Now, I find less fuel works better and use a flooded start procedure first.
  Turn the boost pump on but keep the mixture at cut off, throttle wide open.

It's easier to add fuel later if it won't fire up.

Mark,

 

That's the way I do it too.

 

The engine driven fuel pump is quite hot and will cavitate as fresh (but engine compartment warmed) fuel is first fed to it - vaporizing from the heat.  The boost pump (firewall or cockpit mounted) will actually pump fuel and, more importantly, provide enough pressure to minimize vaporization from heat soaked parts.