Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

I have never tried my first shot on a fowled bore, nor do I blow off a couple of 209's befor I shoot for the first time. After I shoot say a deer, I then fully clean My ML and then reload it for the next day.They say to blow off a primer or two to get anymoisture out of the barrel or to make sure the breechplug fire channel is open, but My ML is always clean, so do I have to?When I go back out and if I shoot another deer the shot always goes where I aim. And if I have a charge in my gun for a few days and want to check it on a target, when I do it's right on again. So do you need to shoot a round off or a couple of primers befor you reload for the hunt, or to practice or sight in? So what Im saying is a Clean Bore as good or not as a fowled Bore?

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

it depends on the gun. Some like a dirty bore, some shoot better on clean, other guns it doesnt matter. That what range time it used for. Got to check and see what it likes and dislikes.

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

I'm pretty sure they shoot one to fowl the barell, for better shooting reasons also, i'm learning all this
stuff myself so i'm not positive, as for you and your gun i think you answered your own question.

I've never done it either

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

Some people say so but I have always found a way to keep the first shot in the group.
On firing primers before loading, yes you should either fire a couple primers or take the gun down and clean it with boiling water for hunting before loading. This is what I do and I have never had a hang fire or misfire while huntingsince I started doing it 30 years a go. Lee

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

It all depends on the rifle. Some will shoot real close on a dirty barrel or clean. Others I have seen as much as five inches off.

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

Your way is working well for you so far so no need to reinvent the process. One thing I would suggest is that you verify where the second and third shots go if you don't clean the barrel, that way you know what to expect if you need a followup shot in the field without a chance to clean. In that situation swabbing the bore with a spit patch or the like would be what many of us do.

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

Im not bragging, and I hope it never happens, but in 20 years I've never needed a follow up shot, my first shot has always done it's job. That's why I started ML Hunting, it taught me to take only a good shot and pass if I was'nt positive I'd kill the animal cleanly on the first shot. Back to your reply, (NO) I have never needed a second shot so I dont know exactly where it would go. But when I sight in a new scope, or try a few practice shots, they all seem to be in a acceptable group. Also It may be just the ML's I shoot, I only have CVA's, so what are the chances that all 5 of my CVA's dont need a fowled bore to be on, on the first shot? And I never owned anything but CVA so I cant say either way if it has happened with a different ML. Thank's for all the replys, I'll see what happens next time I practice, I'll shoot off a primer befor I shoot and see where it goes, then the next time out I'll try the clean barrel. Ron

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

Glad to hear that. I have several CVA guns also and I guess it comes down to what is an acceptable group size from clean to dirty barrel. Every gun and every load in those guns will behave a little differently. I too have seen some that throw the first shot quite a ways from subsequent shots. Many of the loads I shoot will stay within a couple of inches of the first (clean barrel) shot at 100 yards, more than adequate for most hunting situations. If I'm expecting longer shots, say 200 yards +, then I want to know exactly what to expect if a follow up shot is needed or if I miss and want to continue hunting. I do find that a quick spit patch, both sides, keeps my groups tight enough to give me confidence on longer range shots. I try to practice different senerios at the range so there are no surprizes in the field.

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

I never foul the bore with just a primer. I did swab my Omega and Knight when I used 777 between each shots. Anything that promotes consistency shot to shot should be encouraged and used. I use BH now and I don't swab between shots and don't feel I need to since I can shoot 1" groups with it with my Omega and a Barnes MZ 300g. Basically get a routine, at the range and when your hunting try to be as consistent as possible. So I don't think it matters if you foul or if you don'tjust be consistent.
Chap

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

With inlines I always sight in with a clean barrel because it will be clean when I hunt...I don't worry about the 2nd shot, that's not what muzzleloading is about...When hunting, I still run a couple of damp patches down the bore and a dry one...My inline won't load with a dirty bore, it's too tight...

Flintlocks are much easier...I load the first ball with a .018 patch and have a couple of balls with .015 patches ready for reloads...With a fouled bore my flinter shoots both into the same group...

