Fouling Shot?

P-990 · September 5, 2006, 01:37 PM

Okay, question from a new BP hunter for those who have more experience: What is your procedure for firing a fouling shot before heading into the field?

I understand the concept: Some rifles (mine included) shoot the first shot out of a clean bore out of the group, then settle in and hammer. Okay, so I can see the advantage of having the barrel to the point where it is hammering while out in the field. But where I hunt, it is literally off of my back door. I can't discharge a firearm until I get into my hunting area, and then obviously I don't want to scare game.

So what is the deal? How is it done? Load a light charge of powder and just burn it without a bullet? A full-load?

Thanks.

sundance44s · September 5, 2006, 02:59 PM

You`ll have to test yours to be sure .. but if i use a dry patch on my first shot it helps ..when i can`t do a fouling shot .... something else i`ve done is useing a .495 ball instead of the .490 .. if she loads good and tight on the first shot ..it`s uasually gonna fly true .

Wild Bill Bucks · September 5, 2006, 03:17 PM

Most BP rifles just need a little smoke in the barrel to foul for first shot. Mine works great by just popping a cap through it before loading. I just put on a cap (or two) and stick it inside my truck and pull the trigger. (NOT WITH A LOAD-JUST A CAP) that generally does it and I'm ready to load.

Lonesome_Dove · September 5, 2006, 03:48 PM

I usually just put a load of powder and a patch--no ball--and let 'er rip.

Smokin_Gun · September 6, 2006, 01:24 AM

P-990, if not doing a competion shoot paper target cloverleaf type shooting, or metalic silhouettes. Just load it and go shoot your game. We're talkin splittin' hairs here. I don't think anyone in here may have bee off more that 3 or 4" from center point of aim. There is a thing called a Deer load, one chargesay in my .50 cal Poorboy 60gr of ffg BP then one lubed patched ball, and another lubed patched ball. At 100 yard the spread is 6 to 8". Pretty good spread for a heart or lung shot. Now ifin ya wants ta put one behind the ear use only one ball...

I don't season my barrels I prefer them scaldin hot soapy/rinse water clean...but seasoning a barrel may be another way to go. I suppose you could shoot it the nite before and reload it...that may be an Ideer.

Lonesome_Dove · September 6, 2006, 10:20 AM

Smokin.....You say you load 2 balls on top of only 60gr. 2F?

And this works good? Never tried that B4. How close do you need to be for a kill with this method? Sounds like sumthin I need to try.

Wild Bill Bucks · September 6, 2006, 04:34 PM

LD,

I don't know about the two ball thing, I think I would just concentrate on hitting what I'm shooting at with one ball. That's hard enough for me.

arcticap · September 6, 2006, 06:11 PM

I've tried shooting double balls on targets but some states just don't allow more than 1 projectile to be loaded in the same barrel while hunting and specify "single projectile only".

Smokin_Gun · September 7, 2006, 01:09 AM

Lonesome Dove ... ya don't have to use 60gr that's just my standard load.
about a 6"-8" spread at 100 yards. Try it on a plain piece of cardboard with a 100 yd bullseye on it. Let me know what you get ... I use a Miroku .50 cal Tennessee Mountain rifle ... with 8" cut off a 41 1/2" bbl... or a 33 1/2" bbl.
Check Laws before usin' the Deer Load. I never heard of a single projectile law in muzzleloading hunting... But I have only hunted in New York and California. Like does Buck Shot Count?

sundance44s · September 7, 2006, 08:21 AM

Smokin .. i loaded 2 balls in my front stuffer by mistake one time ..and 60grs of powder is my standard load too .. the 2 balls hit the target board touching each other at 30 yards and were on the bulls eye . lol .. i said hummm would ya look at that.

arcticap · September 7, 2006, 11:00 AM

So I guess one way to look at it is that "fouling shots" help to prevent shooting "foul balls";
and the trick is to not "foul up" the "barrel fouling" process or one may be shooting "foul balls" at the deer! Thanks for all of the "foul[ing] tips"!

Here's interesting pictures of how some 209 primers "foul up" a barrel more than others:

After 2 shots with competitor's 209 primers

After 15 shots with Remington Kleanbore 209 primers

http://www.remington.com/products/am...ack_powder.asp

It never occurred to me that some #11 primers also might create more fouling than others, so maybe folks would prefer using the ones that foul the most!

