Barrel Cleaning help/advice

[340Wby-4-everything]

Was recently told about using JB non-embedding bore cleaning compound and Parker hale jags for somewhat easier and thorough cleaning. Course after I purchased all the equipment, I then am told that using those jags and JB is or can be hard on barrel threading and barrel life and is more typically used by BR shooters. Just wanted to check with you fine folks to find out if you would recommend using this approach to cleaning a hunting rifle or not. I have tried numerous approaches, but always open to learning new tricks. Your best approach(es) for a thorough cleaning and/or copper fouling for a hunting rig that I'd prefer to never replace and not do any damage to? All wisdom and advice gratefully and thankfully accepted.

 

[J E Custom]

I would recommend using a good (Not strong) bore solvent in lieu of any abrasives to clean a barrel
bore. read the labels on the solvent and see how long they recommend leaving it in the bore. This will tell you how strong it is and whether it will damage the bore if left in to long. there are many solvents to chose from. I normally keep 3 or 4 different kinds so I can chose which one to use depending on how badly fouled the bore is and how long I plan on leaving it in the bore.

The fastest i use is Sweets, but I never leave it in for more than 3 or 4 min. Next, I like the Butches bore shine for general cleaning and break in. It can stay In 8 to 10 min. If I am planing on leaving the solvent in over night, I use Boretech eliminator. And for long term storage or removing other solvent residue, I use Hoppes, or just oil the bore.

The use of abrasive cleaners will/can shorten barrel life, so I personally don't recommend their use.

J E CUSTOM

 

[340Wby-4-everything]

I would recommend using a good (Not strong) bore solvent in lieu of any abrasives to clean a barrel
bore. read the labels on the solvent and see how long they recommend leaving it in the bore. This will tell you how strong it is and whether it will damage the bore if left in to long. there are many solvents to chose from. I normally keep 3 or 4 different kinds so I can chose which one to use depending on how badly fouled the bore is and how long I plan on leaving it in the bore.

The fastest i use is Sweets, but I never leave it in for more than 3 or 4 min. Next, I like the Butches bore shine for general cleaning and break in. It can stay In 8 to 10 min. If I am planing on leaving the solvent in over night, I use Boretech eliminator. And for long term storage or removing other solvent residue, I use Hoppes, or just oil the bore.

The use of abrasive cleaners will/can shorten barrel life, so I personally don't recommend their use.

J E CUSTOM

Many Thanks. Excellent info. Guess I have some JB compound I don't really need . I have sweets and butches, probably should have just stuck with them instead of looking for a fast way out or the next best thing.

 

[dok7mm]

JB and other abrasive pastes are normally used for cleaning hard baked carbon deposits, carbon rings in throat and smoothing fire cracking. For these JB has its place, but not for everyday cleaning regime.

 

[aushunter1]

I clean my rifles with nylon brushes 99% of the time & clean them after each use.
That way KG12 bore cleaner which is ammonia free.

If you clean then every use you wont get the copper build up & have to use a brass brush.

Well that's my opinion anyway.

 

[YZ-80]

Well that's my opinion anyway.

Well, you are certainly entitled to that! This is a topic of many opinions, that is for sure! It may even rival a motor oil thread and I'm fresh out of popcorn!

 

[340Wby-4-everything]

Well, you are certainly entitled to that! This is a topic of many opinions, that is for sure! It may even rival a motor oil thread and I'm fresh out of popcorn!

And do you have any advice for a novice LRH? Not a novice hunter by any means mind you , just novice at the long range part.

 

[DJ Fergus]

This is a very controversial subject. I use boretech products. I've tried many different kinds and favor them. If I find myself having to constantly clean a barrel all of the time to maintain accuracy( and I have done that), that barrel or rifle will go down the road. Life's to short to spend all day cleaning a rifle barrel.

 

[ShtrRdy]

If you regularly clean your barrels and keep up with the build up you wont need the JB Bore Paste. If you buy a used rifle that was never cleaned then the JB will come in handy.

 

[YZ-80]

And do you have any advice for a novice LRH? Not a novice hunter by any means mind you , just novice at the long range part.

Well, OK. I clean after every range session. I generally do not clean during the hunting season, other than to oil down the exposed steel if it gets moisture on it. I use Hoppes 9 all the time and alternate with a combination of the foaming bore cleaner (and Hoppes) pictured below to remove the Copper fouling. I like seeing the blue foam come out after I let the Gunslick foam sit in there for 30-45 minutes. I haven't been able to find the Gunslick lately so I'll have to look online. Also, I always use nylon brushes and I always use a boreguide.

 

[ihuntak]

Any particular bore guide is preferred over another? I have never used one but also haven't used the foaming cleaners either.

 

[340Wby-4-everything]

I have plastic and aluminum, never use the aluminum ones anymore as I don't want metal on metal in my chamber. My plastic ones are MTM I think. If you find aluminum with a plastic tip, that might be ok too. Several brands out there and I have seen universal ones that were aluminum with plastic or polymer tip.

 

[7stw]

Of recent, I've been blessed with afew barrels, that dont copper foul as much, now that they are broken in.
I too , am a boretec fan, it works, it dosent stink to high heaven, and a little dab will do ya. Also, I've been using Seafoam, for removing carbon, and I can tell ya, it really pulls out the carbon ring.
And yeah, bore cleaning product discussions are akin to Chevy, Ford, Mobil 1, Castol, etc.
Could someone pass the wings!

 

[340Wby-4-everything]

Of recent, I've been blessed with afew barrels, that dont copper foul as much, now that they are broken in.
I too , am a boretec fan, it works, it dosent stink to high heaven, and a little dab will do ya. Also, I've been using Seafoam, for removing carbon, and I can tell ya, it really pulls out the carbon ring.
And yeah, bore cleaning product discussions are akin to Chevy, Ford, Mobil 1, Castol, etc.
Could someone pass the wings!

Thanks. Figured I'd get some info and then try a few combinations and maybe my own mix of several. I'm still waiting on a SuperDuty F350 with a Cummins HO and an allison 8-10 speed Auto tranny.