Cleaning the first 6” of barrel

[Sightcast-Alan]

I know everyone’s cleaning methods are different but how clean do you clean. I can nylon brush and patch out 90% of the bore pretty easy but always struggle getting the first 6” to 10” from the chamber of the barrel back to clean steel. I get a lot of hard carbon that typically takes a few days of going at it with patch out soaking and a little clr flushes.

Do you get it back to bare clean steel 100% of the barrel every time between matches?

I stay on top of the carbon ring in the chamber but that first few inches is always stubborn.

 

[6BRA]

iosso and iosso brush... soak 24 hours before hand in Kroil or Free all. Wet patch.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I thought don't clean until accuracy degrades. 35+ years ago with my first 17 rem and w760 that was 15-18 shots, but I only needed solvent and patches to restore accuracy. Looking back, I'm pretty sure it wasn't a deep clean. Later on the Rem recall barrel would make 40-50 shots with the same load, so that became the new benchmark.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

iosso and iosso brush... soak 24 hours before hand in Kroil or Free all. Wet patch.

Would you explain in a little more detail?
That last wet patch comment was confusing. Thanks.

 

[jelenko]

What accuracy do you need?

I think the condition of the bore that is needed depends on the level and consistency of the accuracy you need.

For example, Benchrest vs hunting.

In 'cross the course' competition, the toughest target has a 1 MOA X ring and a 2 MOA 10 ring. Most competitors only clean after an 90 shot match and many/most won't clean the bore for 240 shot matches.

Personally, when I clean I like to keep the carbon ring at the throat so there's no more than evidence of it just beginning. For the next several inches, it works fine for me if the lands are clean and 50-60% of the grooves are clean - i.e., there is still some carbon in/near the 'corners'.
Recognizing that it all gets much dirtier as I go through 70-90 rounds. Just means that the accuracy holds up well enough for what I need given the starting condition when I clean.

 

[6BRA]

Would you explain in a little more detail?
That last wet patch comment was confusing. Thanks.

was in a hurry sorry. I usually soak with 2 wet patches 24 hours in advance if you are able to.
then I run the Iosso and brush.

 

[Dave M.]

I know everyone’s cleaning methods are different but how clean do you clean. I can nylon brush and patch out 90% of the bore pretty easy but always struggle getting the first 6” to 10” from the chamber of the barrel back to clean steel. I get a lot of hard carbon that typically takes a few days of going at it with patch out soaking and a little clr flushes.

Do you get it back to bare clean steel 100% of the barrel every time between matches?

I stay on top of the carbon ring in the chamber but that first few inches is always stubborn.

Iosso

 

[SKWERLZ]

iosso and iosso brush... soak 24 hours before hand in Kroil or Free all. Wet patch.

^^^^^^

 

[Sightcast-Alan]

Thanks for the responses, I’m currently shooting in f open matches with a dasher with varget, not to heavy of a load right at max weight. Typically around 75 rounds per match then back home to clean.
I currently use sharp shoot-r patch out and their accelerator. I send a few wet patches then will let sit for about 15min then brush with a nylon about 15-20 times back and forth. Then wet patch a few more with alcohol to flush. I’ll look with a scope and see where I’m at. Then hit it with a wet patch of accelerator and sit for about 15 - 30 min, repeat the flushing and look again. That gets me relatively no copper and about 80% there for carbon but the first foot is still heavy carbon. I’ll then let a wet patch of patch out sit overnight and repeat the process in the morning. Then will send a few loose patches of Iosso short stroking the first 1 or so lightly. Then flush with alcohol and dry patch. Then if it’s still not breaking up I’ll put a little clr on to sit for about 5 min and flush out completely then go back at it with a nylon brush . That gets me about 90-95 %. The last 5-10% to get completely clean is just keep letting it soak with patch out and brushing and patching until I get there . Usually about a 3 day process currently…

I need to get this down to one night lol

 

[G Liles]

iosso and iosso brush... soak 24 hours before hand in Kroil or Free all. Wet patch.