Lonesome_Dove · September 9, 2006, 10:02 AM

Thanks Smoke....will try that next time I'm out with the flinter. If you can do it in NY then I guess I got no worries

KD5NRH · September 10, 2006, 12:15 AM

Quote:

I've tried shooting double balls on targets but some states just don't allow more than 1 projectile to be loaded in the same barrel while hunting and specify "single projectile only".

Now I just can't shake the mental image of a 12ga sabot with a single #8 shot in it for quail season

Smokin_Gun · September 11, 2006, 12:39 AM

LoL K5 ... good one!

Smokin_Gun · September 11, 2006, 12:42 AM

LD, just check to be sure for hunting season...that was prior to 1974 when I lived back there. But it sure won't hurt to try it out on paper or vaporizing water bottles of the 1 gal. capacity...

Sundance I wish I could do that with a two ball load... did you try it again or quit while you were ahead? LoL!

sundance44s · September 11, 2006, 08:02 AM

Smokin I did quit while i was ahead ... but the club rifle builder was shooting next to me and when i showed it too him .. he said at 25 yards it should do it every time .. he said it will open up at greater distance . I`ll have to try it again sometime too .

September 5, 2006, 02:59 PM	#2
sundance44s Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2006 Location: Hernando , Ms. Posts: 579	Sundance44s You`ll have to test yours to be sure .. but if i use a dry patch on my first shot it helps ..when i can`t do a fouling shot .... something else i`ve done is useing a .495 ball instead of the .490 .. if she loads good and tight on the first shot ..it`s uasually gonna fly true .

September 6, 2006, 01:24 AM	#5
Smokin_Gun Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, CA Posts: 1,195	P-990, if not doing a competion shoot paper target cloverleaf type shooting, or metalic silhouettes. Just load it and go shoot your game. We're talkin splittin' hairs here. I don't think anyone in here may have bee off more that 3 or 4" from center point of aim. There is a thing called a Deer load, one chargesay in my .50 cal Poorboy 60gr of ffg BP then one lubed patched ball, and another lubed patched ball. At 100 yard the spread is 6 to 8". Pretty good spread for a heart or lung shot. Now ifin ya wants ta put one behind the ear use only one ball... I don't season my barrels I prefer them scaldin hot soapy/rinse water clean...but seasoning a barrel may be another way to go. I suppose you could shoot it the nite before and reload it...that may be an Ideer. __________________ "I Smoke Black Powder" "Favor an 1858 Remington" SGT. Smokin' Gun, Mosby's Rangers 43rd Virginia Cavalry C.S.A. SASS# 19634, ... Admin:http://blackpowdersmoke.com/oldcoots/index.php Last edited by Smokin_Gun; September 7, 2006 at 12:59 AM.

September 7, 2006, 01:09 AM	#9
Smokin_Gun Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, CA Posts: 1,195	Lonesome Dove ... ya don't have to use 60gr that's just my standard load. about a 6"-8" spread at 100 yards. Try it on a plain piece of cardboard with a 100 yd bullseye on it. Let me know what you get ... I use a Miroku .50 cal Tennessee Mountain rifle ... with 8" cut off a 41 1/2" bbl... or a 33 1/2" bbl. Check Laws before usin' the Deer Load. I never heard of a single projectile law in muzzleloading hunting... But I have only hunted in New York and California. Like does Buck Shot Count? __________________ "I Smoke Black Powder" "Favor an 1858 Remington" SGT. Smokin' Gun, Mosby's Rangers 43rd Virginia Cavalry C.S.A. SASS# 19634, ... Admin:http://blackpowdersmoke.com/oldcoots/index.php

September 7, 2006, 08:21 AM	#10
sundance44s Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2006 Location: Hernando , Ms. Posts: 579	Sundance44s Smokin .. i loaded 2 balls in my front stuffer by mistake one time ..and 60grs of powder is my standard load too .. the 2 balls hit the target board touching each other at 30 yards and were on the bulls eye . lol .. i said hummm would ya look at that.

