Cleaning Chamber of Bolt Action

[lazyMlazyK]

How often do you all clean the chamber of a bolt action rifle? Growing up, I was taught very little about how to clean and maintain a rifle, so I'm still learning as I go. Is there a reason to perform a routine maintenance cleaning of the chamber, even if fire brass looks and chambers fine?

 

[butchlambert]

I do it as a habit after a range session.

 

[Bill Norris]

Absolutely, clean the chamber and make sure it is DRY. ANY residue in the chamber may cause higher pressures and mal-forming of the brass.

 

[D-4297]

I probably spend more time on my chamber / Neck area than do most . Paying particular attention to the neck area , where the dreaded "Carbon Ring" can find a home . I use a .338 Blue Brush and C4 , in a low speed drill to clean the neck area . Then wrap a patch around the brush and spin it slowly . Repeat till patch comes out clean . Usually only takes two or three cycles . And never a carbon ring . TR shooters shoot long strings , and it can become a issue with us .

 

[jepp2]

How often do you all clean the chamber of a bolt action rifle?

Every time I clean the bore. I go a max of 50 rounds between cleaning but often clean more often.

Is there a reason to perform a routine maintenance cleaning of the chamber, even if fire brass looks and chambers fine?

What symptoms are you looking for to tell you that it does need cleaning? The act of firing leaves firing residue in the chamber and down the bore. The less there is to remove, the easier it cleans. I also clean the receiver locking lugs and the bolt lugs about every 50 rounds (more often if it is dusty when I have my rifle out). It is much easier to prevent you locking lugs from galling than dealing with it after it happens. So I want them clean and lubed, no abrasives present and no cases with case head to datum length that I have to use force to close the bolt on a sized round.

 

[WayneShaw]

I clean my gun after each target, once the barrel is clean the last thing I do is swab the chamber with clean paper towel and a squirt of carb or brake clean.

 

[One Eye Pete]

As WayneShaw said above I use a piece of paper towel.
After I clean the bore I take a short non rotating action cleaning rod available from Brownells and attach an old used barrel brush. I wrap a piece of paper towel around the old brush till it is about the size of the chamber and then I swab away.
Gets out a lot of dirt and is a lot cheaper than using a chamber mop.

 

[tobnpr]

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[Bill K]

I clean the chamber after I clean the bore, all the time. One mop with some #9, then a clean dry mop to wipe it out/dry.