Author Topic: Fouling Shot (Read 524 times)

jd45 · « **on:** February 19, 2005, 04:39:36 AM »

Hello to all.........I'm working up a new load for my Remington Varmint Synthetic in .308 Win. caliber, & I've read where you need to fire a fouling shot before you fire for group. Could someone please enlighten me on why this will give a better result? Thanx, jd45.

doorgunner · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2005, 07:08:25 AM »

Because on most rifles the first round or two out of a clean, unfouled bore will have a slightly different point of impact. Some of my rifles do, and some don't. I shoot them all enough to know which do and which don't.

I would suggest two rounds into the berm before you shoot for group. That's a great reason to keep factory ammo that doesn't shoot well in your particular rifle. Then you don't have to waste your good handloads as fouling rounds.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2005, 08:34:34 AM »

I've found if I clean the oil out of my barrels carb cleaner my rifles don't seem to need a fouling shot. Some rifles do shoot tighter after a few shots.

jd45 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2005, 09:37:36 AM »

Dave, you say you use carburetor cleaner to get the oil out of your bore prior to shooting? Hmmmm, I'm gonna have to try that. Thanx, jd45.

longwinters · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2005, 10:52:19 AM »

My experience has been the same. Seems like the gun oil is often the culprit because if I shoot a clean, unlubricated, barrel my 1st shot is much better.

Long

beemanbeme · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2005, 02:03:59 PM »

I use carb cleaner after I've used a copper cleaner and before I swab the barrel with one patch wet with Kroil followed by two dry patches.
I don't know about shooting down a dry barrel. I think I'd rather shoot the two foulers.

Power · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2005, 07:30:44 PM »

When I've shot through a clean, dry barrel the impact is pretty close. I shot with a freshly oiled barrel once to test and it was more than an inch off center. That was just a light coating of oil, wiped dry with patches as best I could before firing.

lowertroll · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2005, 10:10:18 AM »

I don't automatically pump 2 rounds into the bank to see what follows. I keep tinkering with cleanliness, lube, bedding, etc to try to find the combination that puts the foul shots in a group with the next 3 rounds. Then I can hunt with a clean barrel.
Some of my guns do not need a foul shot. The norm for them is a reasonably (not immaculate) clean barrel with a light lube. Before shooting/hunting run a dry patch thru. This still leaves enough lube to prevent rust in wet weather and not enough lube to effect the poi of the first shot.
Each gun is different and some just get better with time so print every shot.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2005, 01:39:18 PM »

I've also found that fuoling shot's are usually the norm. But here just a few day's ago I had a thought that has turned 40 yrs of thinkingupside down. Why fire a fouling shot at all? Usually it take's a couple and I seldom shoot that many at game. The only time I fire more than a couple time's without cleaning is at target's or varmit hunting. Even on coyote's, I'm not a very good caller so don't have to bother myself with a lot of shooting! At the range I've been shooting a max of five then cleaning and it's working out pretty good so far. May flop in the future but we'll see.