I guess I am the black sheep. I do not foul the barrel. I clean thoroughly, using brake parts cleaner in the breech plug and a final shot of windex down the barrel to get a mirror finish. I then run dry patches, and a mop down the barrel, and qtips in the breech plug
It is mirror finished and dry when I load it. It definitely shoots different when clean vs dirty. And I have found that is shoots to a certain spot when 100% clean. Actually shoots about 3" higher clean than dirty. Being that BP and substitutes absorb so much moisture I prefer to have a clean gun and just hunt with it that way. If I shoot it I will break it down and clean it thoroughly when I get back to camp.
I have same gun BTW
I thought I remembered this ritual. Thanks.
I've always fouled the barrel on mine, but it's an old side lock and the first shot after cleaning is always higher than the next few.
As per the knight disc manual, they recommend at least 1-2 caps be shot TO DRY THE BORE from oil or moisture. It also fouls the bbl at the same time, kind of a 2 birds with 1 stone. I like Alans idea cuz if you don't get a shot the gun is still clean. The difference between a clean/dry vs fouled bbl will vary gun to gun and just HOW FOULED are you talking about? If the bbl is clean /dry and fouled with just a cap or 2 then I don't get much diff esp at under 50 yd's to worry about. If you oil your bbl then YES, at least 1 cap, but I don't see the need to fire a full load. I wouldn't recommend leaving any guns bbl clean/dry without oil or some type of protectant for very long, not sure exactly what is in windex.
Consistency is the key. Do in the woods what you do at the range . My optima is stainless so I don't have to clean as thoroughly . I shoot and run two damp patches then one dry patch then reload . Even in the woods after shooting a deer I've done the same so the following shot will always be on point .
Y'all should just shoot flintlocks. You dont have to worry about popping caps or pulling plugs. Just make sure your rock is sharp and the touchhole is clear! Makes you feel like the Dr Pepper mountain man too...lol
