Author Topic: How many foul the bore prior to the Hunt? (Read 1719 times)

necchi · « **on:** June 14, 2009, 06:14:37 PM »

Topic came up in another post,, there where a few different ideas/practices. I'll run it 7 day's.
The idea of a great HUNT, is to have the firearm prepared to it's fullest ablility, including having the shooter well conditioned and experianced with his rifle. Then the HUNT can begin.
The rifle is just a tool used at the end of the hunt.
I'm a fouler, I'll take my cleaned and oiled rifle to the range, run several dry patches through the bore, then because of my proir practice and confidance with my rifle I only need too fire one round, but many times I'll let 3-5 go down range just because it's fun. I then wipe the ouside of the gun with a light oil and leave the bore fouled for the 2 week season.

dk17hmr · « **Reply #1 on:** June 14, 2009, 06:37:34 PM »

I dont generally clean any of my barrels on any of my guns until accuracy goes south.

myarmor · « **Reply #2 on:** June 14, 2009, 07:24:19 PM »

After I scrub them good, I will fire off a few to foul it. After that I am good to go. Some barrels/cals I clean more regular than others depending on how much ammo I put through it.

-Aaron

trotterlg · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2009, 07:30:16 PM »

I think if you have the proper load and bullet you will not need any at all. I have a 17 Remington that will put as many rounds as you want to to shoot into an inch at 100 yards from a cold clean barrel. Guess the trick is finding the proper load for your rifle. Larry

petemi · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2009, 01:33:08 AM »

Quote from: dk17hmr on June 14, 2009, 06:37:34 PM

I dont generally clean any of my barrels on any of my guns until accuracy goes south.

Same for me. I always take a rifle out a day or two before the opener and punch a round or two through it to make sure the sights are still where I left it. And that's all, folks.

Pete

JonnyC · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2009, 01:46:21 AM »

I give it a good cleaning a the end of the season. I shoot the gun a few weeks before the new season. If it's on- I leave it alone until the season ends.

canon6 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2009, 02:37:14 AM »

Me fowl,I mean foul.

Doug

Singleshotsam · « **Reply #7 on:** June 15, 2009, 03:36:53 AM »

I decide when to clean the bore by a visual inspection of the copper buildup in the throat and in the rifling. When it gets built up enough for me to see it w/o the aid of a flashlight, then I give it a good scrubbing.

After I get the powder and copper fouling out I take the gun back out and shoot 1 or 2 groups out it from a cool barrel. After about 6 shots the bbl is back on target and ready to grab at a moments notice to hit whatever I'm aiming at. A gun is basically useless if you can't grab it up and hit what your aiming at the first shot.

tykempster · « **Reply #8 on:** June 15, 2009, 05:10:27 AM »

At least one...shoot until POI comes back to normal.

blind ear · « **Reply #9 on:** June 15, 2009, 05:18:45 AM »

My biggest concern is a stone cold zero. My 223 model 7 Rem will open up in 10 shots. My Rem700, 30-06 will shoot a while before scattering.

teddy12b · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2009, 05:32:04 AM »

My purposes aren't apples to apples with the guys that hunt out west or can use a high power rifle. For me hunting with a puma 44mag cleaned or not I'm not going to see a huger difference in accuracy. I clean all my rifles after every trip to the range, and every time I go to the range my cold bore shot is treated like a hunting shot. With the 44mag, I'm only shooting at 100 yards so it's not a big deal, but when the 30-06 comes out I keep it zeroed for 200 and treat that cold bore shot like I'm on the elk hunt of a lifetime and make sure I don't miss. I don't think cold bore shots can really be thrown off a game sized animal in under 200 yards.

rickt300 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2009, 05:33:58 AM »

I guess I'm lucky, most of my guns will go thru a lot of rounds before fouling effects grouping. I sometimes shoot my gun a few rounds and run a dry patch down the barrel to remove powder fouling. Seems like the powder fouling will attract moisture in humid conditions.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2009, 06:02:29 AM »

I only clean the bore of my rifles when they start to shoot bad. And I always hunt from a fouled bore.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2009, 06:11:09 AM »

I normally hunt with a fouled bore. As a general rule, after a good cleaning when I finish load development, I fire 3 rounds to foul and maybe one 3 shot group to confirm my zero. Then no cleaning until the season ends.

Sourdough · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2009, 06:59:47 AM »

I break down and clean my 30-06 Handi about once every six months. Or if it happens to get wet. (It gets dropped in rivers and lakes a lot) I don't shoot superfast loads so copperfouling is not a serious problem. I always take it to the range and fire 5 to 15 shots before going out on a trip after a cleaning.

Every fall I empty the vaults and clean everything, whether it's been shot or not. Then re oil and return them to the vaults.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** June 15, 2009, 07:15:12 AM »

I always clean my rifles after I fire them. Usually, at the end of the day. Exception is right now I am shooting gophers, I will clean my .22 rifle when I quite shooting. Or if I skip a couple days shooting it gets wiped down with Hoppe's, Rifles that don't deliver a good first shot from a cold clean bore, don't live in my house.

Skunk · « **Reply #16 on:** June 15, 2009, 07:18:46 AM »

Quote from: AtlLaw on June 15, 2009, 06:11:09 AM

I normally hunt with a fouled bore. As a general rule, after a good cleaning when I finish load development, I fire 3 rounds to foul and maybe one 3 shot group to confirm my zero. Then no cleaning until the season ends.

+1 on the Richard methodology. That's the ticket right there.

knight0334 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2009, 07:18:53 AM »

Wheres the option for not having cleaned it from last season other than blowing down the barrel to clear the unburnt powder?