How much iosso do you use on the brush?
Thanks for the info
Gary

 

[Sightcast-Alan]

I’m a little unconfident in how much Iosso to use at a time and how aggressive to go at it. For my 6mm dasher I currently use a patch over a loose jag that’s sizes for 223 and go slow with light back and forth about 5 to 8 times near the chamber end and alter my stroke lengths between. Using a thin coat rubbed on the patch. Then run 2 patches all the way through . After those I flush with alcohol and dry patch it out .
I have heard using a smaller bore nylon brush and put a patch over it with Iosso but i guess I’m to scared to try and go at it to hard.

What do y’all use when using Iosso

Thanks for the help

 

[6BRA]

How much iosso do you use on the brush?
Thanks for the info
Gary

Rub it in with your fingers, spray brush out with brake cleaner or gun scrub when finished..run it back and forth 5 tines or so each coating, repeat. Then dry patch.

 

[marchx]

Instead of iosso I recommend Boretech Chameleon gel.

BORE TECH Chameleon Gel Cleaner / Polish 2oz

 

[jvw2008]

I’ve recently become a fan of the ThorroClean products available at Bullet Central. The flush is quite impressive for carbon removal. It’s all you need to stay ahead of the carbon ring and I think it is much less aggressive than IOSSO paste. Super easy to remove from the barrel as well. It’s obvious the cleaner is an IOSSO product. It gets everything the flush doesn’t get, is easy to remove from the bore, and is less aggressive (IMO) than the IOSSO paste. Any more, if I have to go to a paste it’s JBs but I don’t think I’ve opened the jar since starting the Thorro products.

 

[STS]

I'm surprised at some of the 2 and 3 day cleaning procedures. I do the following..
1. Push 2 wet patches of Butches to get the loose carbon out.
2. Bronze brush 4 or 5 strokes with Butches and let it set 15 to 30 minutes.
3. Dry PATCH
4. Dampen patch with solvent and coat with Iosso. Short stroke through to muzzle.
5. Wet patch.
6. Repeat #3
7. Repeat #4
8. Patch a little Sweets to check for copper.
9. Patch dry.
10. Bore scope.

That whole thing can be done in 20 to 30 minutes if I don't waste any time. It's always clean after that procedure.

 

[jlorenzo]

I'm dealing with a similar issue. I've done 8+ hours soak with Wipe Out, following their instructions and patching out the next day. Seems to work well with no brush. I need to get back in there with the borescope.

 

[Sightcast-Alan]

I'm dealing with a similar issue. I've done 8+ hours soak with Wipe Out, following their instructions and patching out the next day. Seems to work well with no brush. I need to get back in there with the borescope.

Are you back to bare clean steel at the chamber end?

 

[jlorenzo]

Are you back to bare clean steel at the chamber end?

Close I have to scope again after this last round of cleaning. Hard to tell if there is much of a carbon ring left of not.

 

[jelenko]

I’m a little unconfident in how much Iosso to use at a time and how aggressive to go at it. For my 6mm dasher I currently use a patch over a loose jag that’s sizes for 223 and go slow with light back and forth about 5 to 8 times near the chamber end and alter my stroke lengths between. Using a thin coat rubbed on the patch. Then run 2 patches all the way through . After those I flush with alcohol and dry patch it out .
I have heard using a smaller bore nylon brush and put a patch over it with Iosso but i guess I’m to scared to try and go at it to hard.

What do y’all use when using Iosso

Thanks for the help

Iosso isn't going to hurt your stainless steel barrel.

It's important to get a inexpensive borescope so you can see the results of your cleaning activities.

Personally, I get the patch as tight a fit into the bore as possible on a Parker Hale jag. [They are designed to have patches wrapped around them] This gets the patch with the cleaner into the grooves.
To get a tight fit, I in my 223, I have to double the patches over on themselves. I get the patch covered in Iosso.
I'm finding that after 10 cycles, the Iosso is no longer effective and I change the patch/Iosso.
Flitz bore cleaner works about the same as Iosso.
JB is less aggressive and takes more than twice as long as either of the above.
Boretech chameleon is less aggressive than JB.
KG 2 is somewhere between Flitz/Iosso and JB.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Surprised everybody missed youre not using a bronze brush. These “i just cant get my barrel clean” or the “i clean my barrel for 3 days” threads always have this in common