Do I need to worry about lead fouling in a muzzle-loader when the bullet has a plastic sabot?

Question

I have been using a 50 cal. 240 grain bullet that is all lead for pratice shooting in a muzzleloader. The bulletts have a plastic sabot, but will they still leave lead fouling in the barrell?

Answer 1

There will still be some lead and plastic fouling but you will still have powder residue regardless of the fact you are using a plastic sabot. You'll find as the technology gets better, the residue and fouling seem to go down with the advancements. With Black Powder now in pellet pre-measured form, Carbon fouling, Copper,Lead and Powder residues are decreased over 60% over what they were before with measured granular powder being used. Sabots also help reduce your lead residue by limiting the direct contact your lead bullet has with the rifling.It will only get better....They are already working with 100% Copper Bullets for Black Powder Hunters....and they work great!

Answer 2

All of the sabots with which I am familiar do not allow the bullet to touch the rifling inside the barrel. Therefore, no lead fouling would be possible. However, you will have to deal with plastic fouling in the rfling as well as the blackpowder residue. Some barrels will shoot better with a small bit of fouling in the barrel but this should not be taken to mean that a badly fouled barrel will shoot well. I like to wipe out my bore after ever 5th shot. Notihng magic about every 5th shot or every 3rd shot or every 10th shot. Just be consistant with how often you wipe the bore with a good bore solvent to keep the fouling from building up to the point that the saboted projectile becomes difficult to seat thoroughly or becomes inaccurate.

Answer 3

I not too concerned with lead fouling. I more concerned with Burnt Powder. This is a concern more of corrosion of the barrel. I had a Marlin .22 that I never cleaned. It was more for a fun gun. I bet I shot over 5,000 rounds (Maybe 10,000) through that gun over time. All I ever did was spray the working mechanism with WD-40. I would laugh and tell my friends, when you shoot a gun, it will clean the barrel. ;-)
My more expensive guns are kept clean.

Answer 4

Not really lead fouling, but youll still get plastic and powder fouling which will destroy your accuracy. I would still keep it clean even with the sabots.

Answer 5

the biggest problem will be burnt powder and plastic residue, i use tompson center bore butter on a patch when i am at the range to remove burnt powder about every 5 or 6 shots