First shot varies...what would you do?

[Kansas Kid]

Ifin you find a magic cure for them post up. I have a couple of rifles that do it and some that don’t. The ones that usually do it are deep cut round bottom rifling. The .010-.012 square cut wide groove barrels seem the never give problems. Maybe something to the suggestion of using one thicker patch for the very first clean barrel shot. Maybe a thick heavy patch lube on the first load or mop the bore with it after loading to simulate a fouled bore.

If you try it and it works please post up and let us know. Hitting even an inch or so off don’t sound like much to a large game hunter but it sure is to a small game hunter.

 

[Sparkitoff]

I store with Barricade or WD40 but I swab with alcohol before shooting.

 

[Carbon 6]

I still think you need to go back to load development, find your load combo. if it's small enough, you won't notice a first shot flier.
Back to square one, the one you skipped.

 

[FishDFly]

Sight in for the first shot, that is what counts, not the follow up shot if needed and there is time for it.

If you use a fouling shot and then load, you will be forced to clean you rifle. If you load on a clean barrel, you can leave it loaded until you want to shoot it again.

 

[renegadehunter]

If windage is the problem on the clean bore shot then I'd play around with patch thickness and lube type. I believe you'll find a combo that resolves the left/right difference between clean bore and fouled bore.

For high/low I see three options. 1. Try a tighter patch with the first clean bore shot to try to match the tighter fit and slightly higher velocity a fouled bore gives. 2. Remember that your clean bore shot is an "x" zero, and the fouled bore shots are a different "x" zero. My Renegade throws the first one low, and then the following swabbed but fouled bore shots run higher. I just remember than my clean bore shot is a 50 yard zero and after that I have a 75 yard zero.
3. Foul the barrel before hunting. (I also would rather not have to do a full cleaning every hunt. I will leave loaded or just use a ball puller to pull the load if worried about moisture).

I wonder if something could be applied to the bore that would mimic fouling? A high percentage bees wax mix perhaps???

 

[chix2111]

Old Hawkeye got it right. Only the first shot is what you be totally sure and confident about. Clean it well, load it, run a rust preventive patch, take it to the range, shoot a careful shot. If it's where you want it, you're there. If not, make your best guess adjustment and repeat until that first shot IS where you want it.
Second shots with a front stuffer, under field circumstances, are rare as hens teeth in my 60 or so years.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Do you remove the barrel/s for cleaning?

 

[chix2111]

Of all the rifles I have owned (at least 50), centerfire and muzzleloaders, I have had only one that would shoot a group in the same place as the first, cold clean barrel shot It was a .30 caliber competition benchrest rifle. And when I say "the same place" I still don't mean Exactly the same place.

 

[S.Kenton]

I’d use a thicker patch, try a different lube.. and I’d also try an over powder card. Change one thing at a time.

 

[azmntman]

At the range, a no brainer. In the woods a no brainer. As many the buck n bull have swaggered away smirking I now load about 1/3 to a half load powder n ball and shoot into a tree before I start range time or hunting. Then I swab, load and proceed to redeem myself (LOL). This way first shot dont matter, barrel ready for the next shots to be consistent and NO MORE HANG/MIS-FIRES. WARNING....some campers dont like this method as I always get a healthy distance from my camp and/or hunt area to load. Seems many sleep too late and it tends to wake em, they think yer shooting dinner right by camp!

 

[Art Caputo]

Good idea! I’d give it a try....With a couple of my rifles that do this I have solved the problem bt increasing my patch thickness for my first shot from .015”(my standard load) to .018”, same lube. They keep 5 shots with no swabbing 2” or leads at 50 yards. .018” i pillow ticking, with its blue strip avoids any possibility for confusion.

 

[Bent Sight]

I store with Barricade or WD40 but I swab with alcohol before shooting.

The alcohol may not be getting enough of it out of the metal to affect how slippery the lands and grooves are on the first shot. The first shot may be burning off what is impregnated in the metal.

What kind of patch lube are you using?

 

[Grenadier1758]

Do you remove the barrel/s for cleaning?

Now Britsmoothy is thinking along the lines of asking the question, "What has changed?" What many have seen is the removal of a barrel will change how that barrel has settled in the stock. It can change how the barrel is located with respect to the bedding and the first shot settles the barrel in its optimal place,

 

[Cpt Flint]

I didn't know anyone went for record without a fouler.

 

[Sparkitoff]

Both of these rifles are fixed breach and I do not remove them for cleaning.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Both of these rifles are fixed breach and I do not remove them for cleaning.

How many ball from new Spark?

 

[Sparkitoff]

One is used and I don't know its history. The other was new and I've put between 350 and 400 balls through it.

 

[Britsmoothy]

May not be run in then.
What was the lube your using again?

 

[Sparkitoff]

Here's today's update. I use a "dry lube" or 7:1 water/ballistol. I have experimented with different ratios and that one seemed best. However, I tend to spit on the patch and rub it in before cutting at the muzzle. My theory was to keep it moist for range fowling. Well, I figured out today the first shot will be pretty good on windage but a little high if I just use the patch "dry", as is. No licking or spitting on it for the first shot. Subsequent shots that were not dampened gave a rough feel when seating the ball and were slightly harder to load. The point of impact was always as it should be with the 2nd shot onward whether they were damp or not. So, just that first shot wants a "dry" patch. I'm going to continue to try a greater ball thickness, a greater patch thickness, both, and an oil lube. Making some progress though figuring out how to keep that first shot where I want it and with any subsequent range shots.

 

[Critter Getter]

This is interesting as my Hatfield that shoots extremely well always throws the first shot 4” left and then will clover leaf everything after that at 50 yards.......I always shot a fouling shot before competing. I will have to try a thicker patch or shimming with a piece of paper to see if that helps or not..........Greg