Just got back from the range. Was excruciatingly windy. Its always windy here. The side kick grouped well at 50 yards but the wind was so fierce that the POI was3.5-4 in left of point of aim. Was going to try to test at 75 yards, but decide to save that for another day not so gusty. I was shooting the ballets. Without thinking, I left the top unlatched on the box of ballets, meanwhile wicked gusts were swirling dustall over.

Later as I was loading a ballet, I noticed they were dusty. The dust is extremely fine, but I think it is very fine sand because sandstone is the predominant rock at the range. I went ahead and loaded it and it loaded easy. So I fired about 3 more times. I went home and thought I better clean the remaining ballets and re-apply lube.

I cleaned the gun andthe boredidn't look much, if any, different. There are still some sharp edges in the bore which grabbed some tiny pieces of the swabs. I didn't have cotton balls, but I'm sure the barrel would fail the test. I still have about 5 ballets left. Should I clean them up? OR Just fire'em dusty?

Happy Hunting, Phil

Sandstone dust is probably too soft to do any damage and blow by will probably clean it off before obturation can crush it up against the bore wall.

I agree, blow the remaining ball-ets off, with an air hose or even gently wash them but not hard enough to take off the sticky lube, and shoot them. Wind is amazing how big a difference it can play on accuracy.

Thanks cayugad. Good advice which I'll take to heart. Spring, especially, is windy here. The wind only stops to change directions I think. It blew at least 20-30 mph all the time and gusted above that. It sure limits range. In the fall, its still windy, but not nearly so intense.

Happy Hunting, Phil

Wow! When I first read the title of your post I thought, "Hmmm, he must have dropped his ballets in the sand." I was pretty close!
I agree with cayugad - if you want to firelap the bore, do it in a way that you are controlling, not the random effects of the wind.

IM jaybe