Today I went to the range to sight in my CVA Optima and noticied that my barrel was shooting all over the place every time that I cleaned the barrel. I was shooting 245 gr HP Powerbelts and noticed that while my first shot would stray about 6-8" low, my second and third shots were less than 1.5 moa dead center POA. I spoke to a guy shooting next to me who told me that he has had the same problems and for this reason, he fouls his barrel and leaves it dirty just before hunting season, only cleaning it before putting it away at the end of the season. He also said that he heavily coats the barrel with Bore Butter. Can anyone give me any advice as I left my barrel dirty today anticipating opening day next week.

bore butter in your inline is a no no.

As for it shooting all over the place after swabbing. I agree. My winchesters want a dirty bore. 3 shots max before i will swab.
It can also depend on the powder u are using. T7 likes to shoot all over the place for me.
I am interested in the load you are shooting, what is it?

300 grain xtp and i forget what powder i used. I think it was pyrodex p. ZERO SWABBING!


100 yards with a 410 grain great plains conical and 90 grains pyrodex p and no swabbing.


Some rifles want to be cleaned while others do not.

Sorry FG, I am shooting 100gr 777 (2 pellets) and the 245 gr HP Powerbelts.

Bore Butter is not a good idea IMO. But many rifles shoot better on a fowled barrel. Just be careful about leaving the rifle dirty. Some powders can start to corrode in a matter of days. Pyrodex is the worst of them. After that you get into the black powders.

I fowl my barrels before hunting when ever possible.

Garminator

I also shoot a fouled barrel - i should say semi fouled barrel.... weather you leave it that way depends! What powder are you using and is your barrel a blued barrel or a stainless... I shoot T7 and really do not worry about corrosion occuring in the barrel because I no I am protected with the treatment I give the barrel. I would not be that courageous with any of the Pyro's or real BP.

I am/was a BB user myself but I surely would not recommend the above method of barrel treatment or protection...

Take a look the thread I posted earlier about shooting in the rock pit - what I did today was to prepare the White ML for the upcoming hunting season. I also do swab between shots... not because I have to but because I want the barrel in the same condition each time Ishoot it.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2362771

This is my decision for getting ready not everyone will agree and I do expect you to without trying it for yourself - I would not wantto be responsible forcorrosion in your barrel - if it occurs...

Thanks for the replies, Sabot I am also using 777 (100gr/2 pellets). Typically, how long do you leave the barrel dirty? throughout the season? & how many shots do you think i'll be able to put through there before I MUST clean it? Before I left the range today I cleaned the barrel and shot 3 powerbelts, last two were dead center less than 1.5 moa.

I personally feel that its safe to keep it loaded for 4-5 days max In good weather on a fouled barrel. Triple 7, pyrodex, goex.

I wont be hunting for another week...would you say that's too long?

What i would do is fire the rifle off, clean it like you normally would do when you get home and put it away for a while. Go out on a clean, cold barrel and load one shot, see where it goes, If its where it should be, take one more shot on a dirty bore. If those 2 shots group, you should feel confident and start your hunting season on a fresh load and clean barrel.

Garminator

Remember I said a semi clean barrel - when I left the rock pit today I pushed through one Windex patch and a dry patch. When got home I ran 3 then the fourth patch it comes out fairly clean the barrel really isn't cleaned as I would call clean - but I am not concerned about corrosion at at all plus the last patch was a patch lightly treated with Slip 2000 (a bore oil). Befroe I load I will push a couple od dry patches through it take it out in the garage and pop a couple of primers then the same dry patches again. I will load it Tuesday night- it will spend thenight in the garage and I'll go hunting with it Wednesday - It will remain loaded until I shoot it at an animal - could be a week could be a couple of weeks. UNLESS! I feels that I might have some way compromisedthe powder laod in a really bad rain/snow stormor dropped it in a creek.

I will tear it down and clean it at the end of the season and then do my whole barrel treatment thing.

But remember I feel quite confident about what I am doing after may years of doing my routine...