So what should I be doing before shooting after cleaning?

hometheaterman · 11-01-2009, 02:40 PM

I normally clean my muzzle loaders with either rubbing alcohol or boiling hot soapy water. Always seems to come clean. Before I go to shoot or hunt I usually fire off 3 or 4 caps or primers. Then I load it and go hunting. Seems to work fine.

However, I read in another thread run alcohol through it then fire of a few caps then run a couple dry patches through it.

bigtim6656 · 11-01-2009, 02:44 PM

I would think alittle light oil. But i am new to muzzleloader hunting. In all my guns i clean them then run alittle oil down the barrel. Not alot but just get it wet. I have had a few people say well that will foul the barrel. Sure just dumbing a bottle of oil will do that. Maybe it is because my first real target gun was a AR15 but they liked the oil. I could have the oil running out the cracks and get 2 inch groups as 100 yards with iron sights. My plan is clean it lube it then run a dry patch down it. But i also plan on using solvent inplace of Rubbing alchol or water. IT may cost more but i do not want to be dumbing water down the barrel of a triumph. Not that o think it is wrong i just do not trust my self to get it all out.

bronko22000 · 11-01-2009, 02:51 PM

If you are going to swab your bore before shooting, that is fine. I usually do not. But what I do that you didn't mention is when I fire a couple caps to be sure the nipple is dry, I run a patch down the bore on my cleaning jag, and keep it down there as I fire off the caps. This does two things: 1. keeps the bore from getting fouled and 2. a visual inspection of the patch when removed proves that the flame is getting into the breech.

saxman1 · 11-01-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronko22000

If you are going to swab your bore before shooting, that is fine. I usually do not. But what I do that you didn't mention is when I fire a couple caps to be sure the nipple is dry, I run a patch down the bore on my cleaning jag, and keep it down there as I fire off the caps. This does two things: 1. keeps the bore from getting fouled and 2. a visual inspection of the patch when removed proves that the flame is getting into the breech.

So many good ideas tonight

Underclocked · 11-01-2009, 04:31 PM

Bronko's procedure has the additional bonus of being fun to do.

Especially with a closed action rifle as it dampens the 209 noise to almost nothing.

Of course store your rifle with a good oil/protectorant in the bore and on all metals (the only thing I don't lube is the breech plug internals) but before loading, patch with a couple of patches dampened with alcohol - then a couple of dry patchs. I then use high pressure air to blow through both the bore and the plug to make sure no liquid remains. I've lately been skipping the cap/primer firings and just loading on a clean, dry bore. Works for me.

hometheaterman · 11-01-2009, 04:36 PM

Why the alcohol? Can I not just run a few dry patches down it before getting ready to shoot it then fire off a couple caps? Or is just firing off a couple caps and not running any patches a bad idea?

bigtim6656 · 11-01-2009, 04:41 PM

I think the alcohol is to make sure there is no oil or water in the barrel. I would guess either will cause a failure or atleast could. Just hit me that oil before shooting would cause the powder to get wet

Quote:

Originally Posted by hometheaterman

Why the alcohol? Can I not just run a few dry patches down it before getting ready to shoot it then fire off a couple caps? Or is just firing off a couple caps and not running any patches a bad idea?

wabi · 11-01-2009, 04:42 PM

Every muzzleloader seems to have it's own personality. I have owned rifles that could be loaded on a clean bore and put the bullet right on target, and I have had rifles that had to have a "fouling shot" before they could be hunted with.
If you clean the rifle and then oil the bore it is wise to at least wipe the oil out before loading. If you wipe the oil, snap a cap or two, then load and the first shot is on (or very near) the mark you are probably good to go if you follow that routine before you hunt.
But if that first shot is wild it could be your rifle likes a fouled bore for accuracy. If that is the case you should shoot at least a reduced charge before loading to hunt.

With my T/C Hawken all I need to do is run a couple dry patches down the bore, snap a cap (#11s) or two, and then load up for hunting. It doesn't need a fouled bore to put shot #1 very close to where I'm aiming. With my inline (Traditions) I need a fouling shot or the first shot will miss the mark by several inches.
Could be the reason I prefer the Hawken.

lemoyne · 11-01-2009, 04:48 PM

Every body has to find what will work for them and their special gun and situation.
Personally I use Montana x bore protectant and I do not fire a fouling shot so I had to fined a way to keep that first shot out of a clean barrel in the group so I would have confidence in it.
My method works for me. I clean the bore protectant out of the barrel with my cleaning solution [ 50/50-#9 and alcohol] fire two 209's clean again with solution and dry with clean dry patches fire two more 209's, and load.

hometheaterman · 11-01-2009, 06:20 PM

Ok, when I sighted my gun in the first shot I didn't wipe any oil out just shot off a few caps then shot the gun. Shot great. Then each shot after I wiped a patch with alcohol on it through the barrel and waited a few minutes for it to hopefully dry and then shot again. Sometimes firing a cap off. Once again shot great.

So since I'm going to be hunting with it if I run a dry patch through to dry oil and then fire a few caps off should it still shoot a similar POI or do I need to check it like this?