barrel cleaning ?

[rebs]

In a 223 rifle how often to you guys clean your barrel down to bare steel ?

 

[DShortt]

I remove carbon after every outing. Copper when the accumulation is readily apparent. Not the same answer for every barrel.
If you aren't using a borescope then you really have no idea what is inside your barrel so some more information from yourself would make the question easier to answer.

First question : Are you using a borescope or trying to 'read' patch conditions?

 

[SKWERLZ]

If it’s not a blaster every 100 rounds or so.

 

[jelenko]

I clean after every range session and check with a borescope after initial cleaning [solvent, bronze brush].

For my needs [1/2 MOA to 3/4 MOA] I keep the the lands clean and the grooves so there is at least 1/3 of the groove clean. When it gets more than that, I clean with an abrasive on a reversible nylon brush [thank you Boyd!]. That usually get's it to or almost to bare metal.

As mentioned, being able to see what it really looks like is key.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Let the rifle tell you what it wants. Is accuracy acceptable after 100, 200, 500 rounds without cleaning? Do you need to shoot a bunch of 'foulers' before it is accurate after cleaning?

 

[rebs]

I remove carbon after every outing. Copper when the accumulation is readily apparent. Not the same answer for every barrel.
If you aren't using a borescope then you really have no idea what is inside your barrel so some more information from yourself would make the question easier to answer.

First question : Are you using a borescope or trying to 'read' patch conditions?

I use a borescope

 

[DShortt]

OK. So if you inspect it after every outing you know the accumulation rate of fouling and copper. Personally I remove all the carbon fouling after every outing and the copper fouling depends on the barrel. If it builds up quickly I clean it every 2nd or 3rd outing. If it builds slowly then I clean it when it bothers me but before accuracy declines.

My personal experience with. 223s has been that they are prone to build copper in last 1/3rd of the barrel significantly faster than many other cartridges. So every other outing to every 3rd outing is the norm for me depending on round count.

 

[swd]

Asap.It’s easier to get the carbon out before it hardens up.

 

[Redd]

In a 223 rifle how often to you guys clean your barrel down to bare steel ?

After every match!

 

[urbanrifleman]

OK. So if you inspect it after every outing you know the accumulation rate of fouling and copper. Personally I remove all the carbon fouling after every outing and the copper fouling depends on the barrel. If it builds up quickly I clean it every 2nd or 3rd outing. If it builds slowly then I clean it when it bothers me but before accuracy declines.

My personal experience with. 223s has been that they are prone to build copper in last 1/3rd of the barrel significantly faster than many other cartridges. So every other outing to every 3rd outing is the norm for me depending on round count.

Copper in the last part of the barrel is actually coming from the throat. The firecracking in the throat tears the jacket and the copper is atomized and then lays down in the later part of the barrel. The cure is to shoot periodic abrasive bullets to smooth the fire cracking. Fire cracking is like teeth on a file. It periodically needs to be smoothed and then performance will return.

 

[Wadsworth]

After every session unless its just a few rounds, (fouling rounds) and then I still patch for carbon. Its easiest for me to grab a rifle from the safe and already know where I'm starting on my round count through the bore, especially if all are cleaned the same. Just my habit.

 

[DShortt]

Copper in the last part of the barrel is actually coming from the throat. The firecracking in the throat tears the jacket and the copper is atomized and then lays down in the later part of the barrel. The cure is to shoot periodic abrasive bullets to smooth the fire cracking. Fire cracking is like teeth on a file. It periodically needs to be smoothed and then performance will return.

I've been told this more than once but it happens to me even with new barrels and no visible roughness in the throat from the reamer.
I just gave up worrying about it and just use copper remover more often. Not a big deal and easily managed.

 

[LVLAaron]

My two cents...

You can have a load that works in a squeaky clean barrel. Or you can have a load that works in a blue collar working barrel.

Load and clean for your use case.

 

[rebs]

Copper in the last part of the barrel is actually coming from the throat. The firecracking in the throat tears the jacket and the copper is atomized and then lays down in the later part of the barrel. The cure is to shoot periodic abrasive bullets to smooth the fire cracking. Fire cracking is like teeth on a file. It periodically needs to be smoothed and then performance will return.

where do I get abrasive bullets ?

 

[urbanrifleman]

where do I get abrasive bullets ?

Davidtubb.Com

TMS bullets.

 

[Clancy]

Based on my preferences and experiences, the only way to clean is bare metal clean.

I clean often to make this easy. Every 25-50 rounds in a 22 or 6mm.

I’ve let some sluggish 6.5s go 100 and they were only marginally harder to clean.

But, if you do clean it, don’t waste your time by half assing it. Clean it.

Wipeout with Accelerator, Bronze brushes from Pro Shot and if needed JB or Iosso are the best items I have used that are still on the market.

 

[jackieschmidt]

We in Short Range Benchrest clean after every group.

 

[SKWERLZ]

Based on my preferences and experiences, the only way to clean is bare metal clean.

I clean often to make this easy. Every 25-50 rounds in a 22 or 6mm.

I’ve let some sluggish 6.5s go 100 and they were only marginally harder to clean.

But, if you do clean it, don’t waste your time by half assing it. Clean it.

Wipeout with Accelerator, Bronze brushes from Pro Shot and if needed JB or Iosso are the best items I have used that are still on the market.

I used to clean a lot less, had a few good barrels go south prematurely possibly because of carbon buildup that eventually was very difficult to remove.
Found iosso can help that but decided more frequently cleaning is a better solution and less work or risk.

 

[Steel Mover]

A clean barrel shoots best. You should clean your barrel throughly after ever outing. Your life may depend on it one day.

 

[AlNyhus]

In my 30BR stuff (Krieger barrels and uncoated bullets), I clean after each yardage. Typically, that's about 60 rounds at 100 yds. and 75- 85 at 200 yds. Around 150 rounds, I get after the carbon 'ring' at the end of the neck area in the chamber.

Even in my huntin' stuff, I clean just enough to maintain accuracy.

Good shootin' -Al