Cleaning Between Shots
 

Please don't abuse me too badly here as I am a novice. I know I will probably get as many opinions as responses.

I am shooting 295gr Powerbelts in front of 100g. Pyrodex pellets.

What is the desired cleaning between each shot. I was wanting to do some testing of the scope setup / range of this load, but I want to be sure and clean as needed so that doesn't factor into setting up everything else.

I am really wanting to see how far I can accurately shoot this load.
75/ yards
100 / yards
150 / yards

Was thinking of trying Hornady sabots.......as I really like the new Hornady SST's for the 20 ga. They shoot SWEET !

RE: Cleaning Between Shots
 

While you could probably shoot 3 to 5+ shots without swabbing between shots with the Powerbelts you most likely will not get the best accuracy by doing that. Cayugad has used with great success the winshield wwasher fluid/isopropel alchol (50/50) mix to swab between shots followed by dry patches. Others have used windex and other various mixtures to swab with. I use a tried and true and available spit patch for a quick swab method. All you need is a patch and some spit. I just touch it to my tongue to get it lightly damp, not saturated, and run it down the bore in short strokes to get the major fouling out, then flip it over and do it again. If the patch is not too wet I'm ready to load, if wet I run a dry patch just to make sure I don't wet the powder upon loading. So far I have not needed a dry patch and the loads go off just fine. Try the different methods out for yourself and see which works best for you.

RE: Cleaning Between Shots
 

When you say "Swab between shots". Does that mean take the plug out and swab the entire barrel or leave the plug in and just clean it with the plug in. Like I said..this is all new to me, but i really like shooting my muzzleloader!

RE: Cleaning Between Shots
 

Just swab from the muzzle. Usually I run 1 wet patch (windex dampened patch at the range, or "spit patch" in the field) - followed by a dry patch.
Be careful if your rifle has any tendancy to form a "crud ring". Work the wet patch in short "strokes" when you get close to the breech area, or you could get the patch stuck.

RE: Cleaning Between Shots
 

No question is out of bounds so ask away, someone on here will most likely know the answer and we all had to learn it at sometime.

Swabbing is just another term for field cleaning which just involves a quick wipe of the bore and nothing more. No disassembly or BP removal, just run a patch or two as described and reload. It is meant to give you a consistent bore condition for each shot after the first clean barrel shot. As you know, consistency is the name of the game for consistent accuracy. Good luck with it.

RE: Cleaning Between Shots
 

if you can get a 2nd ,third ,and forth shot down without cleaning at all then don't . i get my best groups without cleaning between shots and i'm shooting the same load. none of mine or my friends ML's shoot a clean barrel well. i foul my barrel before hunting. i'm shooting 1 1/2 groups at 100 yds.

RE: Cleaning Between Shots
 

The ram rod your rifle comes with does NOT have a cleaning jag on it. You need to attach a small cleaning jag that >>may<< double as a loading jag also, in that way you can swab between shots and get consistency. Here is one:

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=000309085

and it looks like this. Chap Gleason

RE: Cleaning Between Shots
 

Hey Chap,

Not sure if that was meant for me or not but I have about 4 range rods available when I'm at the range with vaious tips and brushes on them and I have a replacement rod on my primary rifle that has an SST style loading/cleaning tip on it. It works just fine for feild cleaning. Thanks for the suggestion though.

RE: Cleaning Between Shots
 

I couldn't agree more. No question is a dumb question if you don't know. I've been muzzle loading for a few years now and still am asking questions. There's always someone out there to learn from. Alot of little tips and tricks to be learned...