When to clean

[Cody Richardson]

So when I built this rifle(6br fclass)I told myself I was going to forgo my previous cleaning procedure, which was cleaning about every 150 rounds. I said I was going to wait until I noticed a change in my vertical spread. Needless to say, I'm 700 rounds down the barrel without cleaning and just shot my highest X count clean at 600. Is this some fluke or do some guns really just like a heavily fouled barrel.

 

[Scott Harris]

It's definitely not a fluke. It's just information that many people find hard to believe. In my tests, I did not notice any change in accuracy until 700+ rounds with a few different cartridges. So, I clean every 350-400. This is certainly a cartridge-specific discussion, but less is more in my book.

 

[eric32]

I have a question then.

how do you go about preventing the bore from rusting and pitting during this time.

I use moly bullet and i dont know how to go about it.

 

[matty]

Thats interesting, I shoot a 6 dasher and have shot some of my best groups after 40-50 rounds but have never shot it more than 100 without cleaning. ( Moly bullets )
I am going to pay attention to this post because cleaning has always been a unknown to me. My hunting guns get cleaned at the end of the season with less than 20 rounds down the tube.
My target/benchrest rifles get cleaned after every match or no more than 100. I have tried cleaning more , like after every relay like I see others do but could see no differance.
Never thought about seeing how long I could go before the groups got big, guess I always thought that would be hard on the barrel but have nothing to back that up with.
Anxious to see what others say.
Great question Cody

 

[ShootDots]

In all my competition rifles, for a match, I load 100 rounds. I always shoot "about" 25 fouling rounds PRIOR to a match, depending on how many sighters in a given match. But at the end of a complete match (60 rounds + sighters) I have fired a total of 100 rounds. After the match, I clean it down "to the bone".. There is not a hint of carbon or copper after cleaning. Then a light oil patch and it's good to go for another day.. I have shot some of my best scores on match 3.. I have, conversely, shot my best scores consistently during match 1..

 

[Warren Dean]

It's definitely not a fluke. It's just information that many people find hard to believe. In my tests, I did not notice any change in accuracy until 700+ rounds with a few different cartridges. So, I clean every 350-400. This is certainly a cartridge-specific discussion, but less is more in my book.

I have found the same thing over the years. Every cartridge I shoot exhibits the same characteristics.

 

[r bose]

And then I've heard not cleaning regularly will speed up barrel wear? I prefer a clean barrel. I'm Not going more than 125-150 rounds before cleaning.

 

[6MMsteve]

is there a diff on cut or button barrels???

 

[Warren Dean]

is there a diff on cut or button barrels???

Not that I have seen...Kreiger, Benchmark and Lilja cut barrels and Savage factory button barrels...all the same as far as cleaning goes.

If it makes you feel better, clean away. But its not really necessary until precision drops off.

 

[3081FTR]

For those that are not cleaning for hundreds of rounds - are you using a coating like Molly or HBN?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Its all in the precision you require. Some rifles can win in their game never being cleaned

 

[dmoran]

I agree with Dusty.... "Its all in the precision you require."

Thats interesting, I shoot a 6 dasher and have shot some of my best groups after 40-50 rounds but have never shot it more than 100 without cleaning. ( Moly bullets )
I am going to pay attention to this post because cleaning has always been a unknown to me.....
Great question Cody

Matty -
The 6Dasher is known to carbon. Beware of erratic pressure (from a carbon ring) before letting it go to long.
Donovan

 

[czim]

I think it also depends on how often you shoot the rifle. If it is one you shoot almost every weekend going longer intervals between cleanings is okay, but if you shoot it only during hunting season it should be cleaned and oiled before being stored away for the next season.

 

[6MMsteve]

I don't have a borescope so does the barrel copper up or fowl on a certain side of the lands since the bullet is spinning a certain way, like you may see copper on the right side of the lands looking in from the muzzle silly question but just wondering

 

[dkhunt14]

Usually they copper in spots or whole length of barrel. It isn't just on one side of a land but sometimes it is the whole land or groove. Seen it both ways. Matt

 

[noload]

I brush neck area only after 100rds, and never try to get the rest of the bore too clean. I can not recall any of my barrels liking it cleaner than 40 rds fouled. I also shoot it too othen to let corrosion settle in. I will clean good and oil if it will be stored for an undetermined amount of time.

 

[Warren Dean]

I think it also depends on how often you shoot the rifle. If it is one you shoot almost every weekend going longer intervals between cleanings is okay, but if you shoot it only during hunting season it should be cleaned and oiled before being stored away for the next season.

Why? Just curious....

 

[Shynloco]

In all my competition rifles, for a match, I load 100 rounds. I always shoot "about" 25 fouling rounds PRIOR to a match, depending on how many sighters in a given match. But at the end of a complete match (60 rounds + sighters) I have fired a total of 100 rounds. After the match, I clean it down "to the bone".. There is not a hint of carbon or copper after cleaning. Then a light oil patch and it's good to go for another day.. I have shot some of my best scores on match 3.. I have, conversely, shot my best scores consistently during match 1..

+1. That has worked for me and has for years. Ain't no way I'd ever let my Match barrels go more than 100 - 120 without a good cleaning. But each to his own as I do not shoot moly bullets.

Alex

 

[JimPag]

Not that I have seen...Kreiger, Benchmark and Lilja cut barrels and Savage factory button barrels...all the same as far as cleaning goes.

If it makes you feel better, clean away. But its not really necessary until precision drops off.

Lilja barrels are button rifled not cut.

 

[bsumoba]

I clean after every day, assuming I have unlimited sighters the next day for the first relay. If it is only a 2 sighter on the first relay for the next day, I usually do not clean and will clean after the end of the 2-day match. I do not have enough concrete documented data telling me if this is helping me or not.

I found that my 6 dasher barrel took about 8-12 rounds from a clean to really stabilize. My 284 Shehane took about the same amount of rounds.

What I like to do is shoot 8-10 shots the day before to get a zero and my velocities. Then, it is not uncommon for me to go 2-4 sighters and go for record.