A Perspective - "Copper Fouling Lie"

[K22]

Here's a perspective, too. I've been on here for a long time now. This forum used to be called 6BR Forums. Then it became Accurate Shooter forums. It is becoming more of, "It only matters to accuracy if you shoot BR Forums".
Just the perspective of an old guy that's been here, almost from the beginning. Not right, not wrong, just different, with a lot more members and "perspectives".

Being an avid varmint hunter, accurate shooting for me is my ability to hit a 1 1/2" dot 100 yards, a 3" dot at 200 yards and a 3 x 5 card at 300 yards all off a shooting cross stick under field conditions with the heat and sun baking me, mirage, wind, bugs buzzing around my head and biting me.

Still, this forum has helped me a lot. However, I add and subtract from the posts, take what is useful to me and store the other stuff. I can't even see 1,000 yards let alone hit anything with a rifle. As for benchrest, bless those souls and their patience and adherence to detail - it would try me mad.

 

[K22]

Basil Hayden isn’t a bad start or finish.

I'm a Maker's Mark guy myself.

 

[jimmymac]

I'm a Maker's Mark guy myself.

Try the Basil Hayden. You won’t go back. My rocks glass never coppers up… just to stay on topic.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Being an avid varmint hunter, accurate shooting for me is my ability to hit a 1 1/2" dot 100 yards, a 3" dot at 200 yards and a 3 x 5 card at 300 yards all off a shooting cross stick under field conditions with the heat and sun baking me, mirage, wind, bugs buzzing around my head and biting me.

Still, this forum has helped me a lot. However, I add and subtract from the posts, take what is useful to me and store the other stuff. I can't even see 1,000 yards let alone hit anything with a rifle. As for benchrest, bless those souls and their patience and adherence to detail - it would try me mad.

Ha, it drives many of us mad also!

 

[jelenko]

I don't give a guy as much credit when he speaks in absolutes.

This^

 

[Brians356]

He's certainly no idiDon't forget, he's from Massachusetts.

He lives in NH and I'm pretty sure he said in another video he was a LEO in Maine.

I've watched many of his revolver videos and learned a lot. This one simply made me shrug and I moved on. I had no visceral reaction; others are bent on humiliating him. I think he does have a point in that many shooters obsess about mild copper fouling that is unlikely to affect their shooting adversely. Choosing to use the 'L' word was unfortunate, but I don't take that personally, and he doesn't have me questioning my own beliefs or habits. Perhaps I'm too laissez-faire in the autumn of my life. I try to choose my battles carefully anyway.
-

 

[ebb]

I cleaned a 25-06 Sako rifle that should have had copper fouling. The owner is a super carful guy and a brilliant metal worker that cleans his rifle often. I believe that if a shooter didn't spend his day shooting many, many shoots and cleaned after each range trip and used something that was just mildly effective against copper he might never see a copper problem. For the longest time I was relentless on cleaning every time a gun went to the range, and used Hoppes number 9 BR and never had a gun with copper problems. Maybe this guy is careful and has never shot a bunch at a sitting and has never let it get out of hand where he could see a problem. That still doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

 

[p-man]

Very well said K22

 

[K22]

I cleaned a 25-06 Sako rifle that should have had copper fouling. The owner is a super carful guy and a brilliant metal worker that cleans his rifle often. I believe that if a shooter didn't spend his day shooting many, many shoots and cleaned after each range trip and used something that was just mildly effective against copper he might never see a copper problem. For the longest time I was relentless on cleaning every time a gun went to the range, and used Hoppes number 9 BR and never had a gun with copper problems. Maybe this guy is careful and has never shot a bunch at a sitting and has never let it get out of hand where he could see a problem. That still doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

After watching all his videos, it appears that he does not run a high round count in sequential shots, i.e., he does not shoot in a sustained fire manner, almost all cold or cool barrel shots in short strings. This might explain why his cleaning method works for him, i.e., the use of Hoppe's 9 and a bronze brush.

Perhaps one has to gear their cleaning method to their style of shooting. Perhaps there is no absolute even for the advocates of using strong copper targeted solvents or abrasives. Perhaps you have to develop through testing and validation, a cleaning method that works for you.

In the final analysis, whatever cleaning method you used, I believe everyone wants one that will not harm the barrel and maintain consistent performance of the rifle, at least that's my thinking on this issue. I know I have tried various approaches and found one that works for me for my style of shooting.

 

[ebb]

Yes I believe you have a really good understanding of how v this works. I am t r Ying to also