Clean vs fouled barrel

[Bob the Cynic]

Hi all,

I recently purchased an Omega X7.  I've been working up some loads for it and I've notice a dramatic difference in the point of impact between a clean barrel and fouled barrel.  Typically my first shot will hit as much as six inches low at 100 yards.  After that my bullets will hit to point of aim.

Has anyone else experienced this? 

I cleaned between shots and sighted the gun in based on a clean barrel.  I'm intending to use this gun deer hunting this year and I'm not crazy about leaving it with a fouled barrel between hunts, though I'm using Blackhorn 209 so that may not be much of an issue if I decide to go that route.

I'm not particularly concerned about his, but I am curious if others have experienced this with their guns, and if you hunt with that gun, did you hunt with a fouled barrel or clean?

[flintlock]

That's common...I always hunt and sight in with a clean barrel...After taking a shot in the field I clean between shots...I just carry a zip lock bag with several cleaning patches and an eye drop container of rubbing alcohol...I moisten 2 patches, run both down the barrel, using both sides and then one dry patch, a slighty oiled patch and another dry patch...I carry all of these in a hunting vest pocket...Once you get organized you can reload within 2-3 minutes...

Flintlocks can be easier as I can load the first ball with a .018 patch and the second with a .015 patch...

Except for squirrel hunting, I've never needed a quick second shot in over 30 years of muzzle loading...

[mirage1988]

Bob-
I noticed that too when I switched to blackhorn, it must be from using solvent to clean the barrel instead of water. I only cleaned the breechplug last time I shot, Will clean the barrel after the season is over. I didn't notice a change in POI when i was shooting 777 pellets between a clean or dirty barrel.

[Bob the Cynic]

Bob-
I noticed that too when I switched to blackhorn, it must be from using solvent to clean the barrel instead of water. I only cleaned the breechplug last time I shot, Will clean the barrel after the season is over. I didn't notice a change in POI when i was shooting 777 pellets between a clean or dirty barrel.

Interesting,

I hadn't considered the powder.  I've got a jug of Pyrodex laying about here.  Maybe I'll lug that down to the range with me next time I go and see if that makes a difference.  I've only ever shot BH209 out of this gun, but on my other guns, like yourself, I hadn't notice a change in POI when using pyrodex.

[Swampman]

I just patch out my barrel with Alchol before I load.  The oil is what ruins your accuracy.

[coop2564]

Mine is doing same with BH but only 3" rt and 1.5" low, after 1st shot back on the money. I've tried shooting up to 5 primer to foul it doesnt work. Seems it needs residue from powder and plastic. Not sure what to do. Other than shoot a light load with bullet and load her back up I'm thinking pushing sabot down will clean most residue from fouling shot that would absorb moisture. I left it loaded last year 3 weeks after shooting and reloading and had no rusting and it shot to POI fine. I think the tight fit of the sabot gets all the loose residue off the barrel and and packs it back with the new powder and whats left doesnt seem to draw moisture at least in dry west texas.

[saltysenior]

 i don't understand the mechanics of this theory......if you fired a load to foul the barrel,don't pushing the sabot back down clean the lands of the barrel

[rogo]

I had the same problem with my first shot from a "clean" barrel. First shot was always high and left about 6".  Today I went to the range and before loading I used a patch with alcohol to swab barrel and then 2 dry patches. Loaded my Omega and fired first shot. It hit 1/2 inch left of a 1" bull. Can't ask for more than that.  Apparently the alcohol removes the last traces of oil from the barrel and I believe that was my problem. Going to do the same thing Sat at the range and see if it works a second time.

[Cuts Crooked]

i don't understand the mechanics of this theory......if you fired a load to foul the barrel,don't pushing the sabot back down clean the lands of the barrel

Simple answer: Nope!

More complicated answer: A sabot isn't designed to clean anything and will not get down in the rifling grooves very good on it's way down bore. That cupped base is designed to flare out and fill the rifling under the pressure of a charge expanding behind it. When that happens in a fouled bore it jist starts sliding over the fouling to some extent, instead of doing a really good of gripping those lands and grooves.

