DUMB QUESTION OF THE DAY

[Pawnee Bill]

Went out this morning and shot 35 rounds through my thoroughly clean Krieger barrel on my Savage custom 6.5x47 Lapua doing a H4350 ladder test with 130 grain Berger VLD target bullets with the last two 3 shot groups at .2 & .3.
Now to the $64 question; if I do not clean the barrel and go back out in a few days, can I expect the same level of accuracy or do some sort of evil forces get in the barrel to affect the next shots. I have always cleaned the barrel after every shooting session no matter what the round count, so this is a very interesting question for me.

 

[Big Mc]

Went out this morning and shot 35 rounds through my thoroughly clean Krieger barrel on my Savage custom 6.5x47 Lapua doing a H4350 ladder test with 130 grain Berger VLD target bullets with the last two 3 shot groups at .2 & .3.
Now to the $64 question; if I do not clean the barrel and go back out in a few days, can I expect the same level of accuracy or do some sort of evil forces get in the barrel to affect the next shots. I have always cleaned the barrel after every shooting session no matter what the round count, so this is a very interesting question for me.

I have found that my 6.5x47 Lapua needs more rounds than that to open up the groups. However each gun has a mind of its own. Tommy Mc. Time will tell..

 

[ebb]

Maybe. After a cold bore shot most times. But bad juju is hiding around every corner.

 

[AccelR8]

Not accuracy related but I'll share this.

I had a brand new stainless steel barrel. After a few outings, one particular outing where I was really pressed for time I put the rifle away without cleaning. It's stainless steel, what can go wrong?

Next time I looked at it, which admittedly was more than a few days but a span of time that didn't seem that long to me (I can't remember the actual time frame) I found the “metal worm” filiform corrosion had gotten a start in several spots in the barrel.

So, I no longer put guns away without cleaning, at least minimally, and some sort of protection.

I mean, you think "I'm going back out in a few days" then life happens and it's a few weeks or more before you know it.

 

[DShortt]

I never understood the possible extent of this very problem until I got a borescope. If you don't clean and protect every outing don't ever use one or you won't like yourself very much.

 

[Forum Boss]

After 30-40 rounds I run 4-5 soaking wet patches then 2 applications of Wipe-out. I do this at the range while the barrel is still warm. Plug the barrel (muzzle and chamber) with Wipeout still inside. Then dry patches 4-5 hours later.

That has proven sufficient for most of my barrels. I do brush some barrels, but using the WipeOut before the carbon sets up makes a HUGE difference and cuts cleaning time dramatically.

I plug the muzzle with a foam earplug and have an O-Ring guide rod in the action with a rag blocking exit, in Airglide case with muzzle lower than chamber.

 

[LCazador]

Went out this morning and shot 35 rounds through my thoroughly clean Krieger barrel on my Savage custom 6.5x47 Lapua doing a H4350 ladder test with 130 grain Berger VLD target bullets with the last two 3 shot groups at .2 & .3.
Now to the $64 question; if I do not clean the barrel and go back out in a few days, can I expect the same level of accuracy or do some sort of evil forces get in the barrel to affect the next shots. I have always cleaned the barrel after every shooting session no matter what the round count, so this is a very interesting question for me.

Did you use fireformed brass? Did you monitor and record conditions, temp, humidity, wind? After cleaning shoot two foulers prior to checking groups again and you should see the same groups. Finding a load that repeats is the essence of good record keeping and mindfulness of atmospheric conditions.

 

[K22]

I'm imagine that you are going to get a wide variety of opinions on this issue. I'll share my experience with you but the best answer to your question is for you to determine what work best for you and your rifle because I don't believe there is a "one size" fits all answer regarding this issue.

I do not clean my rifles after every shooting session or varmint hunt. If I did, I'd be spending an inordinate amount of money and time cleaning rifles since I go to the range about 2 days a week and during varmint season, I normally spend about 30 days or more in the field during the summer. My game is precision varmint hunting.

Instead, I clean on the basis of round count. Through experimentation and experience, I've determined that I can extend my cleaning out to about 50 to 60 rounds and maintain varmint level accuracy (about 1/2 moa) - probably longer but that's my cut off because I don't want excessive carbon to build up. Granted my precision requirements are less than a bench rest shooter.

Also, I know this is cleaning heresy, but after experiencing first shot flyers and the need to fire several rounds to "season" the barrel, I stopped the aggressive copper removal which eliminated the first shot flyers and the need to "season" the barrel. This is known as establishing and maintaining "copper equilibrium". I'm not the originator of this concept nor am I promoting it. I just tried it and it worked for me.

I use Bore Tech C4 and a bronze brush which does an outstanding job on carbon and removes some copper. The procedure has given me the best shot consistency in my rifles while keeping the cleaning to a manageable level.

 

[M-61]

I’ve worked this for myself:
Benchrest rifles get cleaned when I get home. Usually they are still warm as I live close to the range. I have no magic backwoods gypsy methods, just brush and cloth. What I use is of no interest to anyone.
I always fire one fouling shot through them. Mentally that’s the only shot going through a clean barrel. Nice to know the scope is pretty much on.
The other rifles are seldom shot so I will spend more time cleaning because it may be a real long time until they are fired again.
I’ll add I have a Remington 700P in 308
Not sure why I bought it. However it only becomes accurate after 5 shots. Then it’s quite good.
Fortunately I have hundreds of factory 175 gr ammo that’s perfect for this 5 shot bs.

