Fouling shot???

[h2ofowlr]

Does anyone run a fouling shot through there gun before they get ready to hunt or prior to the next hunt?  I have never done this.  Fired a cap or two to make sure the nipple was clear, but other than that, I clean it really good and put it away.  I keep reading different articles about this.

[carpsniperg2]

i always pop a cap threw my gun before i load my gun. some people do what is called a squib charge, which is around 10-20 grains of powder alone to foul the gun before they load up. i think power belts recommend it, when shooting there bullets.

[spikehunter]

just 1 cap , then i use a welding tip cleaner to make sure nothing blocking into the breech

[Old Dog]

Fowling shot?  Do you shoot a bird through your gun? Sorry guys. You mean fouling shot, and with my muzzy I shoot a clean barrel.

[Whitelightning]

I do fire a squib load of 30gr powder before I load and have hunted in miserable weather with NO adverse reactions, I do use Triple Seven powder as it is not as corrosive as pyrodex or others.
The Rifle Manufacturer recommends the squib load. Some powders are dirtier than others and also more corrosive I would NOT fire a Squib load if I were using Pyrodex powders.

[bobcat]

I like to hunt with a clean barrel, so that if it doesn't rain much during the day, I will leave the gun loaded and hunt with the same load the next day. If I had fired a fouling shot, I'd be worried about it rusting overnight.

[Whitelightning]

I understand the concern and I thought that also. I can say I have done this for many years in my White's and never had a rust or pitting issue of any kind. Like I said I would not do this with Prodex P.

[bobcat]

I understand the concern and I thought that also. I can say I have done this for many years in my White's and never had a rust or pitting issue of any kind. Like I said I would not do this with Prodex P.

How long do you leave it loaded before you shoot, clean, and load a fresh load?

[Whitelightning]

I have gone as long as 9 day's, I have also shot reloaded and went 5 day's before firing and cleaning. I wont do this with all powders!

[bobcat]

That's good to know because I'm using Triple 7 but have never left the gun un-cleaned, even just overnight, after having fired it.

[CP]

No fouling shot.  I keep my bore as clean as possible.  I run a dry patch to the bottom and with the ramrod and patch in place I pop a cap into the patch to clear the nipple.  Then I remove the patch and load it.  It stays loaded until I fire at an animal or until the season is over, whichever comes first.

[MtnMuley]

A cap only out of mine.  As stated above, try to keep the barrel as clean as possible.

[turkey slayer]

The night be for I hunt I shot a 2 caps and a bullet through mine, because for some reason the first shot is always 6 inches high after doing a cleaning job, then I run 1 patch through the gun just like if I was shooting at are range and then load it up. One thing is I do clean the nipple . All guns shot different.

[gadwall]

That's good to know because I'm using Triple 7 but have never left the gun un-cleaned, even just overnight, after having fired it.

I started shooting Triple 7 because I noticed that Pyrodex seemed to be attracting moisture even more than black powder!  I shoot with a clean barrel that has a light coat of Bore Butter and then fire a cap or 2.  Often times with a clean barrel, your first shot will be a bit high.

Gadwall. 

[beagledog]

As far as firing a fouling shot in both of my muzzle loaders (long rife & inline ) I have found that my first shot out of a clean barrel is high and to the right . opon second shoot I am right were I need to be. so I guess what you need to do is ask you're self were is your first shot on the target when you shoot out a freshly cleaned barrel

[ML_Hunter]

I fire two caps, and then load my gun.  I will leave my gun loaded all season, unless I feel my powder got wet.  In my modern rifle i will take a single fauling shot.

[rasbo]

No fouling shot.  I keep my bore as clean as possible.  I run a dry patch to the bottom and with the ramrod and patch in place I pop a cap into the patch to clear the nipple.  Then I remove the patch and load it.  It stays loaded until I fire at an animal or until the season is over, whichever comes first.

x2

[Svtrc51]

If i remember correctly Power Belt says to fire a 20-30 grain charge if your barrel is over standard bore to "reduce bore diameter".

[Hangfire]

There are a couple of reasons for a fouling shot. One is to get rid of moisture and cleaning solution or oil in the barrel. I do this after the gun has been setting for a while. I then clean with a wet patch and followed with dry patch. When I am going to go hunting, I get a 1/4 inch square or tissue or similar paper and lay it on the ground. I place the end of the barrel a couple inches from the paper and snap as many caps as required to blow the the paper away. You will notice the very loud reports from the cap often will not move the paper. The second reason for a fouling shot is when in competition, or to correct a barrel that shoots significantly different from a fouled barrel as compared to a cleaned barrel. In competition unless you shoot a fouling shot, the first shot from a cleaned barrel will hit off slightly from the following shots from a fouled barrel, even though you clean with a wet patch followed by a dry patch between shots.

[wapiti hunter2]

The first picture is my second and third shot with 100 grains of 777, FFg.  The second picture is the 4,5,6 shots.  First (fouling shot missed completely.  Dead rest, good light Barnes TMZ,  290 gr BT.  50 yards.  Yes, I use a fouling shot.  I clean between each shot with a spit damp patch and then a dry one.  After this session and spit/damp patch cleaning, I left it and will reload on the night of the 1st. 

[carpsniperg2]

There are a couple of reasons for a fouling shot. One is to get rid of moisture and cleaning solution or oil in the barrel. I do this after the gun has been setting for a while. I then clean with a wet patch and followed with dry patch. When I am going to go hunting, I get a 1/4 inch square or tissue or similar paper and lay it on the ground. I place the end of the barrel a couple inches from the paper and snap as many caps as required to blow the the paper away. You will notice the very loud reports from the cap often will not move the paper. The second reason for a fouling shot is when in competition, or to correct a barrel that shoots significantly different from a fouled barrel as compared to a cleaned barrel. In competition unless you shoot a fouling shot, the first shot from a cleaned barrel will hit off slightly from the following shots from a fouled barrel, even though you clean with a wet patch followed by a dry patch between shots.

i don't know if we should lisen to someone with the name hangfire just teasin

i had to move my sights around a little bit this year 2 only took 6 shots put the last to less then 1/2" at 12 and about 1.5-2" high  should be good if some dandy stands there 

[tbotts]

I shoot from a clean barrel.  With my muzzleloader, there is not a big difference between the 1st clean shot and the 2nd/3rd shot.

[Hangfire]

I hopefully learned some about shooting a muzzle loader after my first a Zuave in the mid 70's. That thing on occasion, would have a delayed or hangfire of a few seconds. It is quite a experience to pull the trigger, have the cap fire and not the charge, start to lower gun and have it go off. Once I learned how to keep the channel open, and how to load, it was a very good, accurate rifle. I won a number of turkeys at the club turkey shoots. I shot it for several years, until the edge on accuracy was gone. Surprisingly, I had the most trouble using musket caps, so I switched to number 11 caps.The fellow I sold it to, got elk with it.

I always shot a fowling shot of a full load, before shooting for score. I used a .575 patched round ball and I believe 60 gr. of FFg black powder. For hunting I believe I used 100 gr of FFg.