swabbing barrel

S

straight-shooter

New member
I shot the 1858 today and the first two cylinders were very accurate to point of aim. After that thru to 8 cylinders full the accuracy dropped off dramatically. Anyone here swab their barrel and does it help retain accuracy ?

I'm thinking of trying ballistol in between each two cylinders full.
 
I've never swabbed a pistol when shooting. One shot, or 70, it looks about the same in there to me. Shoots the same too. :)
 
I know that my barrel accumulates some residue in the throat.
I haven't swabbed because I don't bring along the items to swab with.
It's not really critical because I shoot at fairly short range.
But it wouldn't hurt to try swabbing to see if the performance improves.
Every gun will accumulate residue differently depending on the conditions and the powder used.
I've been meaning to try swabbing since it's very easy to do and I load off the frame anyway.
The wads themselves could cause some erratic results too.
You never know unless they've been tested extensively in your gun and with your loads.
I've tried Cabela's lubed wads and don't really care to use them.
I use home made over powder cards instead and I noticed the difference.
 
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My barrel today

I shot the Walker today, 75± balls (bag and a half, I didn't count them), and the forcing cone is a little gunky, but just the throat. Fired mostly 45 grains Pyrodex with cornmeal filler, topped with 50/50 beeswax/olive oil lube.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/Walker%20barrel/DSC03318.jpg

Here's a shot from the breech end. Only cornmeal in there.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/Walker%20barrel/DSC03300.jpg

You can see that it's pretty clean in this shot from the muzzle end.
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/Walker%20barrel/DSC03307.jpg

But it looks like that after only one cylinder too.

The cylinder is still ready for 75 more. The Walker keeps the cylinder face blasted pretty clean. :)
http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/shutupandjump/Walker%20barrel/DSC03293.jpg
 
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No Swabbing here

Fired my 1858 yesterday. About 30 rounds as a get acquainted. Accuracy actually improved toward the end, probably the shooter getting comfortable. Used 25 grains Pyrodex P, wad, and 454 ball. Shooting at plastic bottles at 20 yds. Since I am new to bp swabbing never crossed my mind. Not much fouling anywhere. Anyone here ever used "Gun Juice"? I treated the Remington per the instructions for bp. I really think it helped with the fouling. Cylinder pin had some buildup but one wipe and all was well.
 
When I used to use Cream of Wheat (COW) I found the barrel staye scoured out. The meal was abrasive enough to swab the barrel for me.
 
I don't swab but me thinks beagle and hellgate might be on to something. It stands to reason that the meal will act as a scouring agent. Hmmm mabe ill try shoving some good ole stone ground grits in there.

"AINT NO SELF RESPECTIN SOUTHERNER EAT NO INSTANT GRITS" :D
 
I've put it in a very different looking plastic powder flask with a measuring spout to put so many grains/vol on top of the powder. Just don't get them mixed up! I've never used corn meal but have read that it is a little more compressible than COW. Zat true folks?
 
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