If your swabbing an inline rifle, dampen NOT WET the patch. Never push a dry patch down a dirty barrel. Work the damp patch in 3-4 inch stokes, working further down the barrel as you go. When you get to the bottom, you will feel the most crud. This is where you have to work the patch a little bit. Sometimes on a heavy fowled barrel a second damp patch is necessary. After that some dry patches are needed. As you swab, listen close and you will hear air moving through the nipple or primer breech. If you do not hear air pass through the primer hole, then you need to pop a cap to blow it clean.

On a traditional rifle, swab with pure alcohol and you will not have as many misfires or hang fires. Again, not a wet patch, just dampen the patch. And be sure to swab after with dry patches until a patch comes up dry.