swabing your barrel question
 

im new to muzzle loading and i see alot of talk about swabing your barrel could u guys give me a low down of what your doing and using thanks

Take a quick look at this thread that should give you some ideals...

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/blac...-1st-shot.html

Most of us swab the bore between shots to get better consistancy when using black powder (BP) or one of the substitutes. Some of the guys using Blackhorn 209 do not swab and claim it isn't necessary.
As for the swabbing, some use a solvent like T-17, others use Windex or alcohol and still others simply use a spit patch.
I shoot mostly BP or Pyrodex so what I do is after I load my rifle, I put a patch between my cheek and gum. Then after I fire, I remove the patch and swab the bore using both sides of the patch, then reload. I don't bother running a dry patch down the bore as I am going to shoot again immediately. And besides, the patch isn't really wet, just sort of damp.
If I notice the bore is getting really fouled or I am shooting a lot, I will swab with a few patches of windex/alcohol 50/50 mixture.

what about american pioneer powder anybody use that stuff thats supposed to be clean

Just don't put the patch back in tour mouth to try reuse it! No really, that is some good advise. I do the same withmy inline.

Forgot about APP (American Pioneer Powder)... it is really anemic powder, but a few people will use it and have good luck with it. It really absorbs moisture very easily and will cake up...

I am a Blackhorn 209 user and I don't swab. I shoot all I want, then go home and clean it. Fist shot loads as easy as the 50th and the accuracy only gets better the more I shoot if there is any change at all.

There are certain powders, Blackhorn 209, American Pioneer Powder, Pinnacle, Jim Shockey Gold, and White Hots that the manufacturer claims do not need swabbing between shots. But if your shooting these other powders and your accuracy goes south, or you have trouble loading, a simple swab will usually fix that.

Other powders like Triple Seven, Pyrodex, Black Powders, do require swabbing in most cases. A lot of it is trial and error. You learn your rifle, your powder and your projectiles.