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First Shot Out of Newly Cleaned Barrel

RCrosby
Maybe I just clean my barrels too often, but I'm wondering how others deal with this issue, especially during hunting season.
After a session at the range with my .257 (Ruger Hawkeye) I clean the bore with Butches Bore Shine, then run a tight patch with a couple drops of Corrosion-X back and forth a couple of time.
The next time out, the first shot will be about 4" outside of the ensuing group at 100 yards. Doesn't happen from a cold dirty barrel. Have decided to do my range work before the season starts, and go out on opening day with a mildly dirty bore; but especially if it's been a wet day, I don't like to put it away without a light oil at days end.
Interested in how others deal with this type of problem.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Ambrose
    Does this happen even though you wipe the oil out of the bore before you start your group?

    Your plan to start opening day with a cold, dirty barrel seems like a good one. Unless your rifle gets more than a little wet, you shouldn't have to worry about rust in the bore in a short time. Clean it at seasons end.

    I have some rifles that shoot the first shot out of the group from a cold barrel; clean or dirty. The worst offenders are the Mannlicher Schoenauer carbines, probably due to the full stock touching a sensitive spot on the barrel.

    You may have to do like I do: Memorize where that first shot goes and hold accordingly, and if you need a second shot, hold right on.
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  • drl50
    I notice that my first shot after cleaning is out of the group in my .243. I've heard others in my gun club reference this first shot as the "wet shot" and to avoid it especially in competition. I will fire that shot a day or two before the season and follow it with another just to confirm my zero. Gives me peace of mind on the deer stand. Unless it pours rain or snow gets in the barrel, I dont worry about cleaning the bore every day.
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  • wpage
    It always going to be out. Until shot the barrel needs a coating from a shot to get it coated...
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  • 260
    never go hunting with a dirty gun... never go hunting with a clean gun??? always fire three shots after cleaning! then get down to fine tuning it. if you take it out of the stock, tighten action screws, etc. you must target the rifle.
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  • babun
    A long time ago when I bought my Parker/Hale model 82 sniper rifle,
    the British salesman said that it was guaranteed for a one shot kill
    at 400 meters. I thought that is nothing to brag about...kill zone of about 8 to 10 inches at 400 meters....JUNK !!!. Then he explained he meant FIRST shot. Cold, hot, clean, dirty.....and I knew what he was talking about then. Many a gun needs some fouling shots before it settles in. Bob
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  • mbsams
    All my rifles put the first shot from a clean, cold, barrel into the same group as the last hot dirty shot - I have no use for a rifle that doesn't do that. If one doesn't, it becomes someone elses problem. Yes! I have had to sort through a few. I find most rifles will do it - just run a couple patches down the bore before that first shot to make sure it is totally dry.
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  • USN_Airdale
    WHAT ??....., you all clean your rifles bore ?? mine, all AR-15/M4 etc., get a lightly coated Hoppes #9 patch thru the bore, followed by a very lightly coated Hoppes Gun Oil thru the bore when new and about every 5,000 rounds later, my shooting groups are in the KILL zone at 500 yds.
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  • RCrosby
    Thanks for all the comment and insights. Guess I'll have to follow mbsams advice on the dry patch to see how things work with that.
    Happy Trails,
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  • timhill100
    i fire one shot out of mine the day before the season and dont clean it again till season end
    i will wipe it down if it gets wet or raining
    but i let the bore go till the season is over
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  • Jeepflexin
    quote:Originally posted by RCrosby
    Have decided to do my range work before the season starts, and go out on opening day with a mildly dirty bore; but especially if it's been a wet day, I don't like to put it away without a light oil at days end.
    Interested in how others deal with this type of problem.


    My Marlin stays "dirty" through the season, when it is snowing or raining I pop a condom on the end of the barrel. I have never experienced any damage from not cleaning the gun after sighting it in for the season. After the season is over I strip it and clean it thoroughly then store it in my display cabinet until the next season.

    Hope that helps.
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