Wiping After Powder Charge and Wad Seated

[EndoftheLine]

I’ve seen some videos of long range target shooters pouring powder down bore, seating a card wad, and running a damp cleaning through the bore before seating the bullet. The theory is that fowling is pushed onto the wad, instead of into the breach where it can block flash channel.

Has anyone tried this? Does it seam safe?

 

[TreeMan]

I’ve seen some videos of long range target shooters pouring powder down bore, seating a card wad, and running a damp cleaning through the bore before seating the bullet. The theory is that fowling is pushed onto the wad, instead of into the breach where it can block flash channel.

Has anyone tried this? Does it seam safe?

I never wipe between shots. Pour the powder and load the ball with a wet spit patch. Pushes the fouling on top of the new powder charge. Wad is not needed. I said damp not dripping wet. If you’re speaking of conicals I don’t swing that way.

 

[tenngun]

The first club I ever shot at, about 1977 had several loaders who kept a jag on the ramrod. They were shooting PRB, there were not too many smoothie shooters then, but they would put a damp cleaning patch on the rod as they ran the ball home. Said it wiped the bore with out damping the breach.
Several didn’t do this
Like chicken soup it can’t hurt.
It’s unlikely to be any more dangerous then running home your wad to begin with. Unprimed your gun is pretty inert.
One danger is a wad blocks air movement. If your cleaning patch is just a little thick it may go down awful hard and be worse coming up as a vacuum would form behind it

 

[EndoftheLine]

If you’re speaking of conicals I don’t swing that way.

I completely get that. I shoot patched round balls in my long rifle and others where they are traditional. I’m not looking to change my loading routine there.

I got Pedersoli Tryon that I’m using as a Civil War era target rifle, so I’m learning the ins and out of conicals, because they are traditional for that era.

 

[Ed C.]

The first club I ever shot at, about 1977 had several loaders who kept a jag on the ramrod. They were shooting PRB, there were not too many smoothie shooters then, but they would put a damp cleaning patch on the rod as they ran the ball home. Said it wiped the bore with out damping the breach.
Several didn’t do this

That's kinda my thing. I load with a slightly damp patch under the RB and push it down with a damp patch over a jag. Whatever works. I'm happy with the convenience and accuracy I get doing this.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

… long range target shooters pouring powder down bore, seating a card wad, and running a damp cleaning [patch] through the bore before seating the bullet.

Has anyone tried this? Does it seem safe?

Safe? - Yes, perfectly safe! Note a damp and not sopping wet patch …

Why? - Well, it not only has a place in ultra long range BP shooting, but it can also work well for hunting! But in this case I substitute the wet solvent for that mink oil from Track of the Wolf.

The 54-cal longrifle I am currently hunting with, will not shoot to the same point of impact from a clean barrel, as from one previously fouled. Whereas I shoot every Saturday morning in a Milsurp rifle match, I bring along this particular 54 longrifle and this is what I have been trying out.

1. I will foul the bore with either a shot or a 50-grn blank charge, wadded
2. I load my typical 85-grain load, under a roundball, patched and lubed with the mink oil
3. I will then take a clean patch, put more mink oil on it and I will clean the bore above the ball, flipping the patch over once
4. Just enough light cleaning to remove any gunky corrosive fouling by-product and leave some mink oil in the bore

I’ve been doing this for a month now, shooting it at least once or twice every Saturday morning, then loading it back up for the week of hunting (no deer bagged yet, lol!). I record all of the shots and all the RBs are hitting within a 3 to 4” circle right at my point of aim (a 2” black dot) offhand at 50-yards.

Works for me! Oh, and ZERO corrosion in the bore, which was my intent! I check it each week with a good bore light, dropped down to the breech!

 

[TreeMan]

I completely get that. I shoot patched round balls in my long rifle and others where they are traditional. I’m not looking to change my loading routine there.

I got Pedersoli Tryon that I’m using as a Civil War era target rifle, so I’m learning the ins and out of conicals, because they are traditional for that era.

