When do you clean during a match

[rmist]

The question is more related for F-Class and F TR competitors. When I shot short range BR we cleaned after EVERY match, that means cleaning ten times a day !!
I've read that the F-class and F TR folks don't clean at all during the entire days match. Do you ever clean between relays? Is there enough time to do so with whatever other duties you have...ie- pit duty, ect? I've never been to a match so that's why the question. I might go to one this weekend to check it out and not shoot, but rather observe a little bit and ask some questions. I would shoot.... but rifle is still at gunsmith !!
Thanks again for your time...
Rmist

 

[ShootDots]

There is NO TIME to clean your rifle between matches. You are either shooting, scoring or pulling in the pits. Not to worry. I usually shoot 2 rifles at a 2 day match. However, I have shot 1 rifle over 2 days with no ill effects. If you are running "relatively" clean burning powders, you will have ZERO problems. From faster to slower, these are the powders I have found to be PLENTY clean burning even for two (2) full days of shooting; Benchmark, IMR 8208 XBR, H4895, Varget, ALL VV powders, H4350, H4831SC. IMR 7828(Both regular cut and SSC) H1000. Of course there are others that would easily make the list, BUT these are the most common.
NOTE: RL-15 could be on this list (for shooting a 2 day match), however, most of the other S-L-O-W powders in the RL-Series are extremely dirty and may make 1 FULL day but PERSONALLY, I would not go over that.

I still believe that it is BEST to finish 1 full day of shooting and CLEAN. However, if you are short on time, or do not have 2 rifles, don't fret if you are shooting the above powders and need to go 2 days..

 

[Corey Schwanz]

I've only shot F-Class a couple times a few years back but hope to get back into it this summer. There isn't much time to do any cleaning. You will be shooting then rotate and score. Then you will go down to the pits to pull targets. If its a 2-day match, I can see doing some cleaning at the hotel for the 2nd day, but you will likely not be able to clean anything between strings on a given day. Make sure you know how your gun shoots when its clean vs dirty.

 

[Warren Dean]

Never

 

[rmist]

Never

I guess that about sums it up !!!


Thanks for the replies.

 

[BT1]

Agree, no time to clean between relays, but I do clean at the hotel each night. Some of these matches are 3 days of shooting or more with a team. Maybe 70+ rounds per day. Always bring a back-up gun, but cleaning your go to rifle each night seems like a smart move to me.

Usually the first relay of the day allows unlimited sighters to do the initial fowling after a good cleaning. 4 or 5 shots usually does the trick.

Steve

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I don't clean but every other day. I'm using H4350 in the 284, and RL-15 in the Dasher so it might be different for your rifle...

I get no ill effects, and my scores usually rise throughout the two days. I'm still too chicken to go farther than 2 days (120 rounds + sighters).

Keith

 

[Warren Dean]

Never

I guess that about sums it up !!!


Thanks for the replies.

Just to amplify the point, I don't clean until I get home from a match.

I have gone as high as 600+ rounds without cleaning and the rifle was still shooting Xs at 1K on the last relay of the match. (FCNC 2010)

It was a 3 groove Lilja, which helps, but I typically have between 200 and 400 rounds on my barrels when they get patched out.

Heresy!! I hear folks saying.....but my former gunsmith, and mutiple-time Palma Team armorer Larry Racine, told me to NOT clean until accuracy falls off.

So I did....and it works.

 

[6BRinNZ]

Never

I guess that about sums it up !!!


Thanks for the replies.

Just to amplify the point, I don't clean until I get home from a match.

I have gone as high as 600+ rounds without cleaning and the rifle was still shooting Xs at 1K on the last relay of the match. (FCNC 2010)

It was a 3 groove Lilja, which helps, but I typically have between 200 and 400 rounds on my barrels when they get patched out.

Heresy!! I hear folks saying.....but my former gunsmith, and mutiple-time Palma Team armorer Larry Racine, told me to NOT clean until accuracy falls off.

So I did....and it works.

Do you run any kind of coating on the bullets?

 

[Warren Dean]

Nope. Never saw the need for the added hassle.

