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