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #18 on:** June 15, 2009, 07:19:29 AM »

I get mine all cleaned real good after testing and getting every thing set then clean again shoot a few more rounds to make sure... after I'm sure it's ready to hunt I run a couple of dry patches down the bbl and put it in the case ready for hunt morning. Kurt

jenkst · « **Reply #19 on:** June 15, 2009, 07:54:36 AM »

I always like to shoot my 22. rimfire a day or two before hunting for two reason's. One is to make sure the scope and shooter is on and two it shoots better on a dirty barrel. And its the same with my deer rifles. I don't enjoy the idea of chaseing wounded game all over Gods creation trying to put another round in him. One shot, one kill. I wouldnt think I could miss a turkey at fifteen yards with a twelve gage shotgun but I have. More times than I like to think about. Now what was the question about to begin with?

coop2564 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 15, 2009, 10:49:51 AM »

My deer hunting rifles usually only get about 10 to 15 rounds a year at most. Before season I go to check the scope fouling the barrel in the process, I do not clean the barrel again until after season unless I get caught in bad rain or something. Once season is over I give it a good cleaning and rust prevent in barrel until time to do the above again. But in most my guns its not uncommon to have a 2" or more jump from the clean barrel to the fouled barrel if I would need a second or third shot i would then be shooting off my mark. I see no need to shoot from a clean barrel modern gun powder residue will not hurt your barrel and you wont have any surprises by firing from a fouled one. My varmit rifle I clean about every 50 shots if I know I will be using again soon I shoot a fouler after cleaning or before I hunt again.

necchi · « **Reply #21 on:** June 15, 2009, 12:46:06 PM »

Quote from: knight0334 on June 15, 2009, 07:18:53 AM

Wheres the option for not having cleaned it from last season other than blowing down the barrel to clear the unburnt powder?

option added

gendoc · « **Reply #22 on:** June 15, 2009, 01:52:57 PM »

well, i guess i'm the odd one here..
but i do foul the bore. in a different way..
after a through cleaning, i put down 2-3 shots.
then i put her away until the next morning.
then run acoupla more thru her. then put her away.
the next morning she's back to throw'n 2-3 more boolits.
of course im check'n performance with every shot.
tear her down and clean again. then the next two mornings
foul her 2-3 each day.
if results are the same, its ready fer da hunt..
my whitetail handi's ain't failed me yet......
now, my rugers are anutha story !!!!!!!!

Swampman · « **Reply #23 on:** June 15, 2009, 02:13:28 PM »

I clean my rifles about once a year right after hunting season. I would never hunt with a clean bore. Cleaning ruins a lot of barrels.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #24 on:** June 15, 2009, 03:52:27 PM »

I clean em when they need it. Some go a lot longer than others, none get cleaned to often. Don't havta worry about rust to much in Montana as long as yer not caught in rain. During the hunt, I keep the guns in the truck at night so they don't get condensation from going in a warm tent. The camp gun stays in the tent till the hunt is over. DP

Fred M · « **Reply #25 on:** June 16, 2009, 01:06:36 PM »

A good barrel never throws the first shot 2-3" out of group.
I wipe the cleaned barrel with some dry patches then fire one
shot, then I am ready to go hunting or target shooting.

I have on seveal ocasions omited the fouling shot and used the rifle unfouled the deer never knew the difference.

Today I did some chronographing the first two shots were right on the money that is out of a clean bore. I had fired 4 loads 2 shots each at the same point of aim they all grouped into 1-1/4" including the two out of a clean barrel.
The loads were one grain apart e.i. 50, 51, 52, 53.0gr of powder
Vel 2796 for 50.0gr and 2937 for 53.0gr of powder.
An exceptional good barrel, not a Handi.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #26 on:** June 16, 2009, 02:49:23 PM »

Fred, This is what I have notice with the barrels on my rifles. If they are a good barrel, the first shot from a cold clean bore is right in the group. My favorite big game rifle puts that first round 1 1/2 " high dead center almost every time from a cold clean barrel. The times it is not perfect it is close enough to center the game never knows it. I think you have hit on something important when you said "a good barrel never throws the first shot 2-3" out of the group."

James B · « **Reply #27 on:** June 16, 2009, 04:21:22 PM »

I got away from that. I quit cleaning mine.

Sourdough · « **Reply #28 on:** June 16, 2009, 08:24:07 PM »

It really does not matter to me in most cases whether the rifle is dead on or not. If it's with a 24"X24" group I'm good. That's the size of a good bull Moose's shoulder, so I have lots of room for a margin of error. It's just my using guns get shot so much I don't have time to clean them often. Why bother, I'm just going to shoot them again tomorrow or the next day.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #29 on:** June 17, 2009, 04:01:32 AM »

Sourdough, While a 24x24 rifle would never live in my gun room, if one shoots a bit each day, I can go along with the idea of cleaning less often. We once had this discussion here when stainless barrels became quite common. One of the fellows wanted one so he "wouldn't have to bother with it." Just shoot and put it away. I did some checking with some of the bullet manuf. , Serria I think, they told me that copper fouling left for long periods "MAY" casue pitting underneath the fouling. I once saw a fine .264 with a stainless barrel that had several huge pits, which I guess were from copper. Also a friend ruined the finest shooting varmit rifle I ever saw by shooting it and letting it sit in the humid summer climate of Pa. It developed huge pits and accuracy was destroyed. Often I do not go through the serious cleaning of putting a rifle up after season, but I usually wipe the bore with a wet patch of BoreTeck, or Hoppe's let it sit a few minutes then wipe it dry. So far no pitting due to powder collecting moisture over nite. That once happened to a fine .222. Each to his own. In dry climates one can clean less, but it just bothers me to put a rifle up for several days even when it is dirty.

$:-\$

Poll

How do you prepare your rifle for that all important first cold bore shot?

Author Topic: How many foul the bore prior to the Hunt? (Read 1719 times)