Unfortunately there are a few on here that will take the time to answer with a non-answer like “this has been asked and answered in the past” which is discouraging to new shooters. I like reading the opinions of new posters. Sometimes you learn something new. Not everything has been answered in the past.
You're right, so even though I've posted this several times before, here is what works for my .50 cal. Hawken: 60 grains BP, .015" ticking patch damp lubed with either Old Turkey Track (from Taylors) or 5:1 water/ballistol. .490 RB. After the first shot I load the PRB with a jag that has a 5:1 water/ballistol damp patch over it. Doing this I get about 1 1/2" groups at 50 yards and do a cleaning swab every ten shots or so. Don't go all the way to the breech on your first cleaning stroke. Stop about 1 1/2" inches from the breech. Then on the second stroke go all the way down. This will help to avoid a stuck jag and never run a dry patch except to dry a clean barrel. Plenty of other ways to load and shoot. Everyone must decide for themselves what works for them.
I like this method. Makes sense to me. I’m gonna try it
Several of us that have been sacrilegious & have been using pyrodex found the more we shot without cleaning the accuracy stayed the same. One time we went through two cans of pyrodex & never once cleaned...that's what got us to switch from black powder to pyrodex...lazy & lazy. We lubed the patches with crisco & beeswax...I don't know if that makes a difference...shoot & lets us know.
Sounds great...
You are right about that. If everyone just used search until they found an answer, there would be much less discussion. Maybe that’s what they want. Don’t understand why if they don’t want to respond with an actual helpful answer, why can’t they just roll their eyes and keep scrolling? Maybe their idea of what a forum is maybe different than what I understand it to be. Happy smokepoling…….
We need to be clear about the difference between cleaning and wiping the bore to maintain a consistent level of fouling in the barrel for best accuracy.
I shoot a club match. I have my lined patched balls in a loading block. I swab when the ball becomes difficult to Ram home. I lube the cleaning patch very lightly with moose milk. Then a dry patch.
You do about the same way as I. I just use a dry patch nothing on it at all. I like it snug, not tight and I make sure to go only about 10 inches down and pull it back a few inches before going down anymore . I do this every 10 or so inches and have never had one get stuck.I also hold my barrel down an tap the stock. Any loose debri will fall out. As you said it gives the most cosistency. This will enable you to shoot tighter groups or so it does for me. Check out Idaho Lewis and his method if you want to ger serious with your shooting.
I had to look back to see if I was guilty of that. Fortunately, it was not me. But, I must confess it was almost a natural reaction to say that. I agree, we have a responsibility to help newcomers to the game.
Well said. Only exception I would make is that your "undersized" jag, to me, is the correct size to use at all times. It seats, swabs and cleans very well. And, what you said about the habit of the best shooters is ml wisdom, indeed.
I do know that all of the best shooters wipe between shots.
I was wondering if somebody would bring some.
. 
Dutch had an excellent method of working up a load by methodically changing variables one at a time. That is a tried and true method for many things. I have tried Dutch's method with good result but when it came to the dry patch method I had some reservations. I have since learned that a wet patch seems better for my rifle, The dry patch method almost required one to swab the fouling. I recommend getting a copy of his essays on better rifle shooting and then working up a method that works for you.Dutch schoultz thought that wiping is a good idea
Now, where's that popcorn
