yeoman

Fouling just some thoughts from the back of my head - no science to it... I am not a scientist - it just works....

I believe fouling does increase the friction in the barrel but more importantly it creates 'grip' for the following projectiles up the barrel creating better and more consistent rotation + more consistent pressure from load to load.

Running a damp swab up and down the barrel a few stokes does not make the barrel clean... if you look at your bore it may even appear to be clean but it is not clean - there is still fouling caught in behind the lands down in the grooves and I know some people are not going to like this but there is also fouling up in the pores forced there by heat and pressure... swabbing will not get this out.

I do foul the barrel and it works for me, but, I take a different approach than Dave. I shoot my gun prior to the season to verify POA/POI... I do not clean it after until the end of the season or and if it takes a mjor bath in a rain storm or drenched in the snow - no I am not talking about the exterior but the bore. I would also caution you that I use T7 which is less corrosive than the Pyros or BP. I DO clean the bore with windex (which really does not clean the bore but certainly gets a lot out) and I do put back in a very light coat of Slip 2000 bore lubricant - I know another no-no... but again it works for me.

It is possible for me to leave the same load in the gun for 2-3 weeks in a row... I very seldom shoot a load out - just to shoot it. If there is ANY doubt in my mind about the quality of the load I will shoot it out or pull it... but it does not happen very often.

I do not even worry about the squib... I just pop a couple ofcaps or primers. damp windex swab that out and load a full shot and squeeze it off knowing it could be off somewhat - but I believe fouingwith a real shot adds the pressure to force the fouling into the pores, grooves,and all the way up the barrel.

I know there is a lot of this contrary to the norm but I have never been accused of being the norm. Even coaching I do not do the norm, I do what works for me and my kids.... and so often I get asked "have you not read the book" - I have but I try do what works for us... and yes, there are times when I am wrong.

Even back in the real days.... do you really think those guys really cleaned their barrels everytime they shot? and their barrels were not near as good as ours... and beleive me they would not shoot their gun just to clear the barrel... but of course many of their barrels payed the price also.

gosh! I hope this does not mess anybody up - to help you dismiss this writing remember I am also the one that used bore butter for so many years and never had any problems.

What can I say....