Spit patching at the range

[Pruts]

Fellas,

I am relatively new to the sport (1yr) and am still developing my "style" for shooting my Muzzy.  I have heard that some will just run a spit patch through the barrel after each shot and that gives them consistent groups.  What exactly do you do?  Do you just run the patch to the breach plug and back, or is there more to it?  How many times can you spit patch before a more formal cleaning is required?  Any other hints?  I'm shooting a T/C Encore 50 cal with 100gr. T7 and 295 grain Powerbelts.  Thanks in advance for your help!

Pruts

[quickdtoo]

That's all I do when working up a load between shots. Military patch in my mouth to wet it good, run it down to near the breech on the end of a jag, in and out into the fouling ring in the load seat area carefully so as to not get the jag stuck in the breech. Once the fouling ring is cleared, bring it out and turn the patch over and in and out a couple more times, then run a clean, dry patch down a couple times on each side, pop a cap to make sure the breech is clear of any fouling that may have been pushed in to the breech, then reload. I'm shootin 295gr lead Powerbelts and 105gr 3f T7 in my .50 black diamond. with wingless musket cap ignition.

[donedidit]

I too am new at the whole inline-thing and shot my new 209x50 last weekend.  I ran two spit patches and a dry patch between shots and this seemed to work for me (5/8" group at 100 yds with 90 gr. T7 and 250gr. SSTs)  The first wet patch breaks up the crud ring and gets the majority of the fouling out.  The second wet patch is just insurance and picks up what the first patch left behind.  I found that I can get 5 to 6 shots using this method before the sabots start getting hard to load.  After the sixth shot I remove the breach plug and give 'er a good cleaning.  Interestingly enough, I don't get much fouling when I do the thorough cleaning.  Must either be the T7, the spit patching between shots, or both.

Good luck.

[Bob W.]

I too have done the spit patch (don't like the tast) but I've never fired another cap to clean the plug.  Have you experience problems in this regard befor?

[quickdtoo]

I too have done the spit patch (don't like the tast) but I've never fired another cap to clean the plug.  Have you experience problems in this regard befor?

Taste? The patch you wet is always clean, don't rewet it after it goes down the bore. I've never had a misfire on an inline, but I have seen it happen on sidelock guns, just a good habit to get into to avoid a misfire and subsequent clearing of the weapon.

[Pruts]

Thanks, Fellas!  I'm really looking forward to hitting the range.  Good luck this year.

Pruts

[fixinit]

I usually fire 30 to 50 shots per outing  and do not  fire a cap between shots. I just spitpatch, drypatch and reload. in six years with an encore i,ve never had a misfire. my tc hawken another story. a cap between shots is a good idea.