Rifle Cleaning

[Remmy700]

Have heard so many different ideals on bore cleaning and when it should be done. Was wanting to see what some of you guys do that shoot a great deal on when you decide to full bore clean. I have always done my reloading in 100 rnd batches and for years once I hit that 100 rounds fired I would reload a new 100 and do full bore clean. This has worked great but I recently started just shooting a rifle until groups opened up and then clean. I have also heard of PRS guys never cleaning a bore at all. Just wondering what some of you guys intervals are. Thanks fellows.

 

[joseph singleton]

I'll just popped a large bowl of popcorn with extra butter and energy drink,easing in the recliner NOW....Thanks Remmy7oo almost changed the channel (GREAT TOPIC).

 

[carl1775]

Clean shiny bore and chamber every time. Just like God and the Corps, intended.

 

[TwoMore]

I just hit the watch button
right now I am changing bullets and powder more than usual so I am cleaning more that I want to lol

 

[Remmy700]

I hear ya. I don't mind cleaning a rifle, its a good beer drinking sport lol. I just don't want to be cleaning if I don't need to but I also don't want to abuse my barrel either. Its a fine line. I know some people that clean after every range session, that is not me for sure but I do think the 100 round interval works well and its easy to keep up with. And I know at 100 round marks on most SA stuff it aint to bad to clean. I shot 600 rounds out of 308 in a weekend and that ol' girl was NASTY!

 

[cohunt]

it is often said that there is more damage done to a barrel by the owner cleaning it than by shooting it

 

[J E Custom]

Clean is clean, fouled is fouled. Some like clean some like fouled and others don't bother with cleaning at all or until accuracy falls off.

In my opinion, waiting until accuracy drops off is a waste in components and possibly wounded game.

When I clean, I always go back to bright metal. the frequency depends on the use. for my hunting rifles I clean after 5 to 10 rounds.

When I first started doing gun work I started working on friends rifles trying to make them shoot better than they did when new. Without exception the ones that once shot good for hunting and had gone bad, simply needed a good bore and chamber cleaning Stock contact was another issue but it was solvable.

Some of these rifles took several days of soaking and cleaning before they came clean.

There are many different opinions and you will hear them, so I will join
Joseph and pop some corn and sit back and watch.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Orange Dust]

I think there really is no definitive answer. Different jackets, bullet constructions, moly, hbn, other coatings, type of powder, condition of the bore.... each foul differently.

 

[Remmy700]

Clean is clean, fouled is fouled. Some like clean some like fouled and others don't bother with cleaning at all or until accuracy falls off.

In my opinion, waiting until accuracy drops off is a waste in components and possibly wounded game.

When I clean, I always go back to bright metal. the frequency depends on the use. for my hunting rifles I clean after 5 to 10 rounds.

When I first started doing gun work I started working on friends rifles trying to make them shoot better than they did when new. Without exception the ones that once shot good for hunting and had gone bad, simply needed a good bore and chamber cleaning Stock contact was another issue but it was solvable.

Some of these rifles took several days of soaking and cleaning before they came clean.

There are many different opinions and you will hear them, so I will join
Joseph and pop some corn and sit back and watch.

J E CUSTOM

Should have been more clear in initial post. For this question I am mainly referring to LR target rigs, not hunting rifles. And I totally agree that shooting till groups open up would be very bad idea on a hunting rig.

 

[Remmy700]

This is a great example. As I mentioned I usually full bore clean at 100 rounds. This rifle is at 230 since last cleaning and look at groups still. Why clean it lol

 

[Rick Richard]

I clean for carbon about every 50 or so rounds and copper around every 100 rounds.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

This is a great example. As I mentioned I usually full bore clean at 100 rounds. This rifle is at 230 since last cleaning and look at groups still. Why clean it lol
View attachment 144327

Your targets speak for themselves; but why doesn't your routine cause a rock hard carbon ring??

FWIW - I'm in the "clean too much" group. I'll typically shoot 30-40 rounds in a session with any particular rifle but always clean the bore thoroughly before the next session. It may not be necessary but that's what I've been doing for years.

 

[Remmy700]

I mean that is just a creedmoor so I guess just because such small amount of powder. I do know that after about 60 rounds in my 338 lapua I start to get very good carbon ring. I bore scope all of them to keep an eye on it. I dunno brother it's some Ripleys believe it or not stuff lol.

 

[aushunter1]

This is a great example. As I mentioned I usually full bore clean at 100 rounds. This rifle is at 230 since last cleaning and look at groups still. Why clean it lol
View attachment 144327

You sure you just didn't reverse that target on the right then shoot it
Pretty much a re a carbon copy in reverse!

I am a clean the rifle after every use person, doesn't matter the use.

To me as JE pointed out, they are so much harder to clean when you allow a build up of both carbon OR copper.

Apart from that my other reason for cleaning the rifle after each firing is that summers here where I live are quite humid, I would rather not have anything in the bore that could attract moisture & promote rust & I also leave a light film or gun oil in the bore which I mop before use.