Cleaning your precision rifle
- Thread starter Fore300
- Start date
Umm, are we supposed to clean them?
My barrel gets cleaned when accuracy suffers, and I wipe the action with a few patches, regularly. I use g96 on the patch, followed by dry patches.
When accuracy drops, I use Wipe Out. I'll let it soak a night then patch it clean.
My barrel gets cleaned when accuracy suffers, and I wipe the action with a few patches, regularly. I use g96 on the patch, followed by dry patches.
When accuracy drops, I use Wipe Out. I'll let it soak a night then patch it clean.
I use a foaming bore cleaner every range trip. Let it soak for 15-30 and run a patches through until dry. I repeat this process until first all the blue (copper fouling) then all the black (lead/powder foul) is gone. ie. patch is pure white. Then I run a patch through soaked in a little oil.
I'm one of those people that only cleans his guns when the accuracy is suffering.
I find that after cleaning my 338 I can shoot the first round in the dirt because Wipeout takes all the copper and consistency out of the barrel. My 223 takes 10 rounds to settle in.
The have a buddy with similar rifles and he cleans them everytime before the hey are put in the safe again.
I have noticed that my Bartlein and kreiger barrels don't hold copper as bad as some of the other barrels I have had.
A .338 Hart barrel I was using was accurate only when clean and 50 shots in, it suffered bad.
The above cleaning technique is the exact thing I do.
I find that after cleaning my 338 I can shoot the first round in the dirt because Wipeout takes all the copper and consistency out of the barrel. My 223 takes 10 rounds to settle in.
The have a buddy with similar rifles and he cleans them everytime before the hey are put in the safe again.
I have noticed that my Bartlein and kreiger barrels don't hold copper as bad as some of the other barrels I have had.
A .338 Hart barrel I was using was accurate only when clean and 50 shots in, it suffered bad.
The above cleaning technique is the exact thing I do.
I was taught ( Dad was a WWII vet - corrosive ammo etc. ) to clean a rifle after every outing and for the past 40 odd years of shooting I've done that. Of late however I have forced myself to try to let a rifle sit until accuracy drops off but it is hard to break old habits.
My cleaning regime is: Wipe Out - let it sit for 20 minutes then patches through until they look pretty good then a final patch soaked with a very light lubricant ( I like Gun Treatment ). If you come across a rifle that has tons of carbon fouling then the very best is good old CLR ( yes, the stuff you get at Canadian Tire) to get rid of the carbon followed by procedure I just described.
My cleaning regime is: Wipe Out - let it sit for 20 minutes then patches through until they look pretty good then a final patch soaked with a very light lubricant ( I like Gun Treatment ). If you come across a rifle that has tons of carbon fouling then the very best is good old CLR ( yes, the stuff you get at Canadian Tire) to get rid of the carbon followed by procedure I just described.
- Location
- chilliwack BC.
I clean quite well after it starts to get dirty, but I don't do anything about copper fouling.
maybe I should.
maybe I should.
The OP is getting some interesting feedback. For the past 50+ years I have been using aluminum or brass rods with a closed loop at the end for the patch. I now need a longer cleaning rod for a precision rifle with a 28-inch barrel. I couldn't find kits anywhere with loops. One clerk indicated that they have fallen into disuse.
Before I buy, I am hoping someone here can validate or comment on the advice from the store. It appears current practice favours a "plug-type" rod end, pushing an appropriate-sized patch. I assume the patch is expelled