Cleaning after sightin in???

[dogdoc]

Ok, I just sighted in my muzzleloader--shot 4 shots thru it. Should I take it apart and clean it real well or just take out the breech and run a patch or just leave it alone?--season starts saturday.-----I got it shooting perfect and want that first shot to count.

thanks
todd

[gt2003]

Let the experts speak but from what I've read recently you should run a "spit" patch through it, turn the patch over and run it through the barrel again then run a dry patch through it and thats it. I've been reading a lot about not cleaning it totally after its sighted in because supposedly it screws up the accuracy. Mine seems to shoot fine either way though. Good luck, Greg

[robk]

i clean my gun barrel after each shot and i feel very confident that my shot out of a clean barrel will do it;s job. leaving the gun dirty in just a few days can create some problems and that will more than likely cause even less chance to take an animal in my mind.
if you give me a shout later tomorrow maybe we can gret together tomorrow evening and go over some stuff and maybe take a shot or two and see what works best for you. i have found cleaning after each shot makes more sense and your not going taking a chance on a flyer if you shoot and clean each time.
send me an email about what you shoot and include powder and bullet bossman and let's see what can be done to make you more successful and less of chance to have some thing go wrong
rob k

[AJ]

I run a spit patch followed by a dry patch between shots when using Pyrodex. This removes most of the fouling. After sight in, I do the same routine, spit patch and dry patch and put the gun up till I hunt with it. This way I know 100% where the first shot is going. I would do another run of patches just prior to loading for hunting.

[wtnhunt]

[ QUOTE ]
I run a spit patch followed by a dry patch between shots. This removes most of the fouling. After sight in, I do the same routine, spit patch and dry patch and put the gun up till I hunt with it. This way I know 100% where the first shot is going. I would do another run of patches just prior to loading for hunting.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is what I do too.

[David_218]

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, I just sighted in my muzzleloader--shot 4 shots thru it. Should I take it apart and clean it real well or just take out the breech and run a patch or just leave it alone?--season starts saturday.-----I got it shooting perfect and want that first shot to count.

thanks
todd

[/ QUOTE ]

Todd,

What powder are you using? Black Powder, Triple "777" or Pyrodex RS? If you are using the first two then you'll want to clean your barrel as corosive nature of Black Powder or Pyrodex will ruin a barrel if left unclean. Now the "Spit Patch" is fine between shots, when sighting in, but you really do need to do a comperhensive cleaning after shooting. If you are using "777" then you can get away with just barrel "spit Patch" cleaning, I use Windex, but again after you are through hunting you must clean the barrel and oil it before storage.

[dogdoc]

David--the Pyrodex RS

[David_218]

Todd,

Since you're using Pyrodex RS, then yes I would definately clean the rifle after your shooting or sighting in. The reason, I am suggesting this, is when I first started hunting with a M/L I also sighted in my rifle and just used a wet cleaning patch to clear the barrel. I also ran a couple of dry patches to rid the mosture. The next day I loaded up my M/L and went hunting. Next day, I saw a nice Buck and fired at him, but the rifle went "pop" then Boom and I missed! I asked a avid black powder shooter about my experience and he told me the primer/cap nipple had some powder fouling in it which caused the misfire. I also was using Pyrodex RS in my T/C muzzleloader. So now I always have a CLEAN rifle before the hunt.

[brad dryden]

I clean it all.

[too_pointer]

I'm into a good cleaning also. I used pryrodex for years. Alot of articles say to leave some barrel residue in there to help form a good seal, I don't agree with that, at least in my guns. I want a clean barrel everytime, no guess work there ! Your gun and practice will tell you what works best in it.
too_pointer