Best cleaning method for top accuracy?

[Bill K]

Let's see now how many BEST ways to clean your bore ?? Mumm the numbers are rising.

 

[1911nut]

Why not just run a reamer down the barrel? Let’s say we are shooting .308, why not use a .310 reamer in a lathe? That’ll clean out all the copper fouling and carbon. Nice smooth bore finish!

I never tire of your sarcasm.. ...

 

[1611]

I never tire of your sarcasm.. ...

I’ll Be here all night folks

 

[rwj]

Let's see now how many BEST ways to clean your bore ?? Mumm the numbers are rising.

The number will always be increasing... but there will only be one for each shooter and it will always be changing!

 

[Rat Rifle]

I have a 6mmBR barrel with 2,200 rounds on it, that accuracy fell off. I have always used traditional cleaning methods. Never had any problem with the carbon ring because it always flaked off on a patch. But I got a bore scope and realized I had hard carbon in the first 8” of the barrel that My cleaning methods wasn’t getting. Nothing I did would touch it. So this weekend, I tried “Lou’s” method. I put a brush on a rod chucked in a drill, soaked in CLR and went at it. That hard carbon went away. Barrel looks beautiful.

Next time I shoot, I’ll find out if accuracy returns. If not, no harm, no foul. It will still be a fire forming barrel.

 

[chuckshooter]

I don't get it, you mean I am supposed to be cleaning my rifle's. Oh crap now you tell me

 

[D-4297]

This whole article has provided a lot of laughs , grins and giggles , on a day when they were much needed . Thanks guys .

 

[Forum Boss]

One tip that can save everyone considerable time and effort -- if you can start to clean your barrel AT THE RANGE, while the barrel is still warm, before the carbon sets up and hardens, you will benefit enormously.

I use 4-5 soaking wet patches, followed by Wipe-Out applications at the range. After the second Wipe-Out application, I plug the barrels at both ends and drive home.

Even without Wipe-Out, cleaning EARLY will save you lots of effort.

To demonstrate, take a patch and wipe off the neck of a fired case right after you shot it -- the carbon will come right off. If you wait a day or two, you will have to use a solvent and/or steel wool to get the carbon and powder residue off the necks. Prompt cleaning = less effort.

 

[6MMsteve]

Mr cleaner is knocking I can hear him he won't leave me alone
there's JB he's knocking tried a little bit then I tried a little more
he won't leave me alone no no no

 

[Dave M.]

Mr cleaner is knocking I can hear him he won't leave me alone
there's JB he's knocking tried a little bit then I tried a little more
he won't leave me alone no no no

Solid GnR drop

 

[6MMsteve]

Solid GnR drop

Velvet Revolver better maybe

 

[Karlandco]

When I got my first accurate rifle, I decided to step up my cleaning game and bought specific rods, jags, brushes and chemicals.

I went with the collection of KG cleaning chemicals and they seem to work very well.

During break in when I saw some roughness in the bore, I also used JB bore paste 2-3 times until it smoothed out.

Accuracy is great by my standards, pretty much 1/2 MOA with good box ammo. Cleaning is easy too.

By benchrest standards, the accuracy isn't so hot, I'm probably part of the problem and box ammo is not helping.

I want to step it up with hand loading, better ballistics and a reevaluation of my cleaning method. I always need to shoot better but that's a different topic.

I've heard a lot of people say they never let a brush touch their bore. They seem to be using foaming bore cleaners.

As a wildcard, I just saw for the first time Remington bore squeegees, a ribbed rubber piece you pull through a bore with a cable. It seems like a novel way to remove cleaning chemicals and maybe I could follow that with a volatile corrosion inhibitor plastic rod during storage. If I tried the squeegee I would use a muzzle guard to protect the crown. Let me know if this is a bad idea.

So what is the best method and gear for cleaning that will maximize barrel life and accuracy?

My barrel is 416 stainless, I might get it nitrided after it is broken in so nitride compatible methods are preferred.

The only 284 specific bore guide I can find off the shelf is a Possum Hollow or maybe a Sinclair that looks very similar. Possum Hollow supposedly makes a 284 bore plug but I can't find it in stock anywhere.

Thanks.