September 11, 2006, 12:39 AM	#14
Smokin_Gun Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, CA Posts: 1,195	LoL K5 ... good one! __________________ "I Smoke Black Powder" "Favor an 1858 Remington" SGT. Smokin' Gun, Mosby's Rangers 43rd Virginia Cavalry C.S.A. SASS# 19634, ... Admin:http://blackpowdersmoke.com/oldcoots/index.php

September 5, 2006, 01:37 PM	#1
P-990 Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2002 Location: Only1/2WayThere Posts: 1,316	Fouling Shot? Okay, question from a new BP hunter for those who have more experience: What is your procedure for firing a fouling shot before heading into the field? I understand the concept: Some rifles (mine included) shoot the first shot out of a clean bore out of the group, then settle in and hammer. Okay, so I can see the advantage of having the barrel to the point where it is hammering while out in the field. But where I hunt, it is literally off of my back door. I can't discharge a firearm until I get into my hunting area, and then obviously I don't want to scare game. So what is the deal? How is it done? Load a light charge of powder and just burn it without a bullet? A full-load? Thanks. __________________ NRA Master, Highpower Rifle, Across-the-Course NRA Expert, Highpower Rifle, Mid-Range Prone

September 5, 2006, 03:17 PM	#3
Wild Bill Bucks Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2005 Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch Posts: 1,266	Most BP rifles just need a little smoke in the barrel to foul for first shot. Mine works great by just popping a cap through it before loading. I just put on a cap (or two) and stick it inside my truck and pull the trigger. (NOT WITH A LOAD-JUST A CAP) that generally does it and I'm ready to load.

September 5, 2006, 03:48 PM	#4
Lonesome_Dove Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 30	I usually just put a load of powder and a patch--no ball--and let 'er rip.

September 6, 2006, 10:20 AM	#6
Lonesome_Dove Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 30	Smokin.....You say you load 2 balls on top of only 60gr. 2F? And this works good? Never tried that B4. How close do you need to be for a kill with this method? Sounds like sumthin I need to try.

September 6, 2006, 04:34 PM	#7
Wild Bill Bucks Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2005 Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch Posts: 1,266	LD, I don't know about the two ball thing, I think I would just concentrate on hitting what I'm shooting at with one ball. That's hard enough for me.

September 6, 2006, 06:11 PM	#8
arcticap Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2005 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 3,166	I've tried shooting double balls on targets but some states just don't allow more than 1 projectile to be loaded in the same barrel while hunting and specify "single projectile only".

September 7, 2006, 11:00 AM	#11
arcticap Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2005 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 3,166	So I guess one way to look at it is that "fouling shots" help to prevent shooting "foul balls"; and the trick is to not "foul up" the "barrel fouling" process or one may be shooting "foul balls" at the deer! Thanks for all of the "foul[ing] tips"! Here's interesting pictures of how some 209 primers "foul up" a barrel more than others: After 2 shots with competitor's 209 primers After 15 shots with Remington Kleanbore 209 primers http://www.remington.com/products/am...ack_powder.asp It never occurred to me that some #11 primers also might create more fouling than others, so maybe folks would prefer using the ones that foul the most!

September 9, 2006, 10:02 AM	#12
Lonesome_Dove Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 30	Thanks Smoke....will try that next time I'm out with the flinter. If you can do it in NY then I guess I got no worries

September 11, 2006, 12:42 AM	#15
Smokin_Gun Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, CA Posts: 1,195	LD, just check to be sure for hunting season...that was prior to 1974 when I lived back there. But it sure won't hurt to try it out on paper or vaporizing water bottles of the 1 gal. capacity... Sundance I wish I could do that with a two ball load... did you try it again or quit while you were ahead? LoL! __________________ "I Smoke Black Powder" "Favor an 1858 Remington" SGT. Smokin' Gun, Mosby's Rangers 43rd Virginia Cavalry C.S.A. SASS# 19634, ... Admin:http://blackpowdersmoke.com/oldcoots/index.php

September 11, 2006, 08:02 AM	#16
sundance44s Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2006 Location: Hernando , Ms. Posts: 579	Sundance44s Smokin I did quit while i was ahead ... but the club rifle builder was shooting next to me and when i showed it too him .. he said at 25 yards it should do it every time .. he said it will open up at greater distance . I`ll have to try it again sometime too .