Swabbing between shots

[Dewey]

Isopropanol works good ... just be careful and don't get any on your stock! :shocked2:

Don't ask how I know .... :redface:

(It didn't take off TOO much of the stain. )

I now use Rem wax to help protect my stock. :thumbsup:

'Course, spit never hurt anything ... and don't need any special girly BBB bottles with it, either !!! :haha:

 

[Stumpkiller]

I use a spit dampened patch (lay it on my tongue as I'm screwing on the jag) about every fifth shot when I'm using my wax lube (Moose Snot) or dipped and dried strips. With the liquid Moose Juice it is unnecessary, but I don't often use that as it's a nuisance to carry.

And, depending on the weekend, spit has a lower percentage of alcohol. ;-)

 

[Dr5x]

Swabbing" seems to imply a rather moist, (slightly drippy) patch.
My experience was to use a a slightly moist wiping patch and just give it one stroke.
Following a wet wiping patch with one or two dry patches may help but, that excess liquid WILL hide down in the breech and wet your next powder charge.
If your rifle has a patent breech which is has a smaller size than the rest of the bore will hold that excess liquid and no amount of dry followup wiping patches will touch it..

If part of of your powder charge gets wet in varying amounts you will get varying amounts of accuracy.

Dutch

 

[tenngun]

At a bench I will set out a tin cup and drop a few patchs in the water. Wring one dry and swab. Just use water. In the field swabbing with spit works fine.

 

[Vaino]

Didn't know that "swabbing" could be this complicated or that it's even necessary.

Whether I'm at the range or hunting, my procedure is the same because there's an advantage in being consistent.

After approx. 5-10 shots whether on the range or hunting, the accumulated fouling makes for harder loading and that's where the bronze wire brush is used....a couple three strokes w/ a dump of the debris and the loading becomes much easier. This really works and the main advantages are that no moisture has been introduced into the bore and a clogged TH never happens.

Just like to keep it simple and to eliminate "stuff" that complicates and detracts from the enjoyment of shooting my flintlocks.

The above was my experience for a long time {40 years} when I was able to see the sights which I'm no longer able to do because of macular degeneration....Fred

 

[Semisane]

:shocked2: REAL men don't shop at BB&B. :nono:

:wink:

Sure they do Rifleman. Where else are you going to find a bed skirt that fits your camp bed?
:grin:

 

[tenngun]

You are a good example of "works for me". Many folks don't like bronze brushes. I don't use 'em myself. Some take a pride in getting a lot of shots tween swabbing, others puff out their chest and say ' I swab every shot. We seem to care about our loading ritual a lot more then our guns do.

 

[Flintlock]

When swabbing between shots, using the spit patch method, do you use a clean patch every time or just pop the used one back in your face. LOL

 

[Vaino]

Actually a lot of folks are "afraid" of wire brushes because they've stuck them them due to using oversized wire brushes.

What works for me should work for many if given the chance, but hype by the "stuckees" against their use seems to prevail.

There's one definite advantage in using a wire brush....the TH doesn't get clogged....Fred

 

[Scota4570]

Unless required to by club rules, "for safety reasons" I do not swab between shots. I have moved to looser loading combos. Instead of a .440 ball I tend to favor a .433 with a thicker patch. I am also liking rendered beef fat as the lube. I do not need a short starter. I am not seeing any practical accuracy degradation.

I believe that the looser combo rides over fouling while loading. When fired the ball obturates and the patch sweeps the fouling out. Accuracy is good.

We are talking patched ball guns. If the load is so tight as to require a short starter, a steel range rod, and wiping between shots, I am not interested. It is unnecessary to load that way and get good accuracy.

 

[Dr5x]

If you don't remove the increasingly thick baked on residue in your barrel, each shot after the first two comes from an increasingly smaller bore/
If it works for you and you are getting consistent groups then continue what you are doing.
I can't imagine being able to load without wiping after 4 or 5 shots..

Dutch

 

[Vaino]

My squirrel loads are 30 grs 3f w/ a .445 RB and a .018 patch. ...it's a "clean" shooting load.