Well I'll take a plunge...Bore tech works great and I'm sure there are others but Bore Tech was suggested by Jack Neary. The other two products I've found work incredible are Kroil soaked patch with Iosso paste slathered on. I use a Parker Hale style jag by Dewey and roll the patch around it like a cigarette. This was recommended by Bartlein. I also concur about a borescope. Otherwise you have no idea what's going on in there. A smith once told me more damage is done to barrels cleaning than shooting. How that actually happens IDK but I don't like squeaking sounds or too much friction while cleaning. The Iosso is a mild abrasive but you would be surprised how fast it gets carbon out. Bench rest boys been using it for a while now.. My thought is the pressure inside the barrel makes it expand, this leaves slightly more surface area inside the bore and carbon is packed in there until the pressure lowers. Pure speculation on my part but a mild abrasive like JB bore paste or Iosso hasn't lessened my barrel life. If anything , I've noticed my rifles holding a load very well with the carbon gone. I always clean after every range visit. Copper is relatively easy to remove with most copper solvents but Bore Tech's seems pretty fast. Like the rest of us you try a bunch of stuff until you find something that provides the best balance of time spent and money to get the job done.

 

[Riesel]

Some Things Never Go Away

 

[Dave M.]

Velvet Revolver better maybe

I loved VR, but your quote was a play on Mr. Brownstone by GnR, correct?

 

[Shooter13]

Why not just run a reamer down the barrel? Let’s say we are shooting .308, why not use a .310 reamer in a lathe? That’ll clean out all the copper fouling and carbon. Nice smooth bore finish!

I think we should just shoot the match and replace the barrel! Just think how much this will save you in cleaning supplies AND you can send me all your old barrels, I'll even pay shipping. Now, have a great weekend shooting!

 

[6MMsteve]

I loved VR, but your quote was a play on Mr. Brownstone by GnR, correct?

actually, I thought VR was the original didn't even know, till I looked it up, thanks for the clarification

 

[Ricky Cain]

As long as your not cleaning in such a way as to damage the bore, I think a regular and repeatable routine is more important than the how. Lots of good products out there and I have my favs.

 

[rel7mm]

When I got my first accurate rifle, I decided to step up my cleaning game and bought specific rods, jags, brushes and chemicals.

I went with the collection of KG cleaning chemicals and they seem to work very well.

During break in when I saw some roughness in the bore, I also used JB bore paste 2-3 times until it smoothed out.

Accuracy is great by my standards, pretty much 1/2 MOA with good box ammo. Cleaning is easy too.

By benchrest standards, the accuracy isn't so hot, I'm probably part of the problem and box ammo is not helping.

I want to step it up with hand loading, better ballistics and a reevaluation of my cleaning method. I always need to shoot better but that's a different topic.

I've heard a lot of people say they never let a brush touch their bore. They seem to be using foaming bore cleaners.

As a wildcard, I just saw for the first time Remington bore squeegees, a ribbed rubber piece you pull through a bore with a cable. It seems like a novel way to remove cleaning chemicals and maybe I could follow that with a volatile corrosion inhibitor plastic rod during storage. If I tried the squeegee I would use a muzzle guard to protect the crown. Let me know if this is a bad idea.

So what is the best method and gear for cleaning that will maximize barrel life and accuracy?

My barrel is 416 stainless, I might get it nitrided after it is broken in so nitride compatible methods are preferred.

The only 284 specific bore guide I can find off the shelf is a Possum Hollow or maybe a Sinclair that looks very similar. Possum Hollow supposedly makes a 284 bore plug but I can't find it in stock anywhere.

Thanks.

I use about 1/2 a gallon of CLR and just pour it down the barrel and everywhere. Guns never seem to shoot good again, but they sure are clean!

 

[One Eye Pete]

If you want accuracy concentrate on load development and getting the gun in tune.
A clean bore is a nice to have but it doesn't count as much as a well tuned load. Let's face it after the first shot the barrel has carbon in it.
For what it's worth I use good stainless hand lapped barrels and I simply use ballistol on a good bronze brush (preferably when the barrel is still warm) to remove the carbon. Then patch it out. There are pleanty of ways to remove carbon that work. If my borescope shows copper I follow up with bore tech eliminator. About once every 300 rounds I may use an abrasive cleaner if I think the barrel needs it. The only thing that is a must for cleaning is a borescope so you know the condition of the bore. I don't go crazy over cleaning it's just another "rabbit hole" to go down.