Clean barrel vs. fouled--accuracy

old single shots

I often read about cleaning a barrel to restore its accuracy.I have found over the years,playing with many rifles,that a rifle shoots better groups after having a dozen or so shots through it without cleaning.Whenever i am testing a load for (group) i always foul the barrel with a half dozen shots first.I would like to hear if others agree or disagree with this.Thanks.[This message has been edited by old single shots (edited 04-07-2002).]

Rob3448

I know what you are talking about with the clean barrel. I have an old 300 savage that i could not get 6 inch groups from at 50 yards on the bench. After cleaning the gun for what seemed like hours it shoots 100% better. I don't know it that helps. But i do think that having a few rounds down the barrel.

jonk

It is common for a rifle to take a few shots to settle in after a thorough cleaning, and there are compounds to spray down the bore to compensate. In general, cleaning is useful, especially to old neglected guns.

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"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.

COONASS

just before shooting,,,,,,,,,would a few dry patches run down the barrel help??????????to remove any oil left after cleaning...... *

Rafter-S

I learned the "fouling shot" routine in competitive black powder shooting. You never went "for record" without shooting at least one fouling shot--I usually fired two, the second was a "sighter shot" as well as fouler. My experience is it's the same with smokeless powder and metallic cartridge guns. A slightly fouled barrel shoots tighter groups than a clean one.

magnumcreekranch

It has been my observance that it is the first two or three shots that settles down the shooter. Fouling the barrel only makes it dirty. A clean firearm, ( no dirt or powder residue in the barrel, action or trigger assembly ) will operate better than a dirty or OVER lubricated firearm. When you have your firearm zeroed in a couple of shots will relax the shooter. Thus you get tighter groups.

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NRA Life MemberHill Country ShooterBobbyLIVE TO SHOOT & SHOOT TO LIVE.

will270win

This is 10 shots. The first one is the low one, the rest went through that gaping hole. Wind was about 15-20 that day also. 100yds. Whether it's the fouling or the settling of the shooter, do it anyway. Be sure to scroll down. http://gallery.alloutdoorschat.com/will270win/index.html

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It has become my purpose in life to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.. will270win@aol.com ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~[This message has been edited by will270win (edited 04-08-2002).]

JustC

fouling shots are the S.O.P. for benchrest competitions. ALL competitors fire a fouler to get the barrel oil free and settled in. The shooter can be as good as anybody on the range, but, he still has to run a fouler down the barrel. even my custom heavy stainless barrels still need a fouler before they cut the proverbial "ragged hole".I have also seen guns group very well and not have been cleaned for 10 boxes of shells, you know the guy at the hunt camp who doesn't bother with cleaning, his gun groups. Then he cleans it, and it takes 1/2 box to get it back in. My opinion is that after repeated firings on a dirty barrel, and storage while dirty, then repeated firing, etc, etc, etc, that the bore size actually increases ever so slightly. Thus, the barrel must be further fouled to bring the groups in. Just an ongoing hypothesis of mine.