Cleaning/Loading Practices

[yoda1624]

I appreciate all the help that posters have been here on the site. I have learned a great deal just by lurking here in the forum. I have searched, but have been unable to find a thread dealing with this issue.

My question is what procedure do you use for cleaning your gun between shots or more specifically what am I doing wrong?

Last weekend, I shot my rifle about 15 times. The first three times it loaded nicely with the .015 patch. The fourth time it was hard. I read somewhere never to use the brass brush on it between shots so I didn't. I just ran the cleaning jag with some Hoppes 9 for Black Powder spread lightly on some patches and ran it through twice. Then a dry ones until they came out mostly clean. The next shot loaded OK and then after that the next two were tough. I try to clean it after every 3 or 4 shots. It just kept getting harder until about the 12th shot and it was impossible to load without really forcing it. I had to change to .010 patches just to get it to load.

If someone would take the time to explain how they clean their gun between shots (Or point me to a link or previous thread) to ensure that the can shoot more than 10 shots at the range at a time, I would appreciate it.

I am shooting a .50 T/C Hawken with a Green Mountain barrel.

 

[roundball]

If you're shooting in dry, low humidity conditions, use that same Hoppes PLUS BP Solvent & Patch Lube on your shooting patches...more wet than damp...it'll minimize fouling, keep the fouling soft, and wipe the bore clean every time you seat a patched ball.

(This assumes you using a reasonably clean burning powder like Goex, and not using petroleum type oil for a bore lube)

 

[ss1]

The way many target shooters whipe between shots... They use a range rod,with bore saver, and a stop set about 1/4 to 1/2' above loaded ball. Mist first patch with Windex, and use both sides [2@ cycles @ side ]. then 1 dry patch, 2@cycles each side. It works well. Not bad idea to use good brush as part of final cleanup of rifle. At next shoot, they will fire 1 flowing shot, before match

 

[Blizzard of '93]

Are you using a short starter to get the RB down aways when loading? If not give it a try. I always dry patch between shots with a .012 patch and use pillow ticking damp with my favorite lube (won't mention since RB's advice is to use Hoppe's) to load PRB

 

[catman]

The way many target shooters whipe between shots... They use a range rod,with bore saver, and a stop set about 1/4 to 1/2' above loaded ball. Mist first patch with Windex, and use both sides [2@ cycles @ side ]. then 1 dry patch, 2@cycles each side. It works well. Not bad idea to use good brush as part of final cleanup of rifle. At next shoot, they will fire 1 flowing shot, before match

As I understand what you say the reason the target shooters stop about a 1/4 to 1/2 above loaded ball is to keep as much moisture out of the flash hole. This would to make since, correct me if I'm wrong..

 

[john12865]

I appreciate all the help that posters have been here on the site. I have learned a great deal just by lurking here in the forum. I have searched, but have been unable to find a thread dealing with this issue.

My question is what procedure do you use for cleaning your gun between shots or more specifically what am I doing wrong?

Last weekend, I shot my rifle about 15 times. The first three times it loaded nicely with the .015 patch. The fourth time it was hard. I read somewhere never to use the brass brush on it between shots so I didn't. I just ran the cleaning jag with some Hoppes 9 for Black Powder spread lightly on some patches and ran it through twice. Then a dry ones until they came out mostly clean. The next shot loaded OK and then after that the next two were tough. I try to clean it after every 3 or 4 shots. It just kept getting harder until about the 12th shot and it was impossible to load without really forcing it. I had to change to .010 patches just to get it to load.

If someone would take the time to explain how they clean their gun between shots (Or point me to a link or previous thread) to ensure that the can shoot more than 10 shots at the range at a time, I would appreciate it.

I am shooting a .50 T/C Hawken with a Green Mountain barrel.

What powder are you shooting with and how many grains? It sounds to me as if your getting some excessive fouling. If it's Pyrodex or some other fake stuff it could be the problem as they do not burn so cleanly as BP. If your shooting real BP, then maybe your shooting too heavy of a charge and the powder isn't burning off.

