the target, and keep a log of the result.

This is your cold-bore shot; it's where your first shot will go.

 

[Cosmoline]

Actually, I was talking about smokeless powder. Thanks.

Where are people getting this idea that you need a "fouling shot" with smokeless arms? That's a procedure for black powder firearms. It has no application to a modern rifle. If you are seeing a significant POI variation between first and second shots, there is something wrong with your firearm. I think this is a myth, like the one about lubing bullets to make them go faster.

 

[Cosmoline]

dddd

 

[Cosmoline]

dddd

 

[Cosmoline]

dddd

 

[Cosmoline]

dddd

 

[Cosmoline]

dddd

 

[LGswift]

sextuple post lol

 

[TexasRifleman]

I will agree with Cosmolines 6 excellent posts

If your rifle is that much off from the first clean shot to the next then either get the thing working right or simply not clean it.

There is no harm at all leaving a rifle bore dirty through deer season.

I have a couple of rifles that I haven't cleaned in several months. I'll get around to it eventually, and nothing bad will happen.

BP shooting of course is a different animal.

 

[Cosmoline]

LOL, sorry about that. I kept getting a bizarre message that I had to wait 60 seconds to post again.

 

[.38 Special]

If you are seeing a significant POI variation between first and second shots, there is something wrong with your firearm. I think this is a myth, like the one about lubing bullets to make them go faster.

A lot of people think that, until they try it. Like I said, start a running group with several of your favorite rifles. You may be surprised.

 

[ArmedBear]

Why not just sight in for the first shot out of a clean barrel? It should not make that much of a difference for a smokeless rifle in good working order, anyway.

A couple things...

You can just take a cleaning rod or boresnake to the range, and sight it in with a clean barrel. Run the rod between shots, so the barrel is exactly how you will shoot the first shot. The practical accuracy of followup shots in the field won't exactly be sub-MOA anyway.

That said, if you shoot a clean bore and then shoot out the magazine, you'll get a nice group. The first one won't be a flyer or anything, at least not for me. In a rifle with hunting ammo and even really good hunting accuracy, you won't know the difference.

 

[fastbike]

I'm not buying your running group method. Are the conditions the same for each first shot? Such as wind. I don't clean my Rock River any more often than 300 - 500 rounds and I don't see any difference between first shot and 20th. I do use Ramshot, but I've seen the same performance with Varget.



From 38 Special
"A lot of people think that, until they try it. Like I said, start a running group with several of your favorite rifles. You may be surprised"

 

[ArmedBear]

some of those half MOA group shooters were more like 3 MOA "first shot" rifles.

Not mine.

Shoots about the same. If there's any difference, it's not enough to matter for hunting, since I won't have the gun in a bench vise when hunting.