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

I'm with the "sight in & hunt with a clean barrel" group. I don't pop a primer before loading either. I know my flash channel is clean and dry.

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

Breechplug

To be honest with you - I think the jury still might be out on that one - especially if this new stuff continues to work out...

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

I learned the hard way to shoot a couple primers through before loading. I had cleaned the muzzleloader and must have had some oil residue or something left in the gun. It was about a -5 degrees that morning so I being cold I didn't shoot the primers through. That morning I had a very wide 6 pointer...could've been an 8 get to 35 yards, shot, primer went off, no powder went off, this happened a second time as I got the deer to stop at 60 yds voice grunting and took a second shot, again, the primer went off, but not the powder. After that I never went out without not shooting a primer first (usually I shoot 2 through) and then I load up. Haven't ever had a problem since.

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

Hi Mike, you must be refering to the MontanaX Bore Cond. I ordered the MX BC and the MontanaX Gun Oil and the Birchwood Casey Sheath. If Im using the MX BC do I need to follow up with the MX Gun Oil too or is the MX BC all that I'll need in my barrel? Thank's Ron

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

I have found that my CVA Wolf shoots best if I clean the barrel of oil with a alcohol patch both sides. One dry patch, then shoot two 209 primers. Then I load to hunt. On the range I get four holes within a inch at 100 yards doing just that.

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

I do with BH209 only!

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

Breechplug

It is my understanding.... the Gun oil is to be used on the trigger groups, actions, and moving parts.

It is also my understanding and the way I am approaching it at this point the Bore conditiner is a stand alone product in the bore. It is also my understanding that if you feel that you need more protection adding the thicker oil on top of the thin BC oil will work just fine, but before shooting dry swab the bore, which I do anyway and it is suppose tho be the norm for the use of the conditioner. It was explained to me that the BC will go places in the bore that the oil can not reach.

THE KEY.... The bore should be really clean and dry. If it is not clean the BC over time will leach out the contamiates out. Again I think that is why MX recommends at least multiple treatments before you are feeling the totally effects of the BC.

With all of that said.... When I BC in a gun that I am going to use in the near future I run a moist patch several strokes both sides.... When I treat a gun that is going to be stored for months - I will run a damp to wet patch in the bore several strokes both sides...

And remember this is all new to me also - so what I do may not be what you might want to do...

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

Breechplug
Montana X gun oil is for the moving parts, the bore conditioner is for the inside of the barrel. Lee

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

If your bore requires fowling - buy some chickens.

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

Breechplug - I would say that most muzzleloaders produce a different point of impact on the first shot from a clean and oiled barrel than from a fouled barrel. That does not mean that a gun can not shoot through the same hole every time on a clean and oiled barrel. It is, however, difficult to sight in a gun on a clean and oiled barrel because after one shot, you have to completely clean and oil the weapon, before you can shoot again, and ultimately adjust your sight or scope, to achieve the best point of aim for the clean barrel condition. In addition, if you enjoy target shooting, it wouldn't be much fun if your first shot punched the bull at 100 yds., but all those which followed, on a fouled barrel, were 4 to 6 inches low and right. If your hunting shots are less than 75 yards, it shouldn't make much difference, or at least pale in comparison to having a good rest from which to shoot or good shooting form. I would certainly fire a couple of caps or primers whether setting up for "clean barrel" shooting or not. I do not consider a barrel to be fouled by a cap or primer, and consider it good insurance against excess oil causing a failed discharge when using loose powder.

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

Underclocked- I was just going to say that I usually prefer to fowl my barrel with a nice pheasant hen. But when I need to foul my barrel, Triple Seven works just fine.

Seriously though, I sight in and hunt by cleaning the barrel with a windex patch then dry patch. Then I pop 2 primers, then load the powder charge & bullet. Works just fine for me.

RE: Do you need a fowled bore for best accuracy?
 

on my flintlock, i just clean all oil out of bore with patch and dry it, then load and hunt.

i will have to see if it shoots different on first shot.

not until april comes, too cold for me.