When you are sighting in your muzzleloader do you need to clean every few shots or does it matter. Thanks.

Sighting in I always fowl the barrel with a couple primers then I load and shoot 4-5 times before cleaning. Have always gotten good groups doing this

It all depends on which propellant you choose to shoot.

If you use Blackhorn 209 you can shoot 5 or 6 shots and then swab/clean.

Some of the other stuff out there you will have to swab/clean between each shot or you won't be able to get your ML re-loaded.

I do the same as Deadeye, fire a primer or two first to foul barrel and then load up.

Do y’all shoot a couple primers before you carry it hunting.

Yes always the day before and load the morning of

Yep yep!

I swab between shots to replicate a clean bore shot like hunting day. It's probably overkill. But it does help with final cleaning. I run 777 in my percussion guns and black powder in my flintlocks.

Why are y'all fowling your barrel?

My understanding is so when you load you aren’t greasing up your powder with bore butter.

Because ML's have a tendency to like a fouled bore and group better .

Ever notice how your first shot from a clean bore ML is almost always the one in the group that's away from the others ??

Ok. I don't use bore butter. Maybe that's the difference.

I haven't noticed that. I've always set mine up on a clean barrel first shot. Maybe that's why?

I shoot with a clean barrel and clean breach plug with every shot. I do use bore butter for storage, but every load is with the barrel totally clean of anything. When I load each morning, I swab the barrel with a windex patch and follow up with dry patches till bore is bright and Dry. Normally 2 dry patches. Same for the breech plug. 1/8" drill bit and tip cleaner after every shot. I too, shoot T-7 with Hornady 250 gr sabbots. I have found that weighting my loads vs volume ready tightens up the groups. I am shooting a Traditions Buckstalker. It takes a lot more time to do it this way, but I have decided that a person is going to get s single shot only and if another shot should be needed, then I carry a pistol for follow up. However, with this procedure, I have not needed a follow up as the bullet goes where it's told. Killed several deer and too many hogs to even count.