A rifle should have a crack to it's report, like a modern gun. My .50 sounds like a 30/30. If your making a booming sound like a shotgun then you have too stiff of a load and it will excessively foul the barrel.

Some where between 65 to 75 grs of Goex ffg. should give you that rifle crack and the accuracy that goes with it. Hope this helps. I can shoot 50 shots with no loading problems at all.

 

[Walks with fire]

I use Goex 2f powder and my loads are 80-100 grains depending on the rifle, barrel length, twist, and bullet/ball weight and length. I let the rifle tell me what it likes and sometimes some of them don't talk much so it takes quite a bit of testing. Anyway; loads this heavy in 50 calibers produce quite a bit of fouling here in northwest Pennsylvania.

I have found that I need to keep the barrel very clean for them to shoot as accurately as I like them to shoot. I spit swab both sides of the patch and dry with both sides. Then I repeat again. I will use Lehigh solvent sometimes and don't see any advantage to it. I get the bore really clean and it pay's accuracy dividends for me. Others don't do as much cleaning but they are not in the same climate as I am either. I have also used a 45 caliber brush with a patch wrap in my 50 cals and it does a very good job for me. I can load and shoot 2-3 times without a swab and get very good accuracy but if I want my best shot I swab every time.

I shoot alot and I am constantly testing and observing even slight advantages and disadvantages. I like to keep em very clean between shots--like white final patch clean. That took alot of typing to say that I think climate is the biggest part of the fouling thing. Also, it would not matter what climate or conditions one where shooting in if they kept it very clean all the time.

 

[yoda1624]

Thank you to everyone who responded. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Two things that I picked up on are that I need to clean more often than every three shots. Apparently, after every shot is the norm.

Based on reading spent patches, I believe that I am using a proper load for my gun. I have been using Goex and I use T/C Borebutter when I need to lube the patches. I use a short starter to get the ball going, but it is hard all the way down the barrel. I want to change to real black powder as soon as I find a local distributor.

I will try the windex on my next outing.

Thanks for your help.

Brian

 

[FTW]

I use hoppes #9 plus for patch lube year round,in S.E. TX the humidity is never low. and get 50+ shots without wiping between shots with Triple Seven.The same can be done with GOEX.Pyrodex seems to foul more as I recall,haven't shot any in 20+ years.I clean with very hot water.I get the barrel to hot to hold bare handed.I use a dry patch followed by a patch with birchwood casey sheath,I pour a little down the bore so it runs out the hole for the nipple or the vent.Before I load I squirt acetone down the barrel then patch with acetone to get the oil out.

 

[fw707]

and I use T/C Borebutter when I need to lube the patches.
Brian

Are you patching your bullets sometimes with dry patches? :hmm:

 

[sidelock]

First -- get rid of that fake stuff. Second-- lube your patches well. Third-- (I don't believe I have ever heard this here and don't know why) don't terry about reloading. I learned quickly when I first started many years ago that delay in reloading caused the residue to set up tight and reloading became tough. About the second time I went to the range with my T/C .50 someone came along and started to jaw right after I fired. Several min. delay and I couldn't get the next ball down without a hammer. Never allowed that to happen again. Good luck :v

 

[ss1]

No,they set the STOP 1/4 to 1/2 above loaded ball, thia allows to clean [wipe ] down to the loaded ball.Moisture not a problem, most use telf patches [dry ], its to have the barrel the same each shot. Only clean section of barrel that ball/patch travels.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

