To clean your gun or not to clean your gun-thats my question

[Roughwater]

When younger I was always told one should clean their rifle. When I was in the Marines there was no question about it what-so-ever. Not so long ago I read an article by a prominent rifle shooting competitor that explained why it's important to keep one's rifle barrel cleaned on a reguler basis. But most recently I'm hearing just the opposite. Some serious shooters say they don't clean their barrel for 600 rounds or more unless of course they get water or dirt ect in the barrel. How often do you clean your barrels? Thanks in advance.

 

[memtb]

I used to clean very regularly! However, I lived in a very high humidity area...and was convinced that the thing to do. Since, I've moved to a very low humidity area....nd don't clean often. I think if I were to relocate back to a high humidity area, I'd likely clean more often. Maybe unnecessary, but it would just make me feel better! memtb

 

[HARPERC]

It depends. Raised on a cleaning regimen based on corrosive components, I overcleaned for years.Generally I clean if changing loads, the rifle is exposed to the elements, it stops shooting as well as it historically has.
The process might not always be the same either, depending on why I'm cleaning.

 

[Deleted member 48126]

When younger I was always told one should clean their rifle. When I was in the Marines there was no question about it what-so-ever. Not so long ago I read an article by a prominent rifle shooting competitor that explained why it's important to keep one's rifle barrel cleaned on a reguler basis. But most recently I'm hearing just the opposite. Some serious shooters say they don't clean their barrel for 600 rounds or more unless of course they get water or dirt ect in the barrel. How often do you clean your barrels? Thanks in advance.

The reason guys used to clean after every shooting was due to military training.

They either shot corrosive ammo, or had experience with the early versions of the M16. That knowledge and know how carried over to hunters when soldiers got back from overseas.

What I do is a quick wipe down after every shooting session. If it's a blued gun, I take a light coat of Rem oil and wipe it down quick on all metal parts.

Usually after every 200 rounds I'll do a heavy cleaning or do a good cleaning once accuracy drops off.

 

[Rick Richard]

I clean more regularly than not so I don't build up the dreaded carbon ring.

 

[Patton63]

I am in the less-is-more school when it comes to cleaning. Modern ammo, with better bullets, powders, and primers don't leave a rifle as dirty as the vintage stuff. Like others, i'll clean it if I am shooting in the rain, snow, dust, etc. In normal conditions, I'll give it a quick wipe down, oil the bolt, and put it away. A few hundred rounds later, I'll clean the barrel.

 

[tbrice23]

I let the barrel tell me to clean.
Most all my barrels like to get clean from 60 to 75 shots.
However, my 7wsm and 300wm shoots better the more shots fired. The two barrels are totaly different manufacturers one cut rifled one is button rifled, one uses RL25 the other uses RL23 ,one varmint contour the other is 3B no rhyme or reason...I feel guilty and cleaned them at 175 rounds.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I clean after every range session that exceeds30 rnds. Hopefully, I will not see the hard to remove carbon build up that many have experienced.

 

[Don A Parsons]

Low moisture area where I live...

I spend my days shooting,,, when I see more outters then inners I do a quick cleaning with Wipe-Out and use the 2 part accelerator... Quick, simple, easy and fast...

I never clean fully since I'd have to fowl the barrel to get back to match,,, just enough to see some iron below the coating...

Good luck in what ever plan you follow,,,.that's what really counts.

Cheers

 

[ShtrRdy]

I live in a low humidity area and like to clean rifle barrels every 100 rounds. It's still shooting good but my thought is to try and keep up with carbon ring buildup. Pistol barrel is more like 1000 rounds.

 

[Dosh]

Rough, perhaps the quality of the barrel should be considered. An average factory barrel will obviously foul sooner than a custom. If I post my barrel gets cleaned every 80-100 rounds but didn't mention factory or custom there could be confusion, or at the least too much or too little cleaning.

 

[dfanonymous]

When younger I was always told one should clean their rifle. When I was in the Marines there was no question about it what-so-ever. Not so long ago I read an article by a prominent rifle shooting competitor that explained why it's important to keep one's rifle barrel cleaned on a reguler basis. But most recently I'm hearing just the opposite. Some serious shooters say they don't clean their barrel for 600 rounds or more unless of course they get water or dirt ect in the barrel. How often do you clean your barrels? Thanks in advance.

I don't clean. Also as a marine if you knew guys in a STA platoon if you were on the infantry side of the house, there's been the same debate as long as I can remember. You get the old salt dogs that believe it needs to be white glove ready, and the guys rolling out from other courses that think it's better to peak the same velocity curve for awhile since weapons in the field become unmaintainable anyways.

Still doesn't matter, as long as you can make the first, second and third round shot count at whatever distance.

 

[Roughwater]

In part I ask the question also because I have lately been shooting a 300 WM that I would usually clean maybe every 20 rounds give or take and clean well. I was trying to ready it as a back up rifle for an elk hunt but the 1st shot always seemed to be off a little from the rest.
It made me wonder if I was maybe cleaning it too much and just maybe if I let it go a bit that first shot might be more of a part of the group. Not sure I'll ever know for sure as I decided if a new used 7 Rem mag I recently bought shoots well I'll use it instead as a back up since the other 2 hunters in my group will be carrying 7mm Rem mags but it got me to thinking eitherway. Getting rifles ready to possibly shoot out to 600 yards or so is a lot different than getting guns ready for the southern deer season where most shot opportunities are under 100 yards around here in my part of NC. I always did try to get my rifles shooting 1 MOA and if they did I was very satisfied. Though a consistent 1 MOA should still do the job I would feel better if I had a little padding and shoot 3/4 and under for my elk guns. Thank you all who posted. I have read all so far and the general consensus seems to indicate I should clean a little less than I do. So I will hold off a bit longer before cleaning and see how that goes.

 

[tbrice23]

I wont go hunting with a barrel that is not "stabilized". By that I mean fouled enough to normalize velocity and accuracy.
It might mean 2 to 20 rounds depending on the individual barrel.