Author Topic: 1st shot won't group w/ the follow up shots... (Read 780 times)

str8shooter · « **on:** August 26, 2005, 11:12:04 AM »

I've been shooting my Encore for a couple of years now and have it grouping very well... 110 gr. T7 behind a 200 gr. Shockwave dead on at 100 yds has been giving me 1 1/2" to 2" groups. My shooting procedure is once at the range shoot 2 caps to dry up the barrel, clean w/ wet patch and both sides of a dry patch, load and fire. I follow up w/ the same procedure. The problem is that my first shot seems to always be a couple of inches off of my following three shot groups. The next 3 shots will give me a nice tight group, usually about 2" higher. Any ideas on wht could be causing this? I have been cleaning w/ the Windex w/ vinegar and using CLP for the barrel before storage. I'm wondering if I am not getting all of the CLP out of the barrel which could be causing the inconsistency?

BS · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2005, 12:26:07 PM »

This is what worked for me.....................I use wonder lube one the barrel for my first shot..........I was getting a 7" difference, and lubing brung my shots together!

Everbody says not to lube sabots, but this works for me!

No-BS

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2005, 01:35:30 PM »

Quote from: BS

This is what worked for me.....................I use wonder lube one the barrel for my first shot..........I was getting a 7" difference, and lubing brung my shots otgether!

Everbody says not to lube sabots, but this works for me!

No-BS

I have lubed my sabots also. I used bore butter.

str8shooter · « **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2005, 02:48:39 PM »

So you just lube the sabot w/ bore butter and load as usual? each time? How much would you say that you use? I'm real interested in trying this out...

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 27, 2005, 02:31:42 AM »

Quote from: str8shooter

So you just lube the sabot w/ bore butter and load as usual? each time? How much would you say that you use? I'm real interested in trying this out...

I just put a little on the power belt skirt. (The plastic cup on the bottom of the bullet). Not a lot is needed, the outside of the skirt is what contacts the rifling. No need to lube the whole bullet.

(Just a light film.)

BS · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2005, 03:13:12 AM »

Quote from: Redhawk1

Quote from: str8shooter
So you just lube the sabot w/ bore butter and load as usual? each time? How much would you say that you use? I'm real interested in trying this out...

I just put a little on the power belt skirt. (The plastic cup on the bottom of the bullet). Not a lot is needed, the outside of the skirt is what contacts the rifling. No need to lube the whole bullet. (Just a light film.)

I lube the whole barrel, and in hunting season, you need to relube about every two days. [wonder lube tends to dry out, but seems to work well]
That is what is nice about not needing a fowling shot, leaving the gun loaded for the week of the 'season".

savageT · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2005, 05:18:56 AM »

stra8shooter,
Concerning the 1st shot not tracking with the rest, after using 2 primer caps for fouling the barrel , just try using a dry patch swab only before loading initially. I think you're just removing the fouling with the windex cleaning. As far as using CLP, it is a petroleum product and as you know, as such requires a real good cleaning before reloading.

Nothing wrong with the Windex w/ vinegar, but try the Ballistol next time instead for light cleaning and lubing the barrel. For long-term storage, I'd really want a heavy duty rust preventative such as RIG or Vasoline Petroleum Jelly.

Jim

TN.Frank · « **Reply #7 on:** August 27, 2005, 05:42:28 AM »

Big Fat +1 on Ballistol. A buddy of mine got me turned on to this stuff a few years ago and it's all that I use for every firearm that I own. This stuff it truly magic and it's been around since WWI so it's not a "flash in the pan" like some of the cleaners/lubes that's on the market today. As far as "bore butter" goes, I've been using plain ol' Crisco since I've started this kind of shooting back in the late '70's and it's always worked just fine as a patch lube and to lube up mini-bullets, ect. A couple bucks will get you more then you'll use in 10 seasons of shooting.
I'd think that if you'd put a bit of powder down the bore for a fouling shot it'd make the first shot shoot more like the second because of the fouling vs no fouling. As far as cleaning between shots, I know that Hogden doesn't recomend doing cleaning with Pyrodex between shots, in fact, they say that the fouling from Pyrodex is kind of a lube of sorts. Anyway, hope ya' get things worked out. In Frith.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 27, 2005, 08:45:16 AM »

I like the Windex w/ vinegar for cleaning. I use it on all my Muzzleloaders and my Shiloh Sharps for my black powder cartridges. For long storage, I use bore butter.

str8shooter · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2005, 04:26:38 PM »

thanks guys, I'll try the bore butter and try to get my hands on some Ballistol... thanks again, I really appreciate the help

huntersmurf · « **Reply #10 on:** September 05, 2005, 12:56:42 PM »

Next time at the range try firing a squib load before you load er up. A squib load consists of 30 grains of powder with no bullet. Some rifles shoot to a different point of impact on a clean bore as opposed to a dirty bore.

HS