 

[Marksman63]

No time and no need for cleaning between stages.
Just end of the day at range or my hotel room

 

[seymour fish]

Somewhere, maybe on here, recall a post indicating that powder and copper fouling stabilizes from min of 60 to max of 200 rounds, thus cleaning at all during a 2-day match might be a mistake. idiosyncrasies might over-ride, but easy to test. Seymour

 

[Scott Harris]

Never

I guess that about sums it up !!!


Thanks for the replies.

Just to amplify the point, I don't clean until I get home from a match.

I have gone as high as 600+ rounds without cleaning and the rifle was still shooting Xs at 1K on the last relay of the match. (FCNC 2010)

It was a 3 groove Lilja, which helps, but I typically have between 200 and 400 rounds on my barrels when they get patched out.

Heresy!! I hear folks saying.....but my former gunsmith, and mutiple-time Palma Team armorer Larry Racine, told me to NOT clean until accuracy falls off.

So I did....and it works.

+1 We clean about every 300+ rounds

 

[Down South]

Somewhere, maybe on here, recall a post indicating that powder and copper fouling stabilizes from min of 60 to max of 200 rounds, thus cleaning at all during a 2-day match might be a mistake. idiosyncrasies might over-ride, but easy to test. Seymour

I don't think its a mistake per say to clean after every match at night before the next days match but is it necessary?......Probably not as several guys I know like Warren, Scott, and other guys I know have proved that the rifle can shoot great after multiple days in a row of shooting. I was always told to clean when accuracy drops off, i'm always worried about accuracy dropping off in the middle of a string in a match when i'm in contention so I personally clean every night in multiple day matches but i've shot two day matches before without cleaning and had good results. As others have said, a lot probably depends on your particular barrel and powder being used. As for cleaning between relays during the match, i never do that nor does the majority of F class shooters but I have seen a bench rest shooter do it at our F class matches. He would shoot his string in about 5 minutes or less and run to his truck to clean before he had to score or go to the pits.........

 

[Erik Cortina]

Somewhere, maybe on here, recall a post indicating that powder and copper fouling stabilizes from min of 60 to max of 200 rounds, thus cleaning at all during a 2-day match might be a mistake. idiosyncrasies might over-ride, but easy to test. Seymour

I don't think its a mistake per say to clean after every match at night before the next days match but is it necessary?......Probably not as several guys I know like Warren, Scott, and other guys I know have proved that the rifle can shoot great after multiple days in a row of shooting. I was always told to clean when accuracy drops off, i'm always worried about accuracy dropping off in the middle of a string in a match when i'm in contention so I personally clean every night in multiple day matches but i've shot two day matches before without cleaning and had good results. As others have said, a lot probably depends on your particular barrel and powder being used. As for cleaning between relays during the match, i never do that nor does the majority of F class shooters but I have seen a bench rest shooter do it at our F class matches. He would shoot his string in about 5 minutes or less and run to his truck to clean before he had to score or go to the pits.........

I agree with you Jade.

If you wait until accuracy drops off, you waited too long!

 

[rmist]

Thank you all again...That makes more sense cleaning everyday/ evening prior to the next days match.
Thanks again

 

[Bob Sebold]

Cleaning? what the hell is that! Eric maybe you could do a you tube video or get some others I know to show you their steps. Bring lots of batteries, you will need them. Shooters I have seen will take over an hour to clean a barrel. Scrub those X's out! I had over 200 rds down my barrel before I dry patched it at Berger SW. It was dirty when I got home, but gold medal was still shiny!

Personally, I would like to see enough time so people could clean between matches, But all shooters including Warren should clean like mad asap after match is over. May I recommend Dutch Cleanser! Its all in your mind. Of course I assume you are shooting a custom barrel that is well lapped. If you have a factory barrel or one that isn't lapped very well, my guess is cleaning is the least of your worries.

 

[bsumoba]

There has been lots of data showing that less cleaning is sometimes more. Many people with tactical rifles have slowly been cleaning less and palma shooters have been known to go many rounds without cleaning.

Bob's experience and Jerry's experience (see link below) show that there is a lot of validity to cleaning less.

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek053.html

 

[Zilla]

Bob
Cleaning is what you do while you drink beer.

 

[Warren Dean]

Bob
Cleaning is what you do while you drink beer.

That's right.