How Clean Is Too Clean?

[urbanrifleman]

My Clean barrels shoot their best, I defer to Alex Wheeler's post. None of my custom barrels take more than a few shots to foul the barrel, some only one shot.

Often I have wondered if it is not the shooter that has to settle down, let the bags settle, focus on the flags, etc, and nothing to do with the barrel.

I agree. My good barrels from totally spotless need one shot.

 

[Bob3700]

Read Tony Boyer's book on bbl cleaning. He details how to clean the bore so that the first shot from a cold clean bore goes into the middle of the group.
It amazes me that there are those who need to "Season their Barrels" after cleaning to get them to print to point of aim.
Why do I want to waste bbl life shooting non-productive shots. Sighters should be used to figure out your wind call, not compensating for your cleaning procedures.

 

[mikecr]

If you're leaving any petroleum product in the bore with your cleaning, it has to burn out for fouling to take. This, no matter the barrel, and even with dry patching it takes at least 2-3 shots to foul the entire length of bore.
So you shoot foulers to get it out and foul the barrel.

I dry prefoul to remove that chore before I put the gun away.

 

[Bob3700]

If you're leaving any petroleum product in the bore with your cleaning, it has to burn out for fouling to take. This, no matter the barrel, and even with dry patching it takes at least 2-3 shots to foul the entire length of bore.
So you shoot foulers to get it out and foul the barrel.

I dry prefoul to remove that chore before I put the gun away.

Mike,
I get two fouling shots and then I have to start for record. If it takes 2-3 shots for my bbl to "Settle Down" seems like my cleaning technique is my worst enemy. The bbl needs to shoot centered shots right off the bat so that I can gauge my wind call. With 2-3 off call shots, I just lost the game before I started.

You are correct that leaving any petroleum product in your bore is detrimental to your score, so don't do it. Clean the bbl so that it is prepared to put that first shot in the X ring and go from there.

This very topic was detailed by Tony Boyer as well as Merrill Martin (Precision Shooting). Boyer used "Lockeze as the final passes down the bbl., let that sit. He then patched it out and the bbl is ready for X's.

Bob

 

[urbanrifleman]

Patch out with carb cleaner to remove all traces of cleaning products.

Clean and dry.

But it eats finishes, so be careful. Great for Ar15s. For bolt guns, can be used with a bore guide and the straw. Just spray into the bore guide with the straw and patch out.