I too own and shoot a Pedersoli Tryon. I use it in monthly matches. I’m a pretty consistent monthly winner with it. First place for the entire year out of our entire club. I load it as described above with spit patch, no wiping, 80 grains of 2F with a .020 patch. Never tried a conical in it. What you’re asking about with the wad and running a wet patch down prior to loading a conical is fine and safe. If your conical is a hollow bade, the wad can lodge in the base when firing and cause erratic groups. A flat base is fine. The type of lube on your conical is just as important as the size of it relevant to your bore size. Conicals are too much of a pain in my opinion. I don’t even fool with minies in my civil war rifles because they are one hole rifles with roundballs. I’ve wasted lord knows how many pounds of lead fooling with conicals. I’ve bought and sold a dozen molds over the years trying to find one that works. My Tryon the 54 with the slow twist. I’ll just stick with my roundballs that shoot ragged holes in my rifle. Good luck!! Here is my rifle.

 

[EndoftheLine]

I too own and shoot a Pedersoli Tryon. I use it in monthly matches. I’m a pretty consistent monthly winner with it. First place for the entire year out of our entire club. I load it as described above with spit patch, no wiping, 80 grains of 2F with a .020 patch. Never tried a conical in it. What you’re asking about with the wad and running a wet patch down prior to loading a conical is fine and safe. If your conical is a hollow bade, the wad can lodge in the base when firing and cause erratic groups. A flat base is fine. The type of lube on your conical is just as important as the size of it relevant to your bore size. Conicals are too much of a pain in my opinion. I don’t even fool with minies in my civil war rifles because they are one hole rifles with roundballs. I’ve wasted lord knows how many pounds of lead fooling with conicals. I’ve bought and sold a dozen molds over the years trying to find one that works. My Tryon the 54 with the slow twist. I’ll just stick with my roundballs that shoot ragged holes in my rifle. Good luck!! Here is my rifle.

That is sure is a nice looking rifle. The fancy wood and engraving compliment the lines of the rifle. It’s good to hear your results.

 

[Omega Vision]

The first club I ever shot at, about 1977 had several loaders who kept a jag on the ramrod. They were shooting PRB, there were not too many smoothie shooters then, but they would put a damp cleaning patch on the rod as they ran the ball home. Said it wiped the bore with out damping the breach.
Several didn’t do this
Like chicken soup it can’t hurt.
It’s unlikely to be any more dangerous then running home your wad to begin with. Unprimed your gun is pretty inert.
One danger is a wad blocks air movement. If your cleaning patch is just a little thick it may go down awful hard and be worse coming up as a vacuum would form behind it

This Member knows the sport real well.
Read and heed his advice on vacuuming.
Just be aware that he nor me, are discussing Oreck or Dyson muzzleloaders.

 

[ResearchPress]

I’ve seen some videos of long range target shooters pouring powder down bore, seating a card wad, and running a damp cleaning through the bore before seating the bullet. The theory is that fowling is pushed onto the wad, instead of into the breach where it can block flash channel.

Has anyone tried this? Does it seam safe?

Standard practice amongst match rifle shooters, particularly with paper patch bullets. Some fouling is swept down by the tight fitting card wad and sits on top of the powder, any residual fouling is wiped by a damp patch and the bore then dried. The tight fitting wad stops any moisture getting to the powder, and the bore is dried to help with loading of the paper patch bullet.

Wiping down to the breech can end up pushing fouling into the flash channel; some will return to the firing point and cap off to assist clearing the flash channel. I never found this giving as consistent ignition as loading powder/wad then cleaning.

For me, it is always about elimination of variables; something especially important in long range, but not limited to the discipline. I’ve been shooting like this for many years. What’s the safety concern?

David

 

[Eric Krewson]

The best smooth bore flintlock shooter I know wipes the bore with an oily patch after he seats the ball, Bill Millican is his name. There is a short video out there somewhere of him loading and shooting his smoothbore. After watching it I thought, "well, that makes sense'.

Here he is at the Alabama Kentucky Longrifle show, he makes amazing guns as well. Not the best shot of Bill but it is all I have. One of his targets is in the background, I don't remember if it is a smoothbore target or not, it was shot offhand with a flintlock in competition.