Are 3 foulers enough?

[Davey Boy]

After you clean a barrel are 3 foulers enough? Also should they be the same bullet and powder like that of the main loads that you are testing? Or can they be any jacketed bullet? Just wondering.

 

[Dub]

In most cases yes, 3 is enough. They should be the same bullet and powder that you are going to use for record

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The answer is, maybe. See if it settles out. Ive seen some that take 5-7

 

[Terry]

That's why I shoot with a Lab Radar on the bench. When the velocity stabilizes I'm there.

 

[Davey Boy]

These are just factory barrels BTW.

 

[Hoodoo]

I lean towards not enough, especially on a clean barrel. I know on my bench guns, I like at least 5 shots minimum before I'd feel comfortable going to record target.

 

[M-61]

I don't think the type of bullet or powder makes the slightest difference. (although some bullet/powder combos may warm the barrel faster).
I shoot one fouler but I do that mostly because I know it's the ONLY bullet going through a clean barrel. Then I have a 308 that takes 5 rounds to settle in. Fortunately I have a few hundred 175 grain factory rounds. That's not the weight bullet I shoot and who knows what powder the factory uses. This thing just likes to be hot.
I think every barrel on every rifle seems to want it's own combination.

 

[jackieschmidt]

One fowler, hit the sighter, ready for record.
That’s how it works on my match rifles.
Factory barrels?? I don’t know.

 

[carlsbad]

sometimes.

 

[hammerjack]

You need to test yourself at home then you will know when it settles down or comes in. Then clean again and start over and you will know how many rounds.

 

[Davey Boy]

You need to test yourself at home then you will know when it settles down or comes in. Then clean again and start over and you will know how many rounds.

That makes sense. I guess if it comes back on target and /or the Labradar reports the velocity has settled down.

 

[timeout]

Depends on the rifle. I had a 6 PPC that didn't require any foulers. Every barrel is different in my limited experience.

 

[Forum Boss]

Yes, every barrel is different. I have one 3 groove that is good to go after 4 shots.

Then again, I shot a 6mm Beggs in Gene Beggs’ tunnel where the accuracy didn’t start to come back big time until after 20 rounds through the barrel after a cleaning. That was a very aggressive cleaning with multiple solvents and bronze brushing. Still it was an eye-opening exercise. The first two 5-shot groups were terrible.

 

[cdiver]

I shoot a sighter target when I get a good group then its time to go for score.

 

[wkdickinson]

I think it totally depends on the barrel. I had a M70 match rifle in 308 Win with an Obermeyer 1:8.5" twist barrel that shot the same POI with a cold, clean barrel as it did at the end of an 88 shot match. I currently have a Savage 243Win with a Criterion barrel the shoots an 1 1/4" low and right for 3 shots at 200 yds. with a "clean" barrel. After that they are right where they should be.

 

[K22]

Of the many rifles that I own, I only have one that seems to require a fouled barrel to shoot to my varmint / predator hunting standards. It typically throws the first shot center high about 1 to 1 1/2" which isn't good for a varmint rifle. I've tried a variety of remedies, i.e. dry patch, graphite patch, mineral spirits patch to remove any residual solvent / lube, etc. Nothing seems to work. So I make sure I have a fouled barrel if I take this rifle hunting. What's really strange is this rifle, a Rem Model 7, with a Douglas match barrel and B&C stock is one of the most accurate rifles I own once the barrel is fouled. Last varmint season I didn't clean the barrel all season and even at 100 rounds down the barrel is was shooting terrific about 1/2 moa.

For all my other rifles of various brands, twists, calibers, I dry patch the clean barrel before shooting and it seems to eliminate any first shot flyers.

A friend of mine swears by patching a clean barrel with a patch lightly saturated with mineral spirits an hour or so before shooting to eliminate first shot flyers. I've tried it and it doesn't seem to hurt but since the dry patch works for me I'm sticking with that for now.

 

[Martin52]

Try dry patching to get rid of any oil or solvent left in the bore then brake cleaner on a patch, then apply 2-3 drops of Lock-Eze on a patch. Allow a few minutes to dry and your first shot should be in the group.

 

[Ccrider]

Depends on the barrel and how much you have cleaned it. I think temperature also matters. When it starts grouping like it should, I know I have shot enough foulers.

 

[Ranger188]

Depends on your cleaning regiment.
I found after the 2nd shot, the barrel has settle in
for me, but I usually shoot 3 and then go for it.

 

[Falfan2017]

My barrels seem to need more foulers as they get more rounds on them. Had some new barrels that were good to go after 1 or 2. Had some barrels approaching the end that take 7-8. Just depends.