Cleaning

[seidersjoden]

All,
Not new to long range shooting or this thread but wanted to get people latest and greatest opinions. What are your guys take on cleaning a weapon, I've heard multiple opinions and was curious, seems like more and more people clean their rifles less and I'm curious if I should be cleaning after every outing with the rifle?

Any opinions on leaving carbon fowling inside the barrel and causing moister or rust from not cleaning?

How about any barrel coating like Dyna Bore Coat. Does the stuff work and should I still coat the barrel even though it already has 230 rounds though it already?

Please, experienced people only, guys who have proven their theories through shooting data as to whether cleaning helps or not.

Thanks,
Joden

 

[seidersjoden]

And what exactly are you looking for with a bore scope, obviously the target results have to be continued accuracy but that coupled with what bore conditions gives me the right answer?

thanks
Joden

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I think a lot of this not cleaning as much comes fro f-class where they do not have the time to clean. It is my opinion that good barrels shoot best when clean. Now maybe a rough factory barrel will settle down when dirty but my goods barrels stay clean. Theres no reason to shoot over copper and carbon in a good barrel. Carbon build up is probably the #1 reason barrels quit shooting before their time.

 

[johara1]

At a match i don't worry about super clean, but i also broke them in so i don't get copper. I prefer a little gray on the patch but no black…….. jim

 

[BoydAllen]

Cleaning can be a complicated subject, too involved to cover completely in a post. When you say long range shooting, exactly what are you talking about, competition? What kind? What caliber are you using? What rifle? What barrel? What powder? What kind of average accuracy are you getting? Generally, if you clean in an inadequate manner, you will end up with a problem at some point, because the fouling will continue to build up to the point where it interferes with accuracy. The most difficult kind of fouling is what is commonly referred to as carbon, or hard carbon, which is powder fouling that has been compressed and hardened to the point where neither a brush, nor solvents will remove it from a barrel. Careful use of an abrasive cleaner is required. The difficulty with keeping track of this fouling is that it is so resistant that you can have clean patches even though it is in your barrel. This is where having, or knowing someone with a bore scope comes in handy. Recently, a couple of friends who were having accuracy issues, had the chance to look at their problem barrels with a bore scope, and discovered that they had a fouling problem that did not show up on patches. In all of those cases, careful use of an abrasive cleaner, in the back half of the barrel, solved the problem. One caution, over use, or use where not needed can over polish a barrel and lead to copper fouling problems. Also, using an abrasive carelessly can damage a barrel at the throat and crown. The good news is that my friends have restored their rifles' accuracy and not damaged them by careful use of an abrasive cleaner.

 

[Medic505]

I totally agree with Donovan, a bore scope was probably the best investment I've ever made. I don't clean during a match, F-TR shooter, but if it's a multi day shoot, I'll run a few wet patches through in the evenings to remove any carbon build up. I know shooters who never clean and I know shooters who clean their barrels to spotless every day. Find what works with your barrel and go with it.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

Your barrel will tell you when it is time to clean. Hopefully, that time will not come in the middle of a huge event. Track your round count and after that, you'll know when it is time to clean it again.

 

[Immike]

I agree with everybody that cleaning carfully is all of accuracy. I save my worn brushes for my JB paste cleaning so i can wrap a patch around them. Cleaning can only be put off for so long so I prefer to clean daily for Fclass shooting and every 30-40 for bench or ultra long. I always clean thoroughly after a match.

 

[Lapua40X]

...
Any opinions on leaving carbon fowling inside the barrel and causing moister or rust from not cleaning?
...

Looks like everything, except perhaps for bore coatings (not something I know nothing about) and the edited quote here has been covered quite well.
In my experience, leaving carbon fouling inside the barrel is detrimental based on the degree of fouling. Fouling left at the neck/free bore junction can generate seating problems so I try to get as much of that out as I can. Those little carbon "fillers" that tend to line the land/groove junction, IMO, aren't worth the time and effort to try and remove in their entirety. A little of the carbon left in that part of the barrel hasn't degraded the quality of performance for any of my rifles. My final patch through the bore is always Kroil coated to prevent rust and a clean dry patch goes through prior to the first shot at the range.
I use a bore scope; wouldn't be without it.