first cold clean barrel shots

[marksman]

I thought I'd put a photo of the first shots from my 30-06 brno after cleaning it showing how it settles down for the guys who are interested
the bottom shot is the first, the upper right shot is the second and the three shots horizontally are what it will do off a bipod all day because it has settled down
I will not clean this barrel unless storing it for a while or it starts to shoot off which is around 100 shots
this is probably more to show the newer guys that seasoning the barrel before a hunt can help

[Oldbloke]

Interesting.. Don't you even oil it?

[bladeracer]

Interesting.. Don't you even oil it?

I don't put anything through the bore until poor accuracy tells me it's time to clean it.

[r.dunn]

This is interesting.

I'm a new shooter and just bought my first rifle. The overwhelming consensus of opinion (from the people who have given me advise) is to clean, clean, clean! So, I'm interested to see how the comments on this thread progress.

Does the fact you're first shot is from a cold barrel have anything to do with the spread? By the third shot, the barrel temperature would be relatively consistent, yeah? Again, I'm a new shooter so I'm seeking to understand - not to question!

Thanks!

[Noisydad]

It’s pretty common for first shots from a clean barrel to be a bit random in both smokeless and smokeful powder rifles. Some rifles need foulers, barrel warmers, sighters (call them what you like) and others don’t seem to care. It’s a trial and error thing and each barrel is an individual.
My (Pedersoli) .40-65 Sharps doesn’t care. My 1871 .50-70 Husqvarna rolling block definitely needs a fouler. My 1874 .577-.450 Martini-Henry looks like it needs to be dirty too but none of my muzzle loaders need foulers. As I said - it’s a trial and error thing that’s needs trigger time to find out.

[AZZA'S HJ47]

I swear by this method. Foul the barrel then take it out clean when you get back home. First few trips i went on id either miss or be off and being new to it all id just put it down to being me. Read about this same procedure and now swear by it and consequently dont miss my first few shots

[bladeracer]

This is interesting.

I'm a new shooter and just bought my first rifle. The overwhelming consensus of opinion (from the people who have given me advise) is to clean, clean, clean! So, I'm interested to see how the comments on this thread progress.

Does the fact you're first shot is from a cold barrel have anything to do with the spread? By the third shot, the barrel temperature would be relatively consistent, yeah? Again, I'm a new shooter so I'm seeking to understand - not to question!

Thanks!

It depends on how you are shooting.
Ideally, you want the bore condition to be as consistent as possible for each shot.
For some people, that means they want the bore spotless for every shot simply because it allows them to control it.
For most, we want the bore to be in the condition in which it gives us the most consistent accuracy. You want to be able to take your rifle out of the safe and know that the first shot is going to go where you want it to. Target shooting allows for fouling or sighting shots, hunting doesn't.

[marksman]

Interesting.. Don't you even oil it?

I may oil it if I am leaving it for a while but dont want to clean it as I dont have the time to settle it down again,
usually inox on a patch but the first shot will shoot out of the group

Blades explanation is spot on for what I do

and what noisy said is again spot on

I have other rifles that are no more than 1/2 inch out of the group for the first shot but then its all together
I have seen other rifles that may take a few more shots before they settle down and shoot consistently
it's something to think about when you are going hunting or shooting test groups

[marksman]

This is interesting.

I'm a new shooter and just bought my first rifle. The overwhelming consensus of opinion (from the people who have given me advise) is to clean, clean, clean! So, I'm interested to see how the comments on this thread progress.

Does the fact you're first shot is from a cold barrel have anything to do with the spread? By the third shot, the barrel temperature would be relatively consistent, yeah? Again, I'm a new shooter so I'm seeking to understand - not to question!

Thanks!

when doing this I dont shoot five shots straight after each other, I dont want the barrel hot until I am actually in the group
I have had this rifle over 20 years and really know how it will behave, you dont want a hot barrel

[Wm.Traynor]

FWIW and YMMV Oiling the bore with Ballistol is a practice learned from full bore shooters. It has a little corrosion inhibiting effect and the first shots were pretty close to the main group.

[bigrich]

I swear by this method. Foul the barrel then take it out clean when you get back home. First few trips i went on id either miss or be off and being new to it all id just put it down to being me. Read about this same procedure and now swear by it and consequently dont miss my first few shots

this is what couple of my rifles do.i shoot about 6 rounds the week before i go away and just nylon brush the barrel to get powder residue out. and your right about the first couple being on the money when your in the feild