what constitutes a fouled barrel?
12-15-2011, 01:18 PM
#1
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SOUTHERN Illinois USA
Posts: 820
what constitutes a fouled barrel?
i've been reading alot of people on here saying that the best accuracy comes from a fouled barrel.
1. do you guys think that a fouled barrel is going from a clean (brushed, patched, dried, oiled) barrel and firing a couple primers?
2. or is it fouled but actually firing a charge of powder?
3. or is it still fouled if you fire a round, wet/dry patch the barrel and reload?
1. do you guys think that a fouled barrel is going from a clean (brushed, patched, dried, oiled) barrel and firing a couple primers?
2. or is it fouled but actually firing a charge of powder?
3. or is it still fouled if you fire a round, wet/dry patch the barrel and reload?
12-15-2011, 02:06 PM
#2
Fork Horn
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 360
Outdoorsman
Everyone and everygun is different. I have been lucky enough that in mine they will shoot the same POI with a clean or fouled barrel.
whether it be just a couple primers or a round down the tube.
Best thing to do is to try yours in the situations you have mentioned and see what is best for you and your gun.
Testing is the fun part of muzzleloading!!!
Everyone and everygun is different. I have been lucky enough that in mine they will shoot the same POI with a clean or fouled barrel.
whether it be just a couple primers or a round down the tube.
Best thing to do is to try yours in the situations you have mentioned and see what is best for you and your gun.
Testing is the fun part of muzzleloading!!!
12-15-2011, 02:21 PM
#4
Fork Horn
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 360
That is a very good idea, if you leave your BP in, after cleaning. I clean mine with brake cleaner and store in my possibles bag. Run a couple alchohol patches down the barrel, to clear oil and then install my breechplug. Then load for the hunt.
12-15-2011, 04:28 PM
#7
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,746
Because I like to keep my ML loaded thru the entire season (unless I feel the charge has become compromised by moisture) I always sight my rifles in on a clean barrel. But frankly, on the range, I've never noticed much of a difference between a clean and slightly fouled barrel. I swab between each shot usually with a wet patch (spit or alcohol depending on powder being used) and a dry patch - both sides.
12-15-2011, 05:14 PM
#8
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
i've been reading alot of people on here saying that the best accuracy comes from a fouled barrel.
1. do you guys think that a fouled barrel is going from a clean (brushed, patched, dried, oiled) barrel and firing a couple primers? No, that would not be a fouled barrel IMO.
2. or is it fouled but actually firing a charge of powder? Yes if you fire a charge of powder, then it is fouled.
3. or is it still fouled if you fire a round, wet/dry patch the barrel and reload?Yes that would be a fouled barrel.
Whether I foul a bore or not depends on the rifle I am going to shoot. If the rifle shoots way out of a group on a clean VS fouled bore, then I foul the bore. If the rifle (like my Whites) needs the fouled bore to help seat the projectile better, then I foul the bore.
1. do you guys think that a fouled barrel is going from a clean (brushed, patched, dried, oiled) barrel and firing a couple primers? No, that would not be a fouled barrel IMO.
2. or is it fouled but actually firing a charge of powder? Yes if you fire a charge of powder, then it is fouled.
3. or is it still fouled if you fire a round, wet/dry patch the barrel and reload?Yes that would be a fouled barrel.
Whether I foul a bore or not depends on the rifle I am going to shoot. If the rifle shoots way out of a group on a clean VS fouled bore, then I foul the bore. If the rifle (like my Whites) needs the fouled bore to help seat the projectile better, then I foul the bore.
12-15-2011, 05:44 PM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Northern Chautauqua Co. N.Y.
Posts: 2,976
For me a fouled barrel is one that is shot and reloaded, a couple of primers just dont foul it enough. Im also fortunate to have a MLer that shoots the same on a clean or a fouled barrel. You have to see what you MLer likes, shoot it on a clean barrel, then on it after it's been shot a few times and swabed. If the fouled barrel is more on the money, use it for hunting when it's fouled. If it is off and not the same as on a clean barrel then use a clean barrel.
But all of this all boils down to what you sight it in for, if you swab the barrel good after each shot it's still pretty clean so I'd consider it a clean barrel, if you dont swab and shoot it say 5 times or so and sight it in then it's sighted in on a fouled barrel.
If your really worried about it, sight it in, when your dead on load it and save it to go hunting, you know your next shot will be on the money.
(BP)
But all of this all boils down to what you sight it in for, if you swab the barrel good after each shot it's still pretty clean so I'd consider it a clean barrel, if you dont swab and shoot it say 5 times or so and sight it in then it's sighted in on a fouled barrel.
If your really worried about it, sight it in, when your dead on load it and save it to go hunting, you know your next shot will be on the money.
(BP)
