Match Grade Barrel Cleaning

[Shynloco]

Ok Guys,
I just bought my very first Match Grade 6.5mm HV barrel that I'm having mounted by my Gunsmith. I own various "Target" rifles, but this is my very first "Match Grade Barrel". I don't compete, but do chase ultimate accuracy and employ precision reloading techniques. I'm curious to see how the "accuracy seekers" treat these barrels as compared to any other barrels they use. I'd appreciate your thoughts on the methods to best clean and preserve the accuracy of my new barrel. Thx!

 

[Samdweezel05]

I treat my full on custom match barrels the same way I treat my bone stock Ruger 10/22. Shoot it till it doesn't want to be shot any more. This shoot and clean every round for the first 50 rounds then shoot 3 rounds and clean for another 100 rounds is funny to me. I tried it once, never again. I didn't buy them to clean them, I bought them to shoot. I treat a $500 barrel like a prostitute on dollar day.

 

[tunered]

Lets face it, Good barrels shoot clean or dirty, maybe a tad better one way or the other, treat it like any other barrel, but i do believe in a 20 shot break in. ed

 

[40X Guy]

I'm pretty particular, and have been using the Shehane method for years now, and I have had outstanding results on all makes of barrels. First clean barrel before you ever shoot it, wet patch first with Butches Bore Shine or your favorite solvent, brush in and out 10 times slowly, wet patch again and then a very light patch with Kroil. Shoot a round and repeat for 5 rounds, then cycle to 2 rounds shot and clean for next 10 and then finish off by shooting 3 round groups and clean for next 15. I also have a borescope to verify all this. I just finished a break in on a Krieger last week, and took rifle to match and let 18 rounds go thru, got home and had no copper, just some powder fouling that came out very quickly. I think it has something to do with the Kroil in bore. It does take some time and a total of 30 rounds but to me the results are worth it.

Frank

 

[Shynloco]

40XGuy,
I've used a very similar method in breaking in my other rifle barrels, including my 6mmbr. I usually shot one rd, clean with brush and patch X 5. I then shoot 5 - 3 rd grps, brush and patch after each grp. I then shoot 3 - 5 rd grp, brush and patch after each group and I'm done. I use Butch's Bore Shine as I worry that Kroil is too harsh and Butch's has usually gotten the copper out in my barrels in the past. Now I do use JB's Bore Cleaner every third barrel cleaning and that seems to get out anything the Butch's may have missed. Am I in overkill mode or does that sound pretty much like what you do? I too am very particular what I feed my rifles and just like to give them the best care possible.
And thx again to all for their input. And Samdweezel05, I can't afford dollar day anyways. Too much effort and problems there.

 

[40X Guy]

I don't believe you are in overkill mode, once you get barrel broke in, thats it, go out and shoot, and you will have less time cleaning after shooting. I was at match last saturday with forum member FDshuster and he said that you won't wear a barrel out from cleaning or using JB bore cleaning compound. I agree totally. A rifle build that was completed last spring I did not break in and went with my smiths recommendation of Wipe Out products and brushless cleaning after he treated barrel with borecoat. After about 150 rounds barrel went totally south and I couldn't hit a pie plate at 200 yards. Took rifle back to smith and he scoped it and lo and behold there was a build up of carbon fouling first 8 inches. I immediately threw away the Wipe Out Stuff, bought me a Hawkeye borescope, and a large amount of brass brushes and every Witches Brew under the sun and got the carbon out and restored the rifle to its proper shooting status.

I am no expert by any means, but I have been shooting for a long time and there is no substitute for breaking a barrel in. Of course there are many various methods, but most are around 20-30 rounds. The Hawkeye is money well spent. I can now monitor all my barrels instead of guessing.

Frank

 

[ChrisNZ]

... I worry that Kroil is too harsh.....I do use JB's Bore Cleaner every third barrel cleaning ..

Think you might have that the wrong way round. Kroil is basically a penetrating oil while JBs has a mild abrasive effect

Chris-NZ

 

[Shynloco]

... I worry that Kroil is too harsh.....I do use JB's Bore Cleaner every third barrel cleaning ..

Actually Chris NZ, "penetrating oils" do worry me a bit which is why I use the combination of JB's and Butch's to create that "mild abrasive" effect. Now I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time) but some of the Bench Rest guys I practice with use what I use and is where I got the idea from in the first place. Part of what I've seen over the past two years of using these products, was it is much easier to remove any copper build up which doesn't occur all that much now as compared to before I was using these products. I'm one who HATES cleaning barrels, but do it because I've seen the results on the targets. Whether it's pure misperception or whatever, I like the resulting performance of my target rifles better. My original question was seeking out other views on how to properly treat a NEW Match Grade barrel which I've never had before. Break in is one thing which I believe in....maintenance for longevity it quite another. But I do appreciate your comment nonetheless. And it is an extreme rarity (that only occurs in my .223 Target rifle) that I shoot more than 50 - 75 rds through my barrel without cleaning it. In fact on my 6mmbr and .308, those barrels don't see more than 35 rds before cleaning. I suspect the new 6.5mm would be much the same.

Thx again to all for your input.


Think you might have that the wrong way round. Kroil is basically a penetrating oil while JBs has a mild abrasive effect

Chris-NZ

 

[artbosco]

I'm curious to see how the "accuracy seekers" treat these barrels as compared to any other barrels they use. I'd appreciate your thoughts on the methods to best clean and preserve the accuracy of my new barrel.

Thomas [Speedy] Gonzalez is in the Benchrest Hall of Fame, so I guess you could call him an "accuracy shooter." Here, he shares his cleaning method, and throws in breaking-in a barrel too: http://benchrest.netfirms.com/Barrel%20Break-In.htm