What method are you guys using to swab between shots. Are you using water, alcohol or something else. I haven't shot Pyrodex R/S in a long time. When I was shooting 777 in my in-lines I would just use a couple of patches dampened with water and then a couple of dry patches. I will be shooting my T/C Hawkens with Pyrodex R/S powder. Do I need to Swab diffenently if I'm using a patched round ball or a conical. Thanks again for all your help.
Swabbing between shots????
- Thread starter Hulions
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When shooting a patched roundball or conical you will be able to tell when you need to swab as you will feel the fouling building up in the bore.l So when hunting you might not need to swab as you're only going to be shooting two or three times all day (unless a poor shot or real lucky.. 
)
When I work up my load I like to swab between shots, no matter what powder I am shooting. Other then APP. I do not swab when I shoot APP in my traditional rifles. I swab my traditional rifles with pure isopropyl alcohol 91%. Then a couple of dry patches. That takes out the fouling and dries in the bore real fast. Then a dry patch or two and I am ready to shoot again.
I have swabbed with Windex or a mix, and spit, water, and cleaners, all of them work. BUT the more water you have in your mix the more you have to be careful to get it all out before you reload. With alcohol that is not as much of a problem as we all know, alcohol will burn.
)When I work up my load I like to swab between shots, no matter what powder I am shooting. Other then APP. I do not swab when I shoot APP in my traditional rifles. I swab my traditional rifles with pure isopropyl alcohol 91%. Then a couple of dry patches. That takes out the fouling and dries in the bore real fast. Then a dry patch or two and I am ready to shoot again.
I have swabbed with Windex or a mix, and spit, water, and cleaners, all of them work. BUT the more water you have in your mix the more you have to be careful to get it all out before you reload. With alcohol that is not as much of a problem as we all know, alcohol will burn.
"Do I need to swab diffenently if I'm using a patched round ball or a conical?"
Hulions, All of the above advice is good. Just remember to use a damp rather than wet patch to swab. However, if you're using a patched round ball with a good patch lube and Pyro. RS, you may not need to swab after each shot: Dry patch yes, but swab after ~5 shots. With a
conical bullet, things are different because you'll most likely be using a heavier powder charge and no lubed patch to help keep powder fouling in check. In short, when using conicals with FFg or Pyro. RS in both sidelocks and inlines, I damp swab after every shot to ensure easier seating and maximum accuracy from the bench. I don't think I do so in the field though.
Hulions, All of the above advice is good. Just remember to use a damp rather than wet patch to swab. However, if you're using a patched round ball with a good patch lube and Pyro. RS, you may not need to swab after each shot: Dry patch yes, but swab after ~5 shots. With a
conical bullet, things are different because you'll most likely be using a heavier powder charge and no lubed patch to help keep powder fouling in check. In short, when using conicals with FFg or Pyro. RS in both sidelocks and inlines, I damp swab after every shot to ensure easier seating and maximum accuracy from the bench. I don't think I do so in the field though.
I use a single patch.I dampen one side with my tongue and short stroke it up and down till I get to the bottom of the barrel.I then turn the patch over and wipe the barrel with the dry side.Fouling is much lighter since a switched to FFFg Swiss.Ripshod
