Originally Posted by
DoubleBuck
I have never shot 'legal' competitions, nor professionally. So, I don't necessarily have to be in a hurry, or shoot rapidly.
Given that, I love to shoot BP and making my own powder has given me the opportunity to shoot a lot, just on comparative tests. One of the things I determined to do in the beginning was swab between shots and I still do that, to try to even the playing field for every shot and to make it easier on the rifle and I've always thought it was a good thing not to pour powder in a hot barrel with any chance of a glowing ember of carbon.
My questions and quests took me to a few guys who have shot 'legal' competitions and professionally and they were kind enough to share a lot of what I consider great information.
In the past three years I have done most all the swabs damp with Windex with Vinegar. Until I made this last 'brown' Black Willow powder, which stayed so moist after firing, I was able to swab ten shots, with one swab, and the last felt no different than the first. I used only a bit of pure Sheep's Wool Lanolin smeared on the swab once and changed it at ten shots, because I had let the rifle cool down, for several minutes.
Back in the summer, I shot over 100 shots in two days, in just about exactly 100° heat. My rifle was probably 120-130° just laying in the direct sun, on the table. It got hot enough after about five shots, that I noticed I had made the shot, half cocked and flipped the cap, wrote the chronograph speed down and recorded the strike location, and when I ran the swab, there was still a lot of smoke in the barrel, even after that much time. It was hot but the residue was never baked, and remained 'greasy', throughout the day.
Which leads me to my point that I would think as long as that residue is not coming out baked, the chances of an ember burning would be fairly small, and swabbing the barrel would surely help kill any that may be smoldering, with the ability to cause a cook off.
If you are shooting competitively, you may not be afforded those luxuries, but I would not be shooting if I figured in any way there could be an ember in a chamber, or a chamber hot enough to gas powder packed against it.
For anyone who does do it, I would be interested to hear what you are allowed to do, between shots.