Answered my own question
Nov 16, 2014 0:51:23 GMT -5
Post by artjr338wm on Nov 16, 2014 0:51:23 GMT -5
I just deleted a thread where in I asked for input on the affects of plastic fouling has on accuracy when shooting shotgun sabot slugs. Well my last range session answered that question for me and removed all doubt as to the affects of plastic fouling has on sabot ammo.
I'm reasonably sure more than a few reading this have also read a separate thread where I profess my displeasure with my experiences with sabot slug ammunition in terms of cost and accuracy inconsistencies. In that thread I bemused the fact that my usually accurate A-Bolt slug gun had for reason(s) I could not determine, suddenly suffered a serious decrease in accuracy, and asked for suggestions from members here for possible reasons why. In one of the replies I received a member here advised I clean my barrel at a considerably lower shot count than the amount I stated in the thread as he suspected plastic fouling was the cause of my problem. So I figured WTH, I had nothing to loose by doing so. I also came to the realization I never really cleaned my slug guns all that completely as I always thought sabot shotgun ammo didn't foul all that bad, least of all from plastic fouling. I was about to find out just how ignorant I was, but thankfully ignorant no more am I.
Well I cleaned the living crap out of my A-Bolt slug gun. Gave it three cleanings using MC-7 bore cleaner and two four hour soakings using Wipe-Out. Total number of passes using a tight fitting bronze bore brush was easily in excess of 100, passes using a tight fitting nylon bore brush at least 100. Went back to the range and using a modified free recoil bench form I took 3 shots first at 50 yards than three at 100 yards.
All six shots measured 2.5" across, either I had one round doubtfully fly off target which was stapled to a 3'x 2' piece of card board or the three fifty yard holes and two 100 yard holes formed one raged hole 1.75" across, one slug from the 100 yard group impacted just outside the cluster opening up the combined 50 and 100 yard groups to the afore mentioned 2.5". To say I was utterly dumbfounded by this would be approaching immeasurable in totality. Almost as shocking to me was how few shots were required before my accuracy noticeably decreased. After ten shots my 100 yard groups nearly doubled to 3.75"
This explains so much to me about many of the past issues I had with inconsistent sabot slug accuracy. I don't know why I failed to even consider such a obvious cause for my accuracy issues, I guess i simply didn't think such a large decrease in accuracy could happen with ANY rifle regardless of design, now I know better.
I hope people reading this who still hunt with sabot slug ammunition take heed and learn from my ignorance and avoid waisting costly sabot ammo once your barrel becomes to fouled from plastic sabot residue.
Arthur.
I'm reasonably sure more than a few reading this have also read a separate thread where I profess my displeasure with my experiences with sabot slug ammunition in terms of cost and accuracy inconsistencies. In that thread I bemused the fact that my usually accurate A-Bolt slug gun had for reason(s) I could not determine, suddenly suffered a serious decrease in accuracy, and asked for suggestions from members here for possible reasons why. In one of the replies I received a member here advised I clean my barrel at a considerably lower shot count than the amount I stated in the thread as he suspected plastic fouling was the cause of my problem. So I figured WTH, I had nothing to loose by doing so. I also came to the realization I never really cleaned my slug guns all that completely as I always thought sabot shotgun ammo didn't foul all that bad, least of all from plastic fouling. I was about to find out just how ignorant I was, but thankfully ignorant no more am I.
Well I cleaned the living crap out of my A-Bolt slug gun. Gave it three cleanings using MC-7 bore cleaner and two four hour soakings using Wipe-Out. Total number of passes using a tight fitting bronze bore brush was easily in excess of 100, passes using a tight fitting nylon bore brush at least 100. Went back to the range and using a modified free recoil bench form I took 3 shots first at 50 yards than three at 100 yards.
All six shots measured 2.5" across, either I had one round doubtfully fly off target which was stapled to a 3'x 2' piece of card board or the three fifty yard holes and two 100 yard holes formed one raged hole 1.75" across, one slug from the 100 yard group impacted just outside the cluster opening up the combined 50 and 100 yard groups to the afore mentioned 2.5". To say I was utterly dumbfounded by this would be approaching immeasurable in totality. Almost as shocking to me was how few shots were required before my accuracy noticeably decreased. After ten shots my 100 yard groups nearly doubled to 3.75"
This explains so much to me about many of the past issues I had with inconsistent sabot slug accuracy. I don't know why I failed to even consider such a obvious cause for my accuracy issues, I guess i simply didn't think such a large decrease in accuracy could happen with ANY rifle regardless of design, now I know better.
I hope people reading this who still hunt with sabot slug ammunition take heed and learn from my ignorance and avoid waisting costly sabot ammo once your barrel becomes to fouled from plastic sabot residue.
Arthur.