fouling a bore

[kingsax26]

took my fowler to the range and really wrung the sweat out of it! shoots great, except for one thing. the first shot from a clean bore always shoots about 12 inches low at 30. this also occurs after wiping the bore during shooting but not as bad (maybe 8 inches or a little less). Any creative ideas on how I can foul the bore before the first shot? It isnt a big deal at the range to shoot a squib load, but its not someting id do at 4am during deer season.

 

[Skychief]

Hmm.... :hmm:

Maybe try to grease the clean bore after loading. I've heard this has helped others. Can't hurt to try it.

Good luck, Skychief

 

[coloradoclyde]

Sounds to me like you have the wrong patch and ball combination or whatever you're using. The clean bore is creating less resistance and less pressure resulting in less velocity.. A chronograph could confirm this...

Try swabbing between every shot and work up your load from there.

 

[hanshi]

Try a different lube. Thicker patches often help as stated above.

 

[kingsax26]

clyde, as stated in the post this occurs when shooting from a clean bore. I cannot regulate the sights any further to compensate for the drop. I am using a bare ball over 20Ga wad with a 20ga card to keep evrything in place. i know I could get a tighter seal with a patch, but i dont want to use one. thasts why I asked if there was anything creative people do when this occurs.

 

[bigted]

Use a bigger ball and a lube

 

[bigted]

Wad.

Lubed cushion wad that is ... under the larger ball.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Try double wadding the first shot. or not lubing it if you are lubing....just don't burn the woods down... :wink:

Worst case scenario...aim high on the first shot.

 

[kingsax26]

actually hadnt thought of not lubing.....hmmmm

 

[larryp]

Make sure there's no oil residue left in the barrel before loading. Sometimes there's just enough to lower friction and make the shot go off aim. I dry my bore out with a patch soaked in brake cleaner before loading. It removes all traces of oil and makes for a very dry barrel when loading. My first shot goes to the same impact as the following ones.

 

[nhmoose]

For hunting shoot the gun the day before and don't clean it.

Haw bad can it rot in a few days. I bet the old timers 150 years ago had to let cleaning go for a few days.

 

[Britsmoothy]

For hunting shoot the gun the day before and don't clean it.

Haw bad can it rot in a few days. I bet the old timers 150 years ago had to let cleaning go for a few days.

:metoo:
I have left my guns for days fouled and suffered nothing with black powder.

B.

 

[azmntman]

As stated before, after many FTF I now load a half charge and fire into a tree or dirt bank every morning before the hunt. Usually driving in but if camping I will get up 20 min earlier and get outta the area to do so. (Likely upsets a few others if they are camped near :cursing: but I dont shoot near camps I know about :nono: ) Never lost an animal per FTF since.

**I have yet to acquire a smoothy but this is what I do with my rifles, if/when I get a smoothy will do this as well