Cleaning 44 cal Deer Rifles

[gglass]

Originally Posted by x10

well you got me thinking,

I went out with a dirty gun setup exactly like I"m going to hunt, I put on my heavy jacket

First shot was at an unknown distance across the flat field and the second shot (the lower one) I went up on the hill also at a unknown distance shooting through the woods and snuck a bullet through the sticks,

So it's your fault that I used up 2 of my good shots out of that gun. I don't know how many good shots the gun has left in it now but I need to save those for deer ( I tell my wife I need a new gun when all the good shots are out of it)

Unknown distance... Not bad for 10 feet away. Your groups may tighten a bit with a year or two of carbon buildup and a few less branches.

[Jack Ryan]

Originally Posted by paperboy

I have had discussions with people about cleaning the bore of your 44 rifle. Some guys say it's best to start off with a clean, shiny bore others say shoot a few rounds to "Season" it so you will have the same groups as when you sighted it in. Does cleaning really affect the first round out? May sound stupid, I know, but I have seen/heard this topic before. This will be the first year I have hunted deer with a rifle, I am used to slug and ML.

This thread reads like a joke list of the last three years of meaningless gun magazine jargon and guys trying to rationalize their purchases to their wife.

Since YOU want to know why not find out the facts, FOR YOUR GUN, FOR YOUR SELF. If you have your scope set up then take it to the range. Clean and swab that bore and then sit down with the sand bags and fire the first five shots in to a paper target at 100 yards and show us that group. Not five and adjust, Not five cleaned after every shot unless you are going to carry your boresnake in the field. Show us the five shots you are going to shoot at the first five deer you see opening day.

Then you won't have to figure out WTH minute of deer means or how far away those "paper plate"/6 inch shots are good enough, or who will be posting those "Shot one and it got away" threads the monday after the season opens.

Clean the barrel, shoot five at the bull at 100 yards. Take a picture. Then you'll know what to do.

[x10]

Originally Posted by gglass

Unknown distance... Not bad for 10 feet away. Your groups may tighten a bit with a year or two of carbon buildup and a few less branches.

10 foot why would I walk that far, don't we all just hunt from our truck and shoot from the road at 2 am.

That's what I read about deer hunters.

I don't think most hunters shoot their guns enough but thats my opinion no reflection on anyone,

I just know that even time squirrel hunting is time well spent in practice for deer

the bench is a great place to check out a gun but shooting in the field is the only way you figure out how the hunter performs.

I think the point of most if this thread is that cold barrel, hot barrel, clean, or dirty isn't as important as the guy behind the trigger.

were lucky enough to have plenty of good firearms and ammo out there. Its time for us to do our part.

Trigger time with a 22 is well spent, taking the time to take realistic shots from field positions will be much more valuable than knowing a 1/4 minute of difference in your equipment.

Hope everyone has a good deer season

[djl02]

I always clean my weapons before and after shooting. If you want to see how your gun shoots with a clean barrel just clean it after every shot,til your done with your test. Just my opinion but I wouldnt buy a gun off of someone that didnt clean it proper.

[joshennis84]

It shouldn't really matter when you are taking an animal. It's not like you are going to be shooting that far with a 44 anyways.