Competition barrel cleaning

[ShtrRdy]

An early mentor of mine (name of Art Bourne) told me there would be a slight copper wash, along with powder residue, deposited in the barrel in the first couple of shots. Further, he felt that cleaning it out completely was a waste of time. Hell, its existence might even be beneficial. So, I think he was saying much the same thing that Jackie Schmidt said. WH

I noticed the few times I e cleaned a barrel to bare steel it can take quite a few rounds before it will shoot good again. Nowadays I don't clean down to bare steel.

@jackieschmidt thank you for your time in writing up your thoughts.

 

[Raydee]

I noticed the few times I e cleaned a barrel to bare steel it can take quite a few rounds before it will shoot good again. Nowadays I don't clean down to bare steel.

@jackieschmidt thank you for your time in writing up your thoughts.

That was always my feeling as well but in my case I did not pay enough attention to the carbon build up thinking it was fire cracking.

 

[ShtrRdy]

That was always my feeling as well but in my case I did not pay enough attention to the carbon build up thinking it was fire cracking.

Oh, yes, carbon build up. I really try to stay on top of the carbon build up around the case-neck/freebore junction.

 

[ELR LVR]

An early mentor of mine (name of Art Bourne) told me there would be a slight copper wash, along with powder residue, deposited in the barrel in the first couple of shots. Further, he felt that cleaning it out completely was a waste of time. Hell, its existence might even be beneficial. So, I think he was saying much the same thing that Jackie Schmidt said. WH

Agreed here ^^^
In most of my rifles I have found an equilibrium point of how many shots fired and when to clean
and not cleaning too much
For instance if after 5 minutes of my usual routine, there is still a very light copper streak along the bore
I leave it, figuring that is part of the copper fouling needed to get it shooting predictably to begin with
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This allows to get right back into shooting, maybe needing 3 fouler shots to ensure everything is settled
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I believe this sort of regimen depends on your bores condition though
IE: Custom cut rifled vs factory
Most cut rifled bores clean up quickly as mentioned

 

[JFrank]

My comp barrel’s don’t seem to lay much copper after the throat gets a few rounds on it. I clean it good then send a few to foul it before a match if possible or just wait and foul it during the sighter period, it only takes two or three rounds to be back at center X. As I mentioned earlier I know through testing how many rounds I can go and still have it shoot real small. I think that adds a layer of confidence knowing just where accuracy drops off.
Methods of cleaning IMO ( and from what I’ve observed ) is dependent on the shooters discipline, how much time between relays and what’s been working for them, I don’t know if there is a do it all or one particular style or brand that is above all without a down side of some type.
I’m told a little common sense goes a long ways and I suppose that’s true, especially when cleaning a comp rifle.

I hope that makes sense.. it did when I typed it. lol
Jim
Edit to add a thought..

 

[jelenko]

Methods of cleaning IMO are dependent on the shooters discipline,

!!