Fouling shot?

[David Coulter]

I watched part of a video in which the fellow was doing a fouling shot to get his flintlock ready. I’m curious about your views here. It seems like 90% nonsense to me. Perhaps for consistency sake in target shooting it might be a viable technique. For hunting, I want my rifle as clean as can be, especially the ignition area. Also, I want to be able to keep my charge in the barrel if I don’t take a shot and if I ran a fouler then I’d be cleaning either way.
Your thoughts? Thanks.

 

[Walkingeagle]

I don’t do it. Ever.
Walk

 

[Spikebuck]

David, I agree with you. I want my hunting load in a clean barrel. That is also why I swab the barrel between shots when practicing...I want all my practice to be out of what is basically a "clean" barrel.

 

[SDSmlf]

Fouling attracts moisture. Not something you want in your bore.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

The concept of a fouling spot is simple. Every shot should be from the same barrel condition. When I shoot in competition, I take a fouling shot before shooting for score. Then I clean the bore as I do after every shot; one damp, one dry, then reload. From that point on, every shot is from the same bore condition. "The name of the game is the same" as I was taught in benchrest shooting. For hunting, I know the point of impact difference from the first shot from a clean barrel va a fouled barrel. Other do as others wish. This is my practice.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Carbon 6]

I use to do it, but it caused more problems than it solved.
Now, I'm a clean barrel man and couldn't be happier.

As for changing the point of impact, I haven't found it to be a problem for me off of paper, and I shoot squirrels in the head.

 

[Dave Marsh]

No fouling shots for me.

Dave

 

[Juice Jaws]

No fouling for me

 

[tenngun]

Did a few times back in the seventies at range only, never for a hunt.
Might work for some folk and in a range condition it may make a difference between a ten and a ten x, but I’m happy with nines, seems like a waste of powder to me.

 

[mushka]

I spit patch before the first shot then between every shot. I'm just used to doing it that way. From .32 to .54 cal., and shotgun.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Since I'm not shooting a succession of shots when hunting deer, this is not my field loading procedure.

I understand the idea at the range for folks shooting competition for score in a match that uses scoring rings vs. hit/miss targets (such as steel). I know the practice was also the norm for the folks shooting paper patched conical bullet at 40-rod matches [220 yards], where slight variations really do translate into scoring differences.

Since my first shot from my barrel at a deer will be from a clean barrel, then my first shot at the target at the range should be the same, if I'm checking my sights.

It would cause serious problems for the folks who load at the beginning of the season and keep the rifle loaded until they harvest a deer or the season ends for them...., as the residual ash in the barrel in between the ball and the muzzle would slowly, over the hunting season, likely cause corrosion. IF they ran a damp patch down to the loaded ball and back, knowing the grease on the patch surrounding the ball would prevent the powder from becoming damp, followed by a dry patch, ..., doing this when they went out in the morning and when they returned at night.... then they are shooting from a "clean" barrel probably after returning from the second day of hunting.

LD

 

[azmntman]

I shoot a "fouling" shot when hunting. Not for bore consistency as a main reason but I want the rifle fired. Too many misfires have lost game. I fire, lightly swab (bore cond) and then reload and have NEVER had a FTF since.

At the range (woods) I swab so I guess its a fouling shot every time?

 

[Sidney Smith]

Nope I don't do it. I see no reason to.

 

[SDSmlf]

I shoot a "fouling" shot when hunting. Not for bore consistency as a main reason but I want the rifle fired. Too many misfires have lost game. I fire, lightly swab (bore cond) and then reload and have NEVER had a FTF since.

At the range (woods) I swab so I guess its a fouling shot every time?

Guessing the humidity is significantly lower in Northern Arizona that it is here in North Carolina. Last misfire I had occurred after what I believe you would call a fouling shot. It was with a fast twist caplock set up for shooting paper patched conicals. Took it to the range with the intent to fire it once from a clean cold barrel after disassembly and cleaning (I will use the same target for at least five trips to the range to make sure my ‘first shot’ is always on), took that shot and let the gun sit for a couple hours on the gun rack while shooting other guns. For some reason, decided to take a another shot with it before heading home. It was a no go, a misfire. Second percussion cap didn’t help. Upon inspection, the nipple was clogged with black goo, a combination of fouling from the shot a few hours earlier and moisture (temperature was 90°plus with humidity well over 80%). Removed the nipple and cleaned it and the breech fire channel, problem solved. I just don’t have misfire issues with a properly cleaned gun, why foul it?

 

[Sparkitoff]

When I started with Flintlocks I did this because it was recommended by the mentors I had at the time. Once an elk hunt I did a "fouling" shot and when the elk appeared the rifle did not fire. I picked the touch-hole, re-primed and it went off (and I got the elk). I thought the fouling shot was necessary for accuracy and consistency as well as reliability. Twice on a hunt I could not do a fouling shot due to the other guests or hosts objection at making noise by shooting before heading to a stand or location. At the range, I experimented. I was able to find a load with 3 different rifles where the clean barrel first shot hits right with the "fouled" barrel second shot. In an actual hunting situation I have never fired more than 2 shots without the ability to clean the barrel. Now, I load and poke the touch-hole. If there is powder felt, I am confident my rifle will do off and I know the clean barrel shot is right on the bullseye where the sights are pointed. No more fouling shots for me.

 

[hanshi]

Never have; never will. A "pre" fouled gun is asking for trouble.

 

[RiverRat]

Clean bore.

 

[Col. Batguano]

For ML'ers--no. For .22 precision rifle shooting---yes. I seldom even clean my .22 during a season. The purpose there isn't so much to foul the barrel--it already is, but to warm it up. Often I find myself making a click or two adjustment of the sights during a (10 shot plus sighters) string after every shot. When a new string starts, I go back to re-zero it. Our ML'ers are not nearly so precise of shooters as high-end precision .22 rifles are. The main reason is because of the inconsistency in barrel dwell time from shot to shot.

Do as you will though. If it works for you, then do it. 99% of the shooting game is mental anyway. The other half is physical.

 

[Okie Hog]

i don't do fouling shots.

 

[Stony Broke]

I've tried shooting paper targets in a match, without any fouling of the barrel, and usually end up with the shot slightly higher on the target. From that point on, the rifle shoots where it should. I take it to mean some of the lube left in the barrel from the last cleaning possibly allows a little different speed of the prb down the tube. When I'm hunting, it's always from a clean bore as the rifle will be left loaded for some time and I don't want residue to attract moisture in the barrel.