How many shots to foul the barrel?

[Varmit]

When working up a new load I would think I'd want to foul the barrel first and not start with a clean barrel. If I am correct on this how many shots would do the trick? (Shooting a 30-06)

 

[Lef T]

I use my 6ppc rifle for target shooting.
I shoot my first 5 shot group to foul the barrel.
It probably only takes the first two shots to settle it in.

 

[Fassteel]

2 should do it. FS

 

[Ganderite]

I tested a target rifle once for this. I found the first 3 grouped larger than what followed.

 

[sunray]

I'd be thinking two as well. Mind you, not all rifles like a fouled barrel(they be daft things, barrels) and it has more to do with target loads.

 

[peacefrog]

I was just at the range today. I cleaned my target rifle barrel and fired three foulers. Two went in the same hole, nice. Then adjusted my sights .25 moa down and .25 moa right and the the next two hit dead centre of the the bull. I find usually after a cleaning, point of impact is a little left and a little high.

 

[A&Shuntr]

I fire two rounds to season the bore before going for the money shot

 

[skypilot]

If the barrel is clean, shoot ~3 to foul.

When you get your pet load, base all the other POIs off of the fouled cold bore shot. In other words get the barrel relatively dirty, fire the custom load and set the fouled cold bore zero, this is your baseline. Then clean, shoot and record the clean cold bore POI and anything else in relation to the POI of FWB(fouled cold bore)

That way (your handle leads me to believe you are varmint hunting and count on you cold bore shot.) your cold bore is dead nuts and as the barrel fouls more and heats up more just refer to your data on where the bullet POI moves to in relation to fouled cold bore.

 

[stubblejumper]

It depends on the gun. I have guns that shoot the first group as about as accurately as the following groups, but some guns do require a shot or two out of a freshly cleaned barrel.

 

[Varmit]

If the barrel is clean, shoot ~3 to foul.

When you get your pet load, base all the other POIs off of the fouled cold bore shot. In other words get the barrel relatively dirty, fire the custom load and set the fouled cold bore zero, this is your baseline. Then clean, shoot and record the clean cold bore POI and anything else in relation to the POI of FWB(fouled cold bore)

That way (your handle leads me to believe you are varmint hunting and count on you cold bore shot.) your cold bore is dead nuts and as the barrel fouls more and heats up more just refer to your data on where the bullet POI moves to in relation to fouled cold bore.

I do hunt varmits but this load is for a sheep hunt which makes the cold bore shot very important. This is a new rifle and although I shot deer with it last fall I want to really get to know it for this sheep hunt.

Thanks for all the replies guys, I'm on the right track now with this fouling issue.

 

[Lefty Dick]

Why not go shoot your rifle and find out exactly how your rifle behaves!

There is no way on gods green earth me or any other soul can tell you what your rifle may or may not do.

Get in some range time, and get off your computer!