[Tn Jim]

I shoot loose 777 and swab before every shot with rubbing alcohol, including the very first shot. Went to the range yesterday and my 1st shot was 1/2" above shots 2 and 3, which were nearly touching. That has been the norm for me since I started doing this. Pyrodex was a different story, but darned if I could tell you why.

[saltysenior]

sooo....what procedure should be used in a hunting situation ? i clean the barrel, replace the breech plug,load,and then lightly oil the bore down to the sabot.....the rifle stays in this condition until it is fired,which is usually at the season's end......is there a better way?

[coop2564]

I had the same problem with my first shot from a "clean" barrel. First shot was always high and left about 6".  Today I went to the range and before loading I used a patch with alcohol to swab barrel and then 2 dry patches. Loaded my Omega and fired first shot. It hit 1/2 inch left of a 1" bull. Can't ask for more than that.  Apparently the alcohol removes the last traces of oil from the barrel and I believe that was my problem. Going to do the same thing Sat at the range and see if it works a second time.

Let us know how that works again. Think I will try same thing 1st break in weather! With all the talk recently about BH causing rust kinda worried about leaving it loaded after a fouling shot.

[hunt-m-up]

Last three guns I've own/ed, including the Traditions Pursuit I'm shooting now, like it when I pop a primer in the clean gun prior to loading for hunting. That's after swabbing with clean patch to remove any oil. They will typically shoot down and to the right for me otherwise.

[DennyRoark]

what procedure should be used in a hunting situation ? i clean the barrel, replace the breech plug,load,and then lightly oil the bore down to the sabot.....the rifle stays in this condition until it is fired,which is usually at the season's end......is there a better way?

Don't oil your barrel while hunting, oil (or Bore Butter) and sabots don't do so well together, just swab it down with alcohol, windex, T/C #13 or such and patch until dry.  It won't rust unless you bring it into the house cold.  Also, you don't have to pull the breech plug after every hunting shot.  It'll keep for several shots and a several days.

[1marty]

With my omega I use 2 777 pellets with either a 295 or 348 grain powebelt. The gun is always dead on between shots. I just run a spit patch between shots. I had the shots wander all over the place until I hit on this combination. When shooting the 348 I just go up 3 clicks or so if zero for the 295.

[TRM-1]

I had the same problem with my first shot from a "clean" barrel. First shot was always high and left about 6".  Today I went to the range and before loading I used a patch with alcohol to swab barrel and then 2 dry patches. Loaded my Omega and fired first shot. It hit 1/2 inch left of a 1" bull. Can't ask for more than that.  Apparently the alcohol removes the last traces of oil from the barrel and I believe that was my problem. Going to do the same thing Sat at the range and see if it works a second time.

Let us know how that works again. Think I will try same thing 1st break in weather! With all the talk recently about BH causing rust kinda worried about leaving it loaded after a fouling shot.

Did I miss something? Is Blackhorn causing rust? I hadn't heard anything about rust problems with blackhorn. I sure haven't had any problems myself. I love the stuff.

[rogo]

Blackhorn itself will not cause rust in your barrel. However the residue left after shooting will attract moisture and that is where the rust comes from. Blackhorn has changed their labels on the jugs to recommend cleaning your rifle after shooting due to this problem. I love BH209 and will never go back to pellets but I clean my rifle after every shooting session anyway.

[Vic49]

I had the same problem with my first shot from a "clean" barrel. First shot was always high and left about 6".  Today I went to the range and before loading I used a patch with alcohol to swab barrel and then 2 dry patches. Loaded my Omega and fired first shot. It hit 1/2 inch left of a 1" bull. Can't ask for more than that.  Apparently the alcohol removes the last traces of oil from the barrel and I believe that was my problem. Going to do the same thing Sat at the range and see if it works a second time.

Just tried this with my Accura 200 gr. Shockwaves and 90 grs BH209  Three shots alcohol patches between shots resulted in a nice clover leaf group 1 1/2" at 100yds.

[ronbow]

I have the X7 also and shoot 777 (pellets or loose), 270 gr. platinum powerbelt and notice little or no difference between clean and fouled barrel shots.