Fouling
12-03-2019, 04:45 PM
#4
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,745
JW, the definition of fouling is any foreign material in the bore. This includes primer or percussion cap residue. However neither 209 primers or percussion caps are corrosive. (at least not as fast as powder residue). The purpose of firing a couple caps or primers is not to foul the bore but to dry out any residual oil in the ignition area (breech).
Personally I never liked fouling the bore because I normally keep my muzzy loaded for the entire season. This includes my flinters. If I hunt in bad weather or suspect my powder may have gotten damp I will fire it off, clean the rifle and reload fresh.
Personally I never liked fouling the bore because I normally keep my muzzy loaded for the entire season. This includes my flinters. If I hunt in bad weather or suspect my powder may have gotten damp I will fire it off, clean the rifle and reload fresh.
12-04-2019, 01:18 PM
#6
Fork Horn
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 141
My muzzleloader shoots much more consistent groups with a fouled barrel. I sighted it in with a fouled barrel and foul it with a shot before hunting season. I use Blackhorn 209 powder which is not very corrosive so I am not concerned with leaving it fouled and loaded for hunting season. It cleans right up after.
12-04-2019, 05:10 PM
#7
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 7,437
My muzzleloader shoots much more consistent groups with a fouled barrel. I sighted it in with a fouled barrel and foul it with a shot before hunting season. I use Blackhorn 209 powder which is not very corrosive so I am not concerned with leaving it fouled and loaded for hunting season. It cleans right up after.
But I hate wasting bullets.
So I asked.
Given time after seasons end I will experiment.
Just cap or primer vs full load.
JW
12-09-2019, 03:17 AM
#8
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 532
If you just fire 2-3 caps to fowl your bore, you don't have to worry about the powder being corrosive to your bbl. Once you fire a full or partial load you will need to clean your bbl shortly after your days hunt. I would say the latest a couple of days before risking ruining your bbl.
12-09-2019, 06:40 PM
#9
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Virginia
Posts: 413
In my White rifles I fire off a cap or two to clear the channel. You can tell by the sound of the "crack" if its clear or not. Then I load the conical wrapped in white plumbers tape (one wrap) on top of the powder an wad. The plumbers tape simulates a fouled bore so I hunt on a clean bore. This has worked for years and again this past season. Not sure how it would work on a saboted load or a tight bore in other rifles, but sure works in a White!