7mm-08 barrel fouling and accuracy

[geraldgee]

Good morning.

Not sure this is the right place to post these questions but here goes: I have a M700 in 7/08 factory barrel. The action was trued and the barrel was set back .025. The problem is with copper fouling. I've been working on load development but have had spotty results and I am starting to believe that the group size is dependent on barrel fouling. If I use a foam cleaner that removes all the copper fouling, nothing I put down range will group better than 1". If I let the lands build up with copper, the gun will shoot 1/2" groups or better. I've been reading this forum long enough to know that some will say..."don't use the foam cleaner." And they are probably right but I would like to know how/why this is happening. The barrel fouls more than anything I've ever owned. I am shooting Nosler 140 Bal.Tips with 42 gr of Varget.

My questions: Can fouling actually improve accuracy? Can I expect the level of fouling to decrease as the # of rounds down the barrel increases? (I'm just at 100 rounds) Is there anything I can do to rectify this problem? And, should I stop using the foam cleaner? Its the best stuff since sliced bread!

Thank you.

 

[broncman]

I have a model 7 that fouls like no other. You can see the drill marks in the bore! Best group I could get is 1.25" and that is after tubbs bore lapping bullets.

Remington wanted it back after the saw the pics of the bore.

Then I shot it at 350 yards... 8) 3" groups!

I kept it and have shot several deer with it. Really is my go to deer gun.

It does shoot best with dirty bore. I also use the foam. Love it. Then a patch of Kroil, let set overnight to see if it pulls anything else out.

 

[fredhorace77]

That barrel looks plumb pitiful...lol but if its working go with it.

 

[XTR]

hmm.... I've got a just completed 7-08 with a Rock Creek button rifled barrel. A few weeks ago I started to try to do some load work and put 11 rounds through it and realized that for real load work I wanted to mount one of my target scopes. Took it home and cleaned it. I got a lot of blue patches out, which is very different for me, my 308s never foul at all. I don't use foam. I use Hoppes #9 for general cleaning, then I patch with an ammonia based cleaner till the blue goes away, then dry patch it then run a Brake Free patch, then another dry patch.

I too am shooting the 140 Accubond. I'm just starting to work it up but I'm shooting them over a lot of 4350 getting 2700+

I'll let you know how it goes after the next trip to the range.

 

[necchi]

I've found each of my guns to have thier own temperment when it comes to fouling,,
These are NOT BR gun's,,
My 308 will shoot clean or fouled.
My 7-08 likes 2 foulers,,
My 223 wants 8-10 foulers before it dials in,

Non of this concerns me much, it's just the nature of the beast.

 

[gotcha]

I've read other posts on this subject. Some respondents pointed out that various mfg's use different types of jacket material. Some more likely to foul bbl's than others. Is anyone knowedgeable on this subject? Just looking to help geraldgee if possible. Thanks guys