Personally, I think a lot of this "stuff" is over thought. After accuracy handloading for a few CF cartridges, this MLing shooting isn't all that complicated.

I don't wipe or swab the bore when on the range or when hunting .....just use a wire brush and dump the debris after the load becomes difficult to ram down. This is usually after 5-10 shots are taken. In Colorado it's closer to 3- 5 shots because of the lower humidity. In Wisconsin w/ it/s higher humidity, the wire brushing frequency is less often..... after5-10 shots.

My elk load in a .54 Hawken that I built is 120 grs 3f w/ a .535 PRB.....no trouble reloading for 3 shots and then the wire brush is used and the next load is easily rammed in. but, this is in Colorado w/ it/s much lower humidity.

There are a lot of products on the market to clean your gun better.....I just use hot water which is next to nothing in cost...have been doing this for many years.

I've found one product that does it all...Wonderlube 1000 Plus by Oxyoke. Patch lube, rust preventative for both the bore and outside surfaces and it's also good for chapped lips.

Don't think there are "hard and fast rules" as to the frequency of using a wire brush...the frequencies stated above are approx. and depend on a number of factors, but the approx. frequencies as stated are what I've found to be "in the ball park"......Fred

 

[Black Hand]

If you don't remove the increasingly thick baked on residue in your barrel, each shot after the first two comes from an increasingly smaller bore/
If it works for you and you are getting consistent groups then continue what you are doing.
I can't imagine being able to load without wiping after 4 or 5 shots..

Dutch

I can shoot 20-30 rounds without any issue using bear grease. Cleaning only takes a few patches - not much evidence to support an "increasingly thick baked on residue in your barrel"...

All the guys I shoot with have the same experience.

 

[Brokennock]

:bull:

 

[coloradoclyde]

I can't imagine being able to load without wiping after 4 or 5 shots..

I use to shoot entire matches without swabbing......I used pyrodex and spit for lube.

Some guns, and the combinations of what we shoot out of them are more forgiving than others....
But, then I'm sure you knew that.... :wink: :v

 

[faste350]

If you don't remove the increasingly thick baked on residue in your barrel, each shot after the first two comes from an increasingly smaller bore/
If it works for you and you are getting consistent groups then continue what you are doing.
I can't imagine being able to load without wiping after 4 or 5 shots..

Dutch

I can shoot 20-30 rounds without any issue using bear grease. Cleaning only takes a few patches - not much evidence to support an "increasingly thick baked on residue in your barrel"...



All the guys I shoot with have the same experience.

same here. no swabbing in my 32, 36 or 62. olive oil and bee's wax.

not to stir the pot, but for those of you that don't have to swab, do you blow down the barrel?

 

[Black Hand]

...do you blow down the barrel?

Yes.

 

[azmntman]

Have tried Dutchs way and can tell you MY groups shrank. I'm into accuracy most of all though. If I cant get a 3" group at 90-100 yds the guns for sale. He has saved a few.

I I just wanted to hit a plate or ding a gong I would still be using the BEST lube for that, Hoppes # 9 Blk Pwdr solvent and lubricant. Cant be beat IMHO and I never heard of swabbing between shots back in them days :idunno:

THANK YOU DUTCH! :thumbsup:

 

[Adui]

Well, I never swabbed at all unless Id spent 20 rounds or more and loading was an issue. Most times never needed to for loading ease. However, that system of yours has helped me improve a might bit, (my guess it would be far more if I had the time to spend on the range more regularly) So I do swab, when I am punching paper about every third shot and just before the cease fire on the range for target checks. (I learned it does in fact make loading that next round easier since the fouling has had time to harden while everyone was down range with the targets.)

Once I get a little more supplies I intend to make it a point to get more range time. Then I will re-read your information and make some more adjustments to my process in the interest of tighter groups. (Sadly, I might need a new pair of spectacles for that I'm afraid )

 

[19 16 6]

THANK YOU DUTCH! :thumbsup:

+1
O.