Cold bore shooting/ Clean barrel

jrg_80 · #1 07-25-2011, 10:38 AM

I'm new to the site but have been a lurker for some time. I have recently been reading and looking at getting more and more into the LR stuff but my question is more on the hunting side. I've read post on how people 1st couple of shots are flyers but once dirty the barrels performs like it should and sometimes a clean barrel is to blame..... My question is is I go to the range and shoot and make sure I'm all dialed in for the upcoming season, then I go home and clean my gun, put it in the safe, repeat steps 1&2. Now what happens when opening morning I go out to my stand and the buck I want steps out and I fire? Should I have complete confidence in my equipment or should i just cross my fingers that it's as on as it was when I left the range(prior to cleaning)?

Guess thru all this what I'm getting at is what needs to be cleaned and what doesn't to still protect you investment(gun/barrel) but still have consistancy each and every time you go out w/o hesitation or question?

jrg

lamiglas · #2 07-25-2011, 01:32 PM

I keep track of each rifle and how it shoots cold bore after a cleaning. however, my cleaning process ends with two fouling shots, I document them (just because, for future reference or whatever) and then i put the gun away.

moombaskier · #3 07-25-2011, 02:11 PM

+1. It's called cold bore mapping. I go out and shoot the same target 10 times at my 200yrd. zero with at least one day inbetween shots to see if there is any point of impact change. All of my guns that I use for longer ranges will shoot MOA with a "clean bore shot", but much better after a fouler or two. If for some reason I must clean the bore during season I always send a few down the tube after cleaning. That's just my .02 and it works for me.

jrg_80 · #4 07-25-2011, 02:26 PM

So it's not harmful in anyway to leave your barrel in a safe for a period of time with a few rounds down the pipe vs spotless and clean? You'll have to excuse my ignorance, but I'm sure I'm like many that has always been told to clean your barrel til your patch is clean, but now I'm reading the opposite. I'm just trying to educate myself and I'm always open to learn, hell just cause I've been doing one thing one way for 20yrs could very well mean I've been doing it wrong for 20yrs too.

jrg

WildRose · #5 07-25-2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrg_80

I'm new to the site but have been a lurker for some time. I have recently been reading and looking at getting more and more into the LR stuff but my question is more on the hunting side. I've read post on how people 1st couple of shots are flyers but once dirty the barrels performs like it should and sometimes a clean barrel is to blame..... My question is is I go to the range and shoot and make sure I'm all dialed in for the upcoming season, then I go home and clean my gun, put it in the safe, repeat steps 1&2. Now what happens when opening morning I go out to my stand and the buck I want steps out and I fire? Should I have complete confidence in my equipment or should i just cross my fingers that it's as on as it was when I left the range(prior to cleaning)?

Guess thru all this what I'm getting at is what needs to be cleaned and what doesn't to still protect you investment(gun/barrel) but still have consistancy each and every time you go out w/o hesitation or question?

jrg

I never go into the field with a clean gun. After I do clean one I'll always foul it back up with at least three shots, then check zero/sight in.

At most I'll then blow it out with some carbureto cleaner, let it dry, and then lube it and patch it and put it away.

Since you can't gurantee a clean bore for follow up shots and you won't be cleaning between shots while sighting in/checking zero the barrel isn't going to be consistent after cleaning.

Remember you want your bore in the same condition it was in when you fired your last round zeroing/checking zero otherwise your POI may move significantly.

WildRose · #6 07-25-2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrg_80

So it's not harmful in anyway to leave your barrel in a safe for a period of time with a few rounds down the pipe vs spotless and clean?

Nope

Quote:

You'll have to excuse my ignorance, but I'm sure I'm like many that has always been told to clean your barrel til your patch is clean, but now I'm reading the opposite. I'm just trying to educate myself and I'm always open to learn, hell just cause I've been doing one thing one way for 20yrs could very well mean I've been doing it wrong for 20yrs too.

jrg

Unless you are shooting cheap ammo imported from the former Eastern Block countries you don't need to. That mindset comes from the days of corrosive powders that would harm your bore.

WildRose · #7 07-25-2011, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moombaskier

+1. It's called cold bore mapping. I go out and shoot the same target 10 times at my 200yrd. zero with at least one day inbetween shots to see if there is any point of impact change. All of my guns that I use for longer ranges will shoot MOA with a "clean bore shot", but much better after a fouler or two. If for some reason I must clean the bore during season I always send a few down the tube after cleaning. That's just my .02 and it works for me.

Yessir.