Missed target with clean barrel

kenfa03 · February 19, 2009, 06:18 PM

1st 2 shots out of cleaned and oiled barrel totally missed target. The next 3 were within 1" of bullseye. Is this common and what do you do with hunting rifle to keep from missing that 1st shot opening morning?

TheManHimself · February 19, 2009, 06:20 PM

There's really no way to avoid first shot flyers from a clean barrel. Fire a few fouling shots the day before you head out and don't clean the barrel.

fisherman66 · February 19, 2009, 06:21 PM

I keep a fouled barrel all hunting season.

I have never seen or heard of one flying that bad. Is this a regular occurance?

kenfa03 · February 19, 2009, 06:43 PM

first time I tried it. I will try again after a few more rounds.

fisherman66 · February 19, 2009, 06:45 PM

If you have oil in the bore it will definately affect the POI. The more oil, more it affects it. Dry it well if you aren't doing that now.

SPUSCG · February 19, 2009, 06:47 PM

wait dirty barrels shoot better?

LateNightFlight · February 19, 2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

I keep a fouled barrel all hunting season.

Me too.

Some guns just won't shoot without a fouling shot. I think this is how the idea of a "warning shot" became famous.

Pow!
Missed 'em?!!

Hmmm
"Warning Shot! The next one won't miss!"

kraigwy · February 19, 2009, 07:02 PM

Thats where the term FOWLING SHOTS came from.

When I was in LE, I would never contimplate carrying my rifle (counter-sniper) without shooting it a few rounds after cleaning. I also don't go to a rifle match with a clean barrel.

Same with hunting, I confrim my zero before a hunting trip and dont clean it until after season is over.

Peter R. Senich also remarked about snipers using fowling shots prior to a mission, but I can't remember offhand in which one of his many books on sniping it was.

Doyle · February 19, 2009, 07:07 PM

I know that there is some ammo that my two deer rifles simply refuse to shoot well. I've still got some of it and I use those to waste as fouling shots.

kenfa03 · February 19, 2009, 07:10 PM

Thanks for the advice. I will not be cleaning mine this hunting season. How often should it be cleaned? Should it be cleaned before storing it for a few months?

SPUSCG · February 19, 2009, 07:15 PM

how many shots needed to foul on average?

kraigwy · February 19, 2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

how many shots needed to foul on average?

Depends on the gun and ammo, thats where data books come in handy

Doyle · February 19, 2009, 08:18 PM

I clean my hunting rifles REALLY good and de-copper the barrel after hunting season is over. I'll keep at least one handy (uncleaned) for hog hunting throughout the summer. Then, before hunting season starts again, I'll go to the range and shoot a few fouling shots before re-zeroing my scope. Then I'm good for the seaon.

chris in va · February 19, 2009, 08:57 PM

I may be perpetuating a myth here, but don't target shooters fire a couple 'fouling' shots before settling down to business?

kraigwy · February 19, 2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

don't target shooters fire a couple 'fouling' shots before settling down to business?

Yeap

Demaiter · February 19, 2009, 09:43 PM

Yea as its been said, an oiled barrel is going to shoot different than one without oil.

A dry/clean barrel will shoot pretty close to one that's be fowled as been my experience - shots are all under 200 yards with the most being around 100.

What I did... was sight in, then run my bore snake through once, shoot a single shot and compare it to the final sight in group, then bore snake again, shoot a second single shot, compare, confirm. The two single shots were close to the fowled shots so I said what the heck, good enough.

When hunting I use the boresnake to keep my barrel clean and dry. It is also good to know if your clean dry barrel shoots the same or close to a fowled one in case you drop it in mud or water and end up having to clean it.

kenfa03 · February 19, 2009, 10:23 PM

Sounds like another option. Thanks.

fisherman66 · February 19, 2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

I will not be cleaning mine this hunting season. How often should it be cleaned? Should it be cleaned before storing it for a few months?

If you are shooting a chrome moly rifle and it get's wet I'd clean regardless of when during the season it is. Moisture is an enemy, but otherwise I clean mine after the season is over and depending on how often it's shot maybe once more before hunting season as long as I still have an opportunity to foul the bore with 5 or so shots. I baby the surface metal with a thin wipe of oil, but the bore stays dry except for the couple cleanings a year.

jpwilly · February 19, 2009, 10:50 PM

It's been my experiance that all rifles have a different POI on a clean bore vs fouled bore. But some rilfes will only change POI fractions of an inch while on others inches. Just depends.

Understanding your rifle and knowing what it will do is important.

NWCP · February 20, 2009, 01:23 AM

I keep my bores oiled when being stored any length of time, but dry the barrels before going to the range. I've never had a first shot completely miss the target though.

hardhit · February 20, 2009, 02:27 AM

You should patch out your barrel thoroughly before shooting it.
Firing a shot through an oiled barrel can cores high pressure and bulging of your barrel.

USASA · February 20, 2009, 02:50 AM

Yep...make sure the barrel is dry - free of oil.

kenfa03 · February 20, 2009, 10:59 AM

Do you mean just run a dry patch thru it or a patch with solvent thru it before shooting?

onthejon55 · February 20, 2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Do you mean just run a dry patch thru it or a patch with solvent thru it before shooting?