 

[JMayo]

I think there is a # of shots. It'll start falling in accuracy at some point.

I've shot 2 matches without cleaning my 30br. (Hour for lunch in-between) it was just as it was all day. Close to 100 rounds.

My 6ppc seems to get hinky around 30 rounds so it's a quick wet with several dry. Every 20 +-

I've never pushed my 6bra. Too much time in-between relays not to at least wet patch it.

My 22 rf it's about 60 rounds and it starts falling.

I use to clean like a maniac at the matches. I started shooting two guns and there just isnt any time to clean.
My scores have actually gotten better ! But I'll attribute that to time spent in the chair.

I clean them well at home in the ac !
I Let em soak for the ride home & the night usually.

 

[Chiquita]

.....Plug the barrel (muzzle and chamber) with Wipeout still inside. Then dry patches 4-5 hours later.....

What do you use to plug the muzzle & chamber?

 

[Thud]

no

 

[DGP4]

I use ear plugs and Free All penetrating oil.

 

[Forum Boss]

What do you use to plug the muzzle & chamber?

I stick a foam earplug in the muzzle. My rifles sit slightly muzzle down in their Airglide cases. I have the O-ring'd bore guide in the action, and I just stick a patch tightly in the Bore guide's outboard end where it blocks the solvent port.

Do note that because of the angle, whatever WipeOut residue tends to run down towards the muzzle.

 

[Jet]

It might. I've put 80-90 rds through some Kriegers without cleaning and they still shot small. Recommend you don't clean, keep shooting and when accuracy falls off then give it a good clean and write that info down in your data book for that barrel.

Your group will be more dependent on where the three shoot group printed on your ladder test. If it was in a flat spot then it will likely repeat. If it wasn't you will likely get different results based on conditions. Your next range session should be a seating depth test.

Don't let the little groups on a ladder distract you from doing thorough load development.

Good Shooting

Rich

 

[David Milisock]

Went out this morning and shot 35 rounds through my thoroughly clean Krieger barrel on my Savage custom 6.5x47 Lapua doing a H4350 ladder test with 130 grain Berger VLD target bullets with the last two 3 shot groups at .2 & .3.
Now to the $64 question; if I do not clean the barrel and go back out in a few days, can I expect the same level of accuracy or do some sort of evil forces get in the barrel to affect the next shots. I have always cleaned the barrel after every shooting session no matter what the round count, so this is a very interesting question for me.

That's an interesting question, I made a study of shot string counts and down time which could produce a small book or a large pamphlet.

In short it comes down to length of down time between shot strings, velocity of your loads, shot count in the first and subsequent shot strings, moly bullets or uncoated bulletts, treated or untreated (moly) barrel, rate of twist and environmental conditions. I went with moly years ago because hyper velocity uncoated shot strings were too short in my rifles and varmint bullets.

Coming off a moderate shot string, (20 rounds for my hyper velocity, 3,900 FPS moly varmint bullets) a few days should not matter if you control humidity in your firearm safe and you were not in humid or rain conditions. I have shot accumulated strings as much as 100 rounds and saw no accuracy deterioration with my moly loads. I use moisture collecting material in my safe, Damp Rid. Depending on the rifle build you may have cold verses warm bore differences.

During varmint season with my tested moly loads I have never shot strings long enough to deteriorate accuracy, so if I'm going out 2 or 3 time a week I may clean only twice a month or if I got caught in the rain or very humid conditions. None of my varmint rifles exhibit cold barrel syndrome. They do have clean bore syndrome, I never take an unfired rifle into the field. I clean, prep for storage, pull them from the safe, dry patch and fire a round maybe 2 into the dirt, then go into the field.

I use stretch wrap in my business so if I go out and it drizzled I'll take a piece of wrap and cover the end of the barrel with 1 very tightly wrapped piece.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I will start by saying I am not a competition shooter, so my method may not be for you. I used to clean after every range session. Now, if it is a new barrel it gets cleaned after the first couple of sessions. After that, I let the gun tell me when it needs it. Most of my guns are .5 to 1MOA rifles (if I do my part), which is just fine for me. Once I see groups opening up to 1.5MOA consistently, I know it is time to clean it.
I have a Tikka 7-08AI (Bartlein barrel) that currently has 246 shots through it and it is still printing groups in the .68" average, so I am not touching it. Once it tells me it needs it, it gets a shot of Wipe-out, a couple of passes with a bronze brush, a solvent patch, a couple of bare patches and a final pass with a Bore Snake. Good to go.

I will say that it is stored in a very climate and humidity controlled enviornment, barrel down with the bolt out. I have not had any problem with corrosion or removal of the carbon ring following this method.

 

[jackieschmidt]

I never leave the range, whether I am just practicing or at a Match, without cleaning my barrels.

preferably while still warm from the last target.

 

[wbm]

have always cleaned the barrel after every shooting session no matter what the round count,

+1

 

[D Coots]

Just curious....what size groups are you fellas that clean at 70-80 rounds shooting at 100 yards?

Later
Dave