You may be getting a crud ring build-up. I never use a wet patch anymore since I had a problem with a missfire in my .50 cal. Lyman Trade Rifle. Now all I use is a .50 brush and I invert the gun to tap-out the dirt that the brush dislodges, then I cap-off on a blade of grass to check the ignition path. When shooting PRB I use a .490 RB and a .020 pre-lubed patch for the first 3 or 4 shots. Then I switch to a .015 pre-lubed patch. After about another 6 shots, it's time for the brush again, etc. as above. Of course you could always switch to a nice 370 gr. T/C conical (Maxi-Ball) :thumbsup: . My son and I shoot nothing but these in BP league competition. Three sighters at 50 yds. to dirty-up the bore and the groups cloverleaf nicely :winking: . Then it's 5 shots for score. At 100 yds. a couple of sighters, then 10 shots for score. No patching, no brushing, no fuss, no muss...just good fun! Also, before I forget to mention it our loading is 70 gr. of FFFg. You might want to try it in your gun, as it burns faster & hotter & CLEANER, leaving less residue! :winking: Some folks think i'm :youcrazy: , some just :shake: but most of the time we beat the PRB crowd, especially at the 100 yd. string. The FFFg Goex really does the trick with the 1 in 48 twist, 28 inch barrel. Just remember a dirty bore is your friend when you're shooting Maxi's...you get a more uniform gas seal amd no blow-by. Hope this helps and let me know if you try it . All the best, Dave

 

[Jarikeen]

I believe that to get true consistancy from shot to shot for target work - that you need to swab between every shot and all the way down to the breach face. If you only clean to where the ball sits, then you can get a grud ring forming and also build up behind it which leads to inconsistancy.

I have found that windex works well for me, and all I use is a light spray (don't saturate) on a flannel cleaning patch. Swabbing only takes a couple of seconds to do. Each patch is good for about 5 shots (turn patch inside out after 3rd shot). I have never had a misfire from cleaning down to the breach.

Cleaning between shots makes the 'cleaning when you get home' process much much easier.

Using heavy loads of BP for me only produces more fowling. I have not experienced these big loads burning cleaner and producing less fowling.

Swabbing the bore makes the whole loading process much more pleasant. My shooting patchs are simply lubricated with a little, but even, amount of olive oil. Mind you, I've only had experience with PRB and not maxi.

73's

 

[yoda1624]

No, I buy the prelubed patches. I make sure that they are fairly well saturated (not dried out). If so, I just get new ones.

 

[yoda1624]

I will try not to delay my reloading. That may be a problem. I shoot my shot and then go look at the target and then look at the ball and see if an adjustment is needed, then reload. I didn't want to get in a hurry reloading then mess that up.

Thanks a million, all your hints are helpful.

Brian

 

[Johnny Tremain]

HOPPES NUMBER 9!!!!!!!!!!!

Land sakes child, new fangled cleaning oil.

You never ever put petrolium based products in yer smoke pole again.

He is what yer gonna do. When its time for your monthly shower. Pull the barrel out of the wood.
Take it in the shower with some dish washeing soap. (I prefer dawn).

Get the water real hot. run it down the barrel and with rod and patch clean all the oil and nasties inside and out form yer barrel.

Get out (put some clothes on) run down to the loacl gun shop and buy a tube of Thompsons 1000+ wonder lube. A bottle of 1000+ cleaning solution and some presoaked patched.

While the barrel is still warm, coat it insdie and out with the lube.

Before you shoot runa wet patch (1000+ cleaner) down the bore.

Shoot the holy manure out of it. When you all done and every round slips down the barrel with ease. Becuase you are using the pre-soaked patches.

When yer done run a few wet ones down, a few dry ones down. Your done.

From that day on, you will never have a loading problem again.

Ill eat all your lube if you do. Ive never ate any yet.

 

[yoda1624]

I am going to give this a shot. Sounds like a plan.

Thanks for your help.

Brian

 

[rdale]

Last year I read an article in Backwoodsman magazine (Vol. 27 No. 2 March/April 2006 pp. 67-68 SWEET OIL AND OLD GUNS by Jim Baldwin). He uses virgin olive oil for cleaning, patch lube, and between shot swabbing. I tried it and it works great for me. I shoot competition with my club monthly, and found that the fouling problems were much less than I experienced before. BTW I am in Louisiana, the hot and humid swamp state

 

[TANSTAAFL]

I am cheap & old habits that work are ingrained. With that said, if punching paper, plinking, busting rocks & etc, I spit patch every shot, in short, I slobber up the patch, be it lubed or not.

Keeps the fouling to a minimum, enabling me to shoot all day this way.