Range/cleaning/accuracy questions?

Colorado Luckydog

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Jun 15, 2011
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How many rounds can I shoot through my 300 WSM's at the range before I can expect my groups to start getting bigger because my gun is dirty?

Do you guys bring cleaning kits to the range? If so how many rounds do you shoot before cleaning your barrel?

Thanks for any input.

Bryan
 
I'm retired so I try to go in the middle of the week. There is always plenty of room
I let one sit with solvent in it while I shoot another. As to how many shots it might be 2 or 3 shots and cleaned or it might be 10 or 12 depending on where the barrel is.
I have a little kit I take with cleaning stuff and a few maintenance tools?
 
So after I fired about 50 shots today between 2 different 300 WSM's, loss of accuracy could have been happening due to the gun being dirty?

Just so you guys know, I was shooting a new Kimber Mountain Ascent that has less than 50 rounds through it. Second gun is a Browning BAR that is a few years old but only proably 150 rounds through it.
 
I generally clean my rifle barrel at around 100 rounds. The accuracy is still fine. I'm just trying to stay ahead of any carbon build up.

Some guys go hundreds of rounds before cleaning.
 
So after I fired about 50 shots today between 2 different 300 WSM's, loss of accuracy could have been happening due to the gun being dirty?

Just so you guys know, I was shooting a new Kimber Mountain Ascent that has less than 50 rounds through it. Second gun is a Browning BAR that is a few years old but only proably 150 rounds through it.

Could be, but maybe likely accuracy started to slip because of shooter getting tired. That is a lot of rounds being fired and attempting to maintain %100 focused. I know that would happen to me shooting that much in a single session.
 
After thinking about it, I bet it was me because it was happening on both rifles. It could also be from switching from 180 grains to 190 grains. I was trying several different ammo's. I'm sure glad I started this thread though. Reading that write up was well worth it.
 
I don't know if there is a set number it really depends on your barrel some fowl more quickly than others what powder and bullets your using will make a difference to factory rifles I would probably do about every 50 or so unless you see accuracy fall off before that but if you have a good barrel you may be ok with much more just my 2 cents
 
I used to be of the opinion that the dirtier it was the better. Growing up I was taught to (get ready to cringe) hook a wad of toilet paper on the end of a straightened clothes hanger and pull it through my shotgun after dove season. That was the extent of my gun cleaning till I joined the Marines. Then I spent hours a day cleaning a rifle I hadnt even got to fire at boot camp. So I've had to find a happy medium somewhere between. I'm honestly still searching, but without a borescope to really see what's going on any of us are really just guessing anyway (those of us without borescopes I mean). Sometimes I go 20 rounds, sometimes 120. I have a couple of brand new rifles in the closet I havent fired yet, which I plan to try the shoot then clean then shoot then clean break in method. And start a log with those rifles to be able to determine exactly what you are asking. I think that's the key to really knowing.
 
I don't know if I'll get flamed for this or not, but here goes:

At the range............I have been known..........to use a bore snake (DANT-DANT-DAAAAAAAHNNN)!!!!

I'll pull it through once or twice after every other 5 shot group. I also will occasionally bring my Dewey rods and bore guide, solvent's etc., along if I am shooting one of my higher end rifles or breaking a new barrel in. Don't know if it's right or wrong just know it works for me.
 
I have a 6CM I built about 2 months ago.
Through scope sight in, full load development (ladder, charge weight, seating depth, LR confirmation), and a couple of other range trips, a few LR trips, and a couple hunting trips, I still have not cleaned it....at all. About 120 rounds down the pipe so far.

Still shooting in the .2s, and sure seems to be shooting well at 1500 too, with this 1st round hit.



And 1020 yards was pretty good too.


5 shots at 851

To be honest, I don't clean a rifle until it tells me it needs it. Powder, bullet, conditions all make a difference. From 50 to 300+ is how long I have gone.
 
For those who dont clean, go to several range trips or on several hunts do you at least oil in between?

I have adapted the "minimal clean" method but dont have any before and after results.
 
I clean after a week long hunt just because of dirt, rain, etc.
Other than that, I shoot often enough that I don't do anything between range trips until my groups start to open up.
 
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