Clean barrel accuracy

[Flatshooter]

A few days ago I loaded 130 eld match for 6.5 creedmoor with 41.5 gr of imr 4451, they shot great, about 1/2 moa. After shooting I cleaned barrel getting most of fouling out. Today I shot it again 1st 5 were 1moa 2nd 5 were 3/4 moa then 3rd 5 were 1/2 like the other day. I also shot my 6xc with clean barrel using nosler 107 competition, same thing happen 3rd group was much better. So this raises the question, is all that cleaning necessary?

Thanks for all the replies and helpful information!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

If you go to a short range Benchrest Group Match, you will see the vast majority of shooters shooting a 6PPC and cleaning after every relay

True but what you say is deceiving to people who don’t know any better because you also WON’T see BR shooters start shooting a record group on target during a relay without having fired sighter/warming/fouling shots first. They clean after every relay but they don’t shoot groups for record on a perfectly clean or cold barrel.

 

[D-4297]

Comparatively ; F-Class shooters generally clean after a practice session , of one or two strings of twenty shots for record with 3 to 5 sighters included before each string . Matches for F-Class generally require a 3 X 20 format , with the number of sighters designated by the Match Director . So one could fire the Sixty rounds for record and as few as 9 sighters , or as many as 25 - 30 sighters given time constraints , of the twenty minute per string requirement . All that being said ; Rifles generally get a full cleaning regime after every Match , and on average , most practice sessions . Since consistency and accuracy are the goals .

 

[acloco]

Every barrel is different. Multiply that with the large variety of powders, primers, and bullet material, .....barrels MIGHT shoot different clean/sighters/dirty.

Have a 300 WM....don't look at the target until 9-11 rounds are down the barrel......THEN start looking at the target.

 

[Sandstorm]

I clean after every range session...Testing, Competition or Practice.
I get home and I clean.....and fouler's are a must before a string.

 

[PigButtons]

The way I see it, if I start with a clean barrel it is a known state. I can gauge the number of fouling shots required to get a good condition. If I start with a dirty barrel it is an unknown state that may take three fouling shots to get a good condition, or those three shots may push it into "it's telling me it needs to be cleaned." Hmmm? Which is better?

 

[jelenko]

The way I see it, if I start with a clean barrel it is a known state. I can gauge the number of fouling shots required to get a good condition. If I start with a dirty barrel it is an unknown state that may take three fouling shots to get a good condition, or those three shots may push it into "it's telling me it needs to be cleaned." Hmmm? Which is better?

Agree.
If one participates in competitions, I assume they don't want to find out during the competition that the barrel is telling them it needs cleaning.

 

[acloco]

.....and LEO/SWAT are told, NEVER have a clean barrel....ever!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

.....and LEO/SWAT are told, NEVER have a clean barrel....ever!

They need to be able to hit “minute of man”

 

[Northridge]

yep like others have said very normal to see this, though you can develop a tune around one or the other but the driving factor is what venue a guy is shooting. some venues have plenty of time to clean between relays where other venues cleaning is not optional and a guy will tune with this in mind or at least I do.

Shawn Williams

 

[acloco]

They need to be able to hit “minute of man”

Um....that is not true.

Engagements are less than 80 yards....they have to be ON.

 

[jelenko]

Um....that is not true.

Engagements are less than 80 yards....they have to be ON.

What does ON mean?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

What does ON mean?

Minute of man

 

[acloco]

What does ON mean?

No room for error.

 

[acloco]

Minute of man

We can agree to disagree. There is no room for error.

 

[jelenko]

Sorry. Even if they are told to never have a clean barrel [and that does sound right], DOES NOT mean that they are supposed to wait until the barrel is telling them it needs cleaning.

I'm guessing they are told to maintain their rifle/barrel with regular cleaning AND to not come to work with a clean barrel.

 

[diego-ted]

The way I see it, if I start with a clean barrel it is a known state. I can gauge the number of fouling shots required to get a good condition. If I start with a dirty barrel it is an unknown state that may take three fouling shots to get a good condition, or those three shots may push it into "it's telling me it needs to be cleaned." Hmmm? Which is better?

Nuff Said. A known variable is way better than an unknown one.

 

[Brians356]

Do you all "foul" (prep) the barrel with your prized competition loads? One could foul a barrel using designated fouling loads requiring little care in preparation and cheaper components. Would one need to use the exact same powder for fouling as in the comp loads?
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[Dusty Stevens]

Do you all "foul" (prep) the barrel with your prized competition loads? One could foul a barrel using designated fouling loads requiring little care in preparation and cheaper components. Would one need to use the exact same powder for fouling as in the comp loads?
-

I fireform new brass when fouling then shoot one good one for a sighter

 

[D Coots]

Do you all "foul" (prep) the barrel with your prized competition loads? One could foul a barrel using designated fouling loads requiring little care in preparation and cheaper components. Would one need to use the exact same powder for fouling as in the comp loads?
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No and no.

And WOW to most of the rest.