A few dry patches until they start coming out dry and oil free

Delaware_Dan · February 20, 2009, 12:44 PM

I always thought the flyer was due to a cold bore. You learn something new everyday

February 19, 2009, 06:18 PM	#1
kenfa03 Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Posts: 71	Missed target with clean barrel 1st 2 shots out of cleaned and oiled barrel totally missed target. The next 3 were within 1" of bullseye. Is this common and what do you do with hunting rifle to keep from missing that 1st shot opening morning?

February 19, 2009, 06:21 PM	#3
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,688	I keep a fouled barrel all hunting season. I have never seen or heard of one flying that bad. Is this a regular occurance? __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

February 19, 2009, 06:45 PM	#5
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,688	If you have oil in the bore it will definately affect the POI. The more oil, more it affects it. Dry it well if you aren't doing that now. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

February 19, 2009, 06:47 PM	#6
SPUSCG Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2008 Posts: 3,004	wait dirty barrels shoot better? __________________ Check us out: www.imfdb.org. Fun site for people who love gun movies.

February 19, 2009, 07:02 PM	#8
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	Thats where the term FOWLING SHOTS came from. When I was in LE, I would never contimplate carrying my rifle (counter-sniper) without shooting it a few rounds after cleaning. I also don't go to a rifle match with a clean barrel. Same with hunting, I confrim my zero before a hunting trip and dont clean it until after season is over. Peter R. Senich also remarked about snipers using fowling shots prior to a mission, but I can't remember offhand in which one of his many books on sniping it was. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

February 19, 2009, 06:20 PM	#2
TheManHimself Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2008 Posts: 730	There's really no way to avoid first shot flyers from a clean barrel. Fire a few fouling shots the day before you head out and don't clean the barrel.

February 19, 2009, 06:43 PM	#4
kenfa03 Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Posts: 71	first time I tried it. I will try again after a few more rounds.

February 19, 2009, 07:07 PM	#9
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	I know that there is some ammo that my two deer rifles simply refuse to shoot well. I've still got some of it and I use those to waste as fouling shots.

February 19, 2009, 07:10 PM	#10
kenfa03 Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Posts: 71	Thanks for the advice. I will not be cleaning mine this hunting season. How often should it be cleaned? Should it be cleaned before storing it for a few months?

February 19, 2009, 07:15 PM	#11
SPUSCG Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2008 Posts: 3,004	how many shots needed to foul on average? __________________ Check us out: www.imfdb.org. Fun site for people who love gun movies.

February 19, 2009, 08:18 PM	#13
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	I clean my hunting rifles REALLY good and de-copper the barrel after hunting season is over. I'll keep at least one handy (uncleaned) for hog hunting throughout the summer. Then, before hunting season starts again, I'll go to the range and shoot a few fouling shots before re-zeroing my scope. Then I'm good for the seaon.

February 19, 2009, 08:57 PM	#14
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I may be perpetuating a myth here, but don't target shooters fire a couple 'fouling' shots before settling down to business?

February 19, 2009, 09:43 PM	#16
Demaiter Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2008 Posts: 242	Yea as its been said, an oiled barrel is going to shoot different than one without oil. A dry/clean barrel will shoot pretty close to one that's be fowled as been my experience - shots are all under 200 yards with the most being around 100. What I did... was sight in, then run my bore snake through once, shoot a single shot and compare it to the final sight in group, then bore snake again, shoot a second single shot, compare, confirm. The two single shots were close to the fowled shots so I said what the heck, good enough. When hunting I use the boresnake to keep my barrel clean and dry. It is also good to know if your clean dry barrel shoots the same or close to a fowled one in case you drop it in mud or water and end up having to clean it.

February 19, 2009, 10:23 PM	#17
kenfa03 Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Posts: 71	Sounds like another option. Thanks.

February 19, 2009, 10:50 PM	#19
jpwilly Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2007 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 539	It's been my experiance that all rifles have a different POI on a clean bore vs fouled bore. But some rilfes will only change POI fractions of an inch while on others inches. Just depends. Understanding your rifle and knowing what it will do is important. __________________ "Rats & roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice & mercy." - Wendell Berry

February 20, 2009, 01:23 AM	#20
NWCP Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2006 Posts: 1,903	I keep my bores oiled when being stored any length of time, but dry the barrels before going to the range. I've never had a first shot completely miss the target though.

February 20, 2009, 02:27 AM	#21
hardhit Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2008 Posts: 343	You should patch out your barrel thoroughly before shooting it. Firing a shot through an oiled barrel can cores high pressure and bulging of your barrel.

February 20, 2009, 02:50 AM	#22
USASA Member Join Date: June 27, 2008 Location: Washington State Posts: 84	Yep...make sure the barrel is dry - free of oil.

February 20, 2009, 10:59 AM	#23
kenfa03 Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Posts: 71	Do you mean just run a dry patch thru it or a patch with solvent thru it before shooting?

February 20, 2009, 12:44 PM	#25
Delaware_Dan Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2008 Posts: 1,304	I always thought the flyer was due to a cold bore. You learn something new everyday