Fouling shot?

[Ben Meyer]

I dont fire fouling shots. But, what is the purpose? I sometimes pop a cap with my Hawken before loading, and I always run a clean dry patch with any of my BP guns before loading. I always pick the touch hole with the flintlocks. What does a fouling shot "do?"

 

[SDSmlf]

What does a fouling shot "do?"

Cause problems in hunting situations.

 

[azmntman]

Guessing the humidity is significantly lower in Northern Arizona that it is here in North Carolina.


whats humidity?

 

[azmntman]

As stated I do it for a different reason per my different experiences.

A fouling shot will dirty the bore. Shoot, swipe, shoot, swipe, shoot, swipe. Your bore remains the same. A perfectly clean oiled barrel is different than a barrel that has been fired and swiped (not cleaned just swiped) and will usually print a bit different. At the range could cost ya a prise. In the woods at minofdeer conditions it wont do nothin.

Like I said I will always fire my rifle the early AM of a days hunt (1/2 a load of powder) just to assure it fires and there aint NO MO Moisture. Load and hunt all day. CLEAN WELL. Start the next day the same.

I cant tell you why here in arid AZ I have had several FTF as we dont deal with that humidity word much. I can tell you since I started firing a load every AM I have not had a FTF again so I will just keep on doing it!

 

[Stumpkiller]

I wipe the bore to remove oil and then a lubed patch for a hunt. No fouling shot for me.

 

[David Coulter]

One thing I also do when preparing for the hunt or target practice is I wipe the pan, flint and frizzen with a clean patch and some alcohol, being careful to keep it out of the touch hole of course. I like to inspect my flint and its alignment to make sure it’s going to fire. Just because it fired the last time does not guarantee it’ll fire the next. That inspection is my best practice.

 

[Griz44Mag]

Only time I will take a fouling shot is if there is a fowl in front of me that needs shooting...