Author Topic: Swabbing tween shots (Read 977 times)

crow_feather · « **on:** March 20, 2004, 05:18:59 AM »

Is there anyone out there besides me that doesn't havta swab tween shots. If so, what are we doing that the other fellers need to do to in order to shoot without swabbing and have no change in pressure or accuracy?

filmokentucky · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2004, 08:05:14 AM »

I don't swab between shots either. It's been my experience that folks that do have to swab every shot are using a ball and patch combination that is too tight. Also, lube may play a part. I've used a 50-50 tallow and beeswax mix for a long while now with good results. (started using it in my Colt revolvers) For example, in my .62 caliber long rifle, I use a .600 ball in a .015 patch. It loads smooth and reliably for several shots. A friend using the same make and caliber of barrel uses a .61 and the same patch and can'load the second shot without great effort. I borrowed a ball from him and tried to load my second shot with it and couldn't do it. Just way too tight. I should point out that his load isn't any more accurate than mine.

crow_feather · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2004, 08:56:30 AM »

I guess it pays not to be a tightwad - little play on words there. I must admit that I don't really know why - I used to think it was because people were using oil, as in old dinasours, in their bores. But I guess it comes down to being able to clean the bore as you are dropping the next patch ball combo and havin the residu soft enough to be cleaned without a brush.

If the swab tween shots is cleaning the bore, why doesn't the patched ball do the same thing when it gets rammed down the barrel?

C F

rollingb · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2004, 11:04:16 AM »

I use "spit" fer lube dur'n 99.9% of my shoot'n (which is, practice and competition), and I only use "bear oil/bee's wax" lube fer hunt'n!!

The only reason I even use the oil/wax lube,.... is 'cause it don't "dry out" 1/2 hour after load'n!!

I don't swab 'tween shots when use'n "spit" 'cause it "cuts" the foul'n in tha bore, jest like water does fer final-clean'n.

Folks what "swab 'tween shots" probly don't think 'bout "WHAT" ther "swab'n" with,...... but!!.... I'll wager, thet it AIN'T the "same thing" as they use fer "lube"!!

Ohio Joe · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2004, 12:29:13 PM »

I don't swab between shots during Rendezvous competition. I take enough pre greased patched ball bullet blocks with me to the shooting event we're doing and load lite... If loading does get hard, I just slobber some spit on the bottom of the patched ball and it goes right down with no trouble... Between events when time permits, I will swab out the bore with my ramrod, but I see no reason to take a cleaning rod to a primitive shooting match where I may have to run and shoot for time as well as accuracy... There are those who do and some are right quick about it...

kevin · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2004, 02:02:49 PM »

heres a new idea for you fellas, been using this method for years,I have swabbed out my bores after evey third shot, had too depending on humidity or powder used, during compition at n-ssa events we mostly use a brass brush, only thig I'd suggest is mack sure that yoy point the muzzle down , the reason for this is if you have a side lock, any fowleing will find its way into the drum or breech ,a nd you'll have a hell of a time with miss fires even with flints i do the same its just habit and i get shot after shot consistancey, but in the n-ssa you can only run a brush thre after your string of fire is over. try it you might like it, besides if you by patches it'll save you money.
kevin

crow_feather · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2004, 03:14:20 PM »

Kevin,
In slug shooting, yes, it is necessary to clean every once in a while. What I'm talking about is shooting a patched round ball rifle all day, 50-60 shots without ever cleaning between shots, having velocity variations, or bullet impact shifts.

xnmr53 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2004, 05:45:19 PM »

I used to shoot with a club that had, IIRC, four former or current state champions in its ranks. Every one of them swabbed between shots because of the more consistent results that they got, and because they wanted to be able to count to ten when they finished the match. I have seen what happens when you get an ignition while ramming the ball down the bore, and it isn't pretty.

Go ahead and shoot without swabbing. Just don't do it around me. Particularly, don't do it around me if you also include pouring directly from the horn or flask amongst your shortcuts.

Good time Charlie · « **Reply #8 on:** March 24, 2004, 03:37:13 AM »

Crow Feather What are you shooting? Gun, powder, patch thickness and ball size? Also amount of powder and what lube and how much or how wet? I was shooting moose milk and prety wet. I did not have to swab but had hell with miss fires.
Charlie

crow_feather · « **Reply #9 on:** March 24, 2004, 05:20:04 PM »

xnmr53
Let's discusss your friends accident. The powder didn't go off when it was dropped down the bore. It was probably because the hammer was not on half cock and the oxygen level was low at the bottom of the barrel. When the ball was forced down, oxygen was pumped in and the lower foul air was pushed out the nipple. It also sounds like he had some sort of object on the end of his ramrod and had curled his hand over the top of it.

