wiping bore between bullet brand changes ?

[rebs]

when testing different brands of bullets for groups is it necessary to wipe the bore between brand changes ?

 

[USMCDOC]

i just run one patch down the bore and that is it

 

[243winxb]

Clean well between lots & brands. The different lubes & coatings, dont always work well together. Or fire 10 rounds of the new ammo, before testing for accuracy.

oops 22 lr. NOT center fire.

 

[boltfluter]

I personally do nothing if just changing bullets. If changing powders I do a full clean.

Paul

 

[1813benny]

When testing ammo, for optimal results I thoroughly clean the bore when changing brands. Patches, solvent, brushing….

If you are spending almost $2k for a case, why not ensure all variables are the same (i.e. bore condition)?

At the end of the day, one can do whatever they want, but both test centers want your rifle to have a clean bore before starting to test.

A safe, healthy and prosperous 2022 to all.
Regards,
Ken

 

[1813benny]

Sierra Match jackets are made from special gilding metal copper alloy composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc.
If using the same alloy jacket, just keep shooting.

When changing powders, thats not in the same family, clean the barrel well.

Smallbore is different due to the impact of different lines between brands.

 

[gkgeiger]

All I do is shoot about 10 extra rds. to acclimate the barrel to the new ammo before I compare.

 

[243winxb]

Smallbore is different due to the impact of different lines between brands.

Yes they are. Corrected my above post, ment for center fire.

 

[USMCDOC]

When testing ammo, for optimal results I thoroughly clean the bore when changing brands. Patches, solvent, brushing….

If you are spending almost $2k for a case, why not ensure all variables are the same (i.e. bore condition)?

At the end of the day, one can do whatever they want, but both test centers want your rifle to have a clean bore before starting to test.

A safe, healthy and prosperous 2022 to all.
Regards,
Ken

Actually, when i went back last March.. Lucas was glad that i had "fouled" the barrel..

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

When testing ammo, for optimal results I thoroughly clean the bore when changing brands. Patches, solvent, brushing….

If you are spending almost $2k for a case, why not ensure all variables are the same (i.e. bore condition)?

At the end of the day, one can do whatever they want, but both test centers want your rifle to have a clean bore before starting to test.

A safe, healthy and prosperous 2022 to all.
Regards,
Ken

Last time I was at the Mesa center I was allowed to clean after 4 lots were tested. they will work with you to find the best lots.

Lee

 

[Gizmo60]

when testing different brands of bullets for groups is it necessary to wipe the bore between brand changes ?

Always.

For the rifle/round to operate efficiently/accurately a certain amount of lube needs to be laid down in the barrel lands and grooves. Different ammo manufactures use different types of lube; they are not all the same. Some rifles settle down after as little as 5/6 rounds, other need 10/15 and some need 20+.

SK is very thin (oily) and Eley is waxy, it can take many rounds of Eley to clear the oily residue from SK before the rifle settles down, these are wasted rounds, wasted money, waste not want not as they say.

Eley Tenex, Match & Team – no need to clean as they all use the same lube. Other types of Eley ammo use a slightly different lube.

I believe SK (Std+, Rifle Match, Biathlon & Pistol) all use the same lube, I am open to correction on this.

Enjoy your testing,

 

[grauhanen]

It's not necessary to clean the bore when switching lots of the same make of ammo since they use the same lube. For example, when shooting different lots of Center X, a bore cleaning isn't needed, unless enough rounds have been shot to affect accuracy. Furthermore, different varieties of the same make of ammo use the same lube -- such as Lapua CX, Midas+, X-Act.

When fouling the bore for Lapua, use SK ammos. They're less expensive and use a lube that's identical or very, very similar.

 

[1911nut]

When I was testing different brands, one Shooters Choice patch, two dry patches. I wanted to get them off from the same conditions and to see how many rounds to group from a clean barrel.

 

[kzin]

Of all the terminology issues in shooting(ex clip vs magazine) the one that bugs me most is misuse of 'bullets'.
In this thread it got several people responding in terms of actual bullets.

 

[Rob01]

If changing ammo brands I usually just pull a bore snake through a couple times and go. It does the basic job of removing the lube and is quick and easy. Fire about 10 of the new bullet and ready for testing.

 

[JMayo]

Eley before lapua i don't clean.
lapua before eley i do.

Only two i shoot.

 

[doclu60]

Eley before lapua i don't clean.
lapua before eley i do.

Only two i shoot.

I believe the above, IME, is correct. In fact, when I was shooting Lapua in competition, I always fouled with a couple of Eley rounds before switching to Lapua. The petroleum distillate lube used by Lapua always took a lot more shots in all my barrels for them to come back in from a clean bore. My last trip to the Lapua test center in Mesa (2019), I had the tech shoot several Eley rounds after I cleaned the bore. I always did my own cleaning based on round count when testing there, since 2015.

I was 'spoiled' during those years before Capstone took over Lapua in the North American market. IMO, Capstone ruined Lapua distribution with a capital 'R' and I have not even tested any since 2020. If I ever go back to Lapua at some time, I will still shoot Eley as a fouler, as the barrels I use come in much faster by doing so after cleaning. YMMV

Scott

 

[JSH]

Interesting thread.
I have been tinkering with a couple of rifles again, even though I swore off of rimfires a couple of years ago. I have tried cleaning between brands. Still took more than 10 rounds to settle.
Anymore I shoot 10 round groups and don’t clean between. I see POI differences in same brands but different lots or types. The first 2-3 will ride on previous lube, grouping much like the previous brand/type. The. The following 7-8 do their thing.

I first noticed this when I was trying to foul the bore with cheaper ammo, all the time knowing the lubes can and do make a huge difference. My premium ammo would scatter, then usually do a nice cluster.
It makes me wonder more times than not with some cheaper ammo if it would do better if one would or could apply a quality lube. I mean I have actually stagger fed my magazine with some cheaper ammo with premium and it groups better than by itself, the cheap that is. I messed around and ran 4 rounds of good then one round of cheap and the group was very acceptable with the cheap round going into the center of the hole by the previous four.

Thus my reasoning for pretty much discarding the first 3-4 round when I am testing ammo.

 

[1813benny]

I believe the above, IME, is correct. In fact, when I was shooting Lapua in competition, I always fouled with a couple of Eley rounds before switching to Lapua. The petroleum distillate lube used by Lapua always took a lot more shots in all my barrels for them to come back in from a clean bore. My last trip to the Lapua test center in Mesa (2019), I had the tech shoot several Eley rounds after I cleaned the bore. I always did my own cleaning based on round count when testing there, since 2015.

I was 'spoiled' during those years before Capstone took over Lapua in the North American market. IMO, Capstone ruined Lapua distribution with a capital 'R' and I have not even tested any since 2020. If I ever go back to Lapua at some time, I will still shoot Eley as a fouler, as the barrels I use come in much faster by doing so after cleaning. YMMV

Scott

I am always interested in reasons when someone trashes a manufacturer in public. Please elaborate with some specifics….

 

[doclu60]

I am always interested in reasons when someone trashes a manufacturer in public. Please elaborate with some specifics….

First off sir, I did not 'trash' a manufacturer. Capstone is NOT a MFG, it's a distribution company. Lapua RF ammo is at the top of it's game right now, especially in the circles I compete in. No 'trashing' about that, or the manufacturer.

I answered the OP's question from my experience shooting a large volume of upper tier match grade ammo over the last 5 years or so, both brands. If you have questions for me in light of how you posted quoting me, I do get PM's on this site.

Scott