Cleaning ?
- Thread starter BULLET 05
- Start date
I always clean after a match/shooting session is over. If it's ten rounds or fifty doesn't matter.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
Good barrels can go 60-100. Lesser barrels. Less.
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
This may be off point ?
I shoot Palma , I use to shoot a two day match or more with out cleaning.
I came across a Big Problem this past March.
I shot Berger HB for 3 days . I was doing Great.
On my 4th day I ran out of Berber HB and switched to Sierra 2156's.
I was not able to clean as being in the Match.
I was hitting all over the target. As I was told Copper Fouled do to different jackets.
It took hours of cleaning to stop getting Blue/Green patches out of my Barrel ! Lesson Learned
I shoot Palma , I use to shoot a two day match or more with out cleaning.
I came across a Big Problem this past March.
I shot Berger HB for 3 days . I was doing Great.
On my 4th day I ran out of Berber HB and switched to Sierra 2156's.
I was not able to clean as being in the Match.
I was hitting all over the target. As I was told Copper Fouled do to different jackets.
It took hours of cleaning to stop getting Blue/Green patches out of my Barrel ! Lesson Learned
JMayo
Silver $$ Contributor
We shoot two 5 round targets a 600yd match. So that's 20+ shots. between matchs I clean patches and brushing. Then after last match I clean it to be stored 2 weeks patches and brushing on steroids !
Bartlien Barrel still looks new inside after 700 rounds.
#9 is about all I use.
Bartlien Barrel still looks new inside after 700 rounds.
#9 is about all I use.
swd
Silver $$ Contributor
I shot 1 practice match and 2 days of our state match for about 200 rounds without cleaning. The rifle shot just as good at the end as the beginning. I bore scoped it and it I think I'll shoot the next 2 match's before I clean. That will be a little over 300 without cleaning. That's a barrel with about 1500 through it right now. I'm pretty sure I've been a liberal for too long, cleaning because it feels good not because it makes sense.
Same, shot 20 Berger 105 vld clean with 18x first relay, then re zero'ed for 20 sierra 110's and had the poi shift about 5 rounds into the string causing 2 lost points.This may be off point ?
I shoot Palma , I use to shoot a two day match or more with out cleaning.
I came across a Big Problem this past March.
I shot Berger HB for 3 days . I was doing Great.
On my 4th day I ran out of Berber HB and switched to Sierra 2156's.
I was not able to clean as being in the Match.
I was hitting all over the target. As I was told Copper Fouled do to different jackets.
It took hours of cleaning to stop getting Blue/Green patches out of my Barrel ! Lesson Learned
Varget burns cleaner in my rifle but RL-15 is more accurate and slightly faster.
perry42
By the term "cleaning" I assume you mean a proper cleaning, not some snake pull device or just a dry patch down the barrel. That assumed, and stated, here's something to ponder.
You are in better luck than most, as you are shooting a 6BR which is VERY forgiving in the cleaning department and regiment. However, this assumes you have a decent barrel with a good interior finish. I am speaking from experience, with tens of thousands of rounds of 6mm bullets down the barrels of six 6BR rifles over the last 17 years or so.
Truth be told, on average, the 6BRs shoot their best at about 20-45 rounds -- maybe 55 rounds down the tube.
Good advice has been shared with you to clean after you are through with your shooting session for the day. Why clean when it is still shooting well? Fair question. Answers are numerous, but the primary reason is to avoid the build up of perhaps three bad culprits that steal accuracy and barrel life: 1) chemical reaction from dirty barrels and environmental conditions like humidity 2) carbon ring(s) 3) "excess" copper build-up.
How often you clean it depends upon what degree of accuracy you are looking for. In my experience, for what's it's worth, is most folks don't clean their barrels very well, others try to clean well, but wear themselves out and waste an abundance of cleaning materials, and too many well-intended souls make the most elementary and costly mistake when they begin cleaning their rifles. What is that mistake? Simple. They forget to cover the riflescope lenses before the cleaning session.
Whew! I am glad you didn't ask what's the best way to clean your rifle. You would want to throw it away as everyone told you their way -- the only way -- to clean a rifle properly
Enjoy your 6BR, you have a most excellent cartridge to shoot and clean up after -- especially if you use H4895 powder. Uh-oh, did I say that? Yikes, now others will weigh in with their favorite best powder; but they would be wrong
Stay safe and shoot 'em straight.
You are in better luck than most, as you are shooting a 6BR which is VERY forgiving in the cleaning department and regiment. However, this assumes you have a decent barrel with a good interior finish. I am speaking from experience, with tens of thousands of rounds of 6mm bullets down the barrels of six 6BR rifles over the last 17 years or so.
Truth be told, on average, the 6BRs shoot their best at about 20-45 rounds -- maybe 55 rounds down the tube.
Good advice has been shared with you to clean after you are through with your shooting session for the day. Why clean when it is still shooting well? Fair question. Answers are numerous, but the primary reason is to avoid the build up of perhaps three bad culprits that steal accuracy and barrel life: 1) chemical reaction from dirty barrels and environmental conditions like humidity 2) carbon ring(s) 3) "excess" copper build-up.
How often you clean it depends upon what degree of accuracy you are looking for. In my experience, for what's it's worth, is most folks don't clean their barrels very well, others try to clean well, but wear themselves out and waste an abundance of cleaning materials, and too many well-intended souls make the most elementary and costly mistake when they begin cleaning their rifles. What is that mistake? Simple. They forget to cover the riflescope lenses before the cleaning session.
Whew! I am glad you didn't ask what's the best way to clean your rifle. You would want to throw it away as everyone told you their way -- the only way -- to clean a rifle properly
Enjoy your 6BR, you have a most excellent cartridge to shoot and clean up after -- especially if you use H4895 powder. Uh-oh, did I say that? Yikes, now others will weigh in with their favorite best powder; but they would be wrong
Stay safe and shoot 'em straight.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
I think after I burn up my last 12 lbs of R15 I am going to switch to N140 or N150. VV powders are so clean it is ridiculous. N160 leaves the least carbon in the bore I have ever seen except for N133.
I feel the same about n133. I tried several powders in my .223. I was blown away how clean n133 shoots. I am so glad my rifles likes that powder!!!
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
And yet we BR shooters that use it clean every 7-10 shots to keep the best accuracy.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
I can't imagine needing to clean a modern machine cut and lapped barrel (like a Bartlein for example) every 8 shots, but I am sure people have their reasons.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
I can't imagine needing to clean a modern machine cut and lapped barrel (like a Bartlein for example) every 8 shots, but I am sure people have their reasons.
The main reason is it may not make 15 so it may fall off on the next group esp if you have to shoot a few more sighters. Kinda like taking a barrel to a match thats 3/4 through its life- when will it fall apart? Costs way too much money to compete with stuff that may not make it thru the next relay. When matches are won with teen aggs and 5th place is still in the teens you learn real quick what it takes to keep that razor’s edge of accuracy and 20+rds before cleaning wont even get you in the mid pack.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
Got it. Tell me, is that a complete cleaning or just a wash to get out the carbon? Sometimes I use Super Slick to scrub out the carbon as opposed to a full blown cleaning with JB and Bore tech Eliminator, as some of these new barrels don't really copper foul much at all. Of course, I shoot moly bullets. I know heresy right? haha I have never found that squeaky clean barrels shoot better, but like some say, your mileage may vary
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