You can put your hammer on half cock and blow down the bore, or just put your hammer on half cock and wait a minute before loading. If your shootin black powder, you can't be in a big hurry to shoot anyway. If you come out with that cr-p about puttin your mouth over a rifle barrel, think of this. If the 5 second legnth of time between shootin and blowin is so long that you forgot if you shot or not, this sport is not for you.

You can also grab your ram rod between your thumb and bent forfinger when you drop the ball. If anything does happen, your hand is not directly over the ball so your fingers don't get shot off. I teach that to fourth graders.

My last trail walk, I and my two partners hit every target with our rifles, not one miss, and not one wipe between our shots. We weren't competing for a ton of money, or prestige, or fame, just havin a good time. If I was in your friend's place and it meant an extra 1/4 inch off my group, I would probably wipe tween shots also - instead I just pray for a good wind.

It isn't ever pretty when accidents happen and I feel very sorry for your friend. Still, I feel that after thirty years of shootin black powder without ever seeing or hearing of an accident except for your friend's, the odds are far too high for me to fear the same happening to me.

A person I know of (this is true) was sitting at a stop sign below a freeway overpass when a tire iron, lying on the overpass, was flipped into the air by a passing car, and came down through the top off the guys car and straight into the guys brain. They found him there, foot on the brake, engine running, with a tire iron through the roof and sticking into his head.

When I drove up to that stop sign, I always wanted to do something different than that poor guy. Stop farther back, run the stop sign, ot turn off the road before I got there. I finally figured that I would not change my life due to an unfortunate accident that had little chance of happening a second time.

Your statement that people who don't wipe tween shots are so dumb that they must also pour from the horn impacts a lot of good people.

C F

crow_feather · « **Reply #10 on:** March 24, 2004, 06:06:48 PM »

Good time Charlie,

First off, I never put any patroleum product in my bore or on my rifles. They didn't use it in 1840 and things worked well. I'll stick with what works. I cleaned my barrel the first time with a very hot soapy scrub and a very hot clean water rinse. With the barrel still hot and dry, I swabbed a natural lube down the bore, let the bore cool and the then ran a dry clean cloth down the bore.

I also use moose milk, but I squeeze the material before I cut the patch so the patch is wet, but not dripping wet. I have used Irish Linnen for patches. I could put a .530 patched ball into the bore with my thumb and I had great accuracy but I can't find Irish Linnen any more.

I now use pillow ticking. I don't know the thickness as I now am able to "feel" what is about right. I need a ball starter to start the .530 patched ball.

I have also been known to drop a dry patch down the barrel before I put in the patched ball. Some people use hornet nest material, but I'm scaird of hornets.

I use 3f Goex in my 54's on down. There are probably better powders, but I'll stick with what works.

I wish you a world of fun black powderin. Hope some of this helps.

C F

Will Bison · « **Reply #11 on:** March 25, 2004, 09:06:26 AM »

I never have to swab/clean between shots. I blow down the bore after each shot. I am never in a big hurry to get the next charge in.

I've been shooting traditional since 1957 and probably shoot one match a month plus practice in between.

I use peroxide/alcohol/murpheys oil soap mixed 1/3 of each for lube. The last shot goes down as easy as the first. I started using this lube in 1963. When done for the day I use the same mixture for cleaning the gun and washing my hands. Then the metal parts of the gun get a good dose of WD-40.

If I intend to carry the gun loaded for hunting I switch to a mixture of bees wax/crisco for lube. I have never tried this lube for extended shooting.

crow_feather · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2004, 11:53:39 AM »

Will,

I might havta try that mixture. I've been using 10% water soluable machine oil 90% water and a dash of liquid dish soap and windex for 25 years.

C F

Ohio Joe · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2004, 06:19:37 PM »

I have tried, "Will Bison's", cleaning solution of, peroxide/alcohol/murpheys oil soap, equal parts, and it works better then anything I think you could buy off the shelf pre made... I just got the makin's yesterday for another batch of it... :grin: I've used alot of home made concoctions over almost 30 years of muzzle loading and this is the best... :grin: I do swab between shots when I'm not shooting primitive competitions... I neglected to say that in my previous post on this page...

crow_feather · « **Reply #14 on:** March 26, 2004, 03:26:58 PM »

Ohio Joe,

All right fella, ya talked me inta tryin it. Some wipe, some don't, I don't see the need myself but if it makes a guy feel better, what the heck - go fer it.

C F

Ohio Joe · « **Reply #15 on:** March 26, 2004, 04:44:28 PM »

"crow-feather",,, I think once you've tried that cleaner you'll get hooked on it... :grin: I wouldn't worry about swabbing between shots if your doing what works for you... I will seldom wipe between shots at rendezvous during the competitions, unless I absolutly have to... Sure, at the range practicing 50 and 100 yard buffalo cross sticks it's a different story... I'm not pushing the clock for time on an event there... Good Shootin',