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To clean or not to clean?
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<blockquote data-quote="J E Custom" data-source="post: 1393808" data-attributes="member: 2736"><p>I just wanted to add my experience with two of the comments that frequently come up . This is not to start a heated debate just more opinions and beliefs.</p><p></p><p>First= When shooting matches, I found the same thing as everyone else did that accuracy fell off after 4 to 10 shots, depending on the barrel.</p><p>Shooting 100 shot matches with no time to clean it, created a problem by the time we got to 600 yards. I always started with a clean barrel and also did my accuracy load development with a clean barrel. I couldn't figure out what to do to get better accuracy, especially at 600 yards where it could mean the difference in winning or loosing.</p><p></p><p>Once the barrel was fouled it shot fairly consistent, but just not as good as when clean. so I decided to try something different and it worked. I let the barrel get fouled with close to 50 rounds and then began working up new accuracy loads in this condition. with a few changes to the load I was able to improve the accuracy noticeably. What I was doing was working up an accuracy load with the barrel in one condition and shooting in another condition.</p><p></p><p>I never quite got the accuracy that I did with my "clean barrel load" but my scores improved greatly and I became very competitive. Not wanting to stop trying to improve, I tried using my clean load in the beginning of the match and switching to the fouled barrel load for the other half of the match. Once again my scores went higher. This could have all been avoided if I had time to clean between relays but prep times did not allow for this luxury.</p><p></p><p>When I hear that a rifle gets better when it gets fouled, I believe that load testing was done with a fouled barrel and that the barrel had to reach the same state of fouling before the load started to work its best.</p><p>I clean often, and do my load development with a clean barrel for consistent results (I clean between every load tested so each load has the same, or near the same barrel condition for a proper evaluation.</p><p></p><p>For my hunting rifles, I clean after each load test because this is the normal condition of the barrel when hunting and I want first shot accuracy/consistency. SO, my recommendation is if you want to shoot a fouled barrel, Work up your loads with a fouled barrel, If you clean often work up your loads with a clean barrel. My experience has been that best accuracy was with a clean barrel or one that has had one fouling shot down the tube . then at some point accuracy starts to degrade (Normally 4 or 5 shots depending on the barrel, This is also the reason it seams hard to shoot that fifth shot in the same hole as the first 3 or 4). Then the barrel settles in to slightly larger groups once it is fouled.</p><p></p><p>The other point that you should wait to clean until accuracy falls off before cleaning is something that I don't want to happen to me. I want/need my rifles to shoot their best ALL THE TIME because I need all the help I can get, so I don't make a poor shot. Once I find the point that accuracy is effected, I avoid letting my rifles reach that point before something happens.</p><p></p><p>Everyone should shoot and clean the way that works best for them or best suits there needs and philosophies. But as everyone has stated, at some point fouling effects all firearms. I chose to control it rather than to live with it or adjust to it.</p><p></p><p>Just my opinion for what it's worth.</p><p></p><p>J E CUSTOM</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="J E Custom, post: 1393808, member: 2736"] I just wanted to add my experience with two of the comments that frequently come up . This is not to start a heated debate just more opinions and beliefs. First= When shooting matches, I found the same thing as everyone else did that accuracy fell off after 4 to 10 shots, depending on the barrel. Shooting 100 shot matches with no time to clean it, created a problem by the time we got to 600 yards. I always started with a clean barrel and also did my accuracy load development with a clean barrel. I couldn't figure out what to do to get better accuracy, especially at 600 yards where it could mean the difference in winning or loosing. Once the barrel was fouled it shot fairly consistent, but just not as good as when clean. so I decided to try something different and it worked. I let the barrel get fouled with close to 50 rounds and then began working up new accuracy loads in this condition. with a few changes to the load I was able to improve the accuracy noticeably. What I was doing was working up an accuracy load with the barrel in one condition and shooting in another condition. I never quite got the accuracy that I did with my "clean barrel load" but my scores improved greatly and I became very competitive. Not wanting to stop trying to improve, I tried using my clean load in the beginning of the match and switching to the fouled barrel load for the other half of the match. Once again my scores went higher. This could have all been avoided if I had time to clean between relays but prep times did not allow for this luxury. When I hear that a rifle gets better when it gets fouled, I believe that load testing was done with a fouled barrel and that the barrel had to reach the same state of fouling before the load started to work its best. I clean often, and do my load development with a clean barrel for consistent results (I clean between every load tested so each load has the same, or near the same barrel condition for a proper evaluation. For my hunting rifles, I clean after each load test because this is the normal condition of the barrel when hunting and I want first shot accuracy/consistency. SO, my recommendation is if you want to shoot a fouled barrel, Work up your loads with a fouled barrel, If you clean often work up your loads with a clean barrel. My experience has been that best accuracy was with a clean barrel or one that has had one fouling shot down the tube . then at some point accuracy starts to degrade (Normally 4 or 5 shots depending on the barrel, This is also the reason it seams hard to shoot that fifth shot in the same hole as the first 3 or 4). Then the barrel settles in to slightly larger groups once it is fouled. The other point that you should wait to clean until accuracy falls off before cleaning is something that I don't want to happen to me. I want/need my rifles to shoot their best ALL THE TIME because I need all the help I can get, so I don't make a poor shot. Once I find the point that accuracy is effected, I avoid letting my rifles reach that point before something happens. Everyone should shoot and clean the way that works best for them or best suits there needs and philosophies. But as everyone has stated, at some point fouling effects all firearms. I chose to control it rather than to live with it or adjust to it. Just my opinion for what it's worth. J E CUSTOM [/QUOTE]
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