doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Shooting Black Powder Shotgun

This plays right into some questions I was going to ask. While I have shot BP 12GA cartridges in the past, I never shot a lot of rounds in any one shooting session soever gave the fouling much consideration. I HAVE shot a fair bit of ML shotgun but that is a different animal since the bore get somewhat cleaned while loading (depending what is used for lube on the cushion wad). I recently bought a .410 double that I am loading BP and want to shoot clays with and have been wondering how many shots before the fouling may become an issue. My question is, how do you determine when the bores need to be cleaned?, does the fouling build up increase pressures (if so, how do you know, pressure signs on the primers??) or does it blow the patterns?. I have been loading my 45-90 with duplex loads as that is supposed to keep fouling down, does anyone do so with shotguns? Also, I am using brass cases and sealing in the over shot wad with melted bees wax. I wonder if that bit of wax will help clean some fouling from the previous shot, make the fouling worse or have no effect?

For me, using Windex in a spray bottle to clean bores and even outside fouling is easier than finding hot water, and quite effective, especially in the field. No rusting with this product.

Nothing wrong with windex. I use cold water to clean my ML'ers and have for decades. Rust would not be an issue when cleaning part way through a match as you will be shooting again right after. After a thorough clean at home I dry the bore than run a patch with fluid film to prevent rust.

I have used the Windex method as well, but after a round or two of trap, there was so much plastic in the gun that getting the brush down the bore took quite a lot more pressure. These were loads that had a fiber wad between an amputated WAA wad cup and the powder. The increased resistance felt with the cleaning rod made me concerned that the pressures of the last fired rounds might be producing significantly more pressure than the first rounds. For that reason, I quit using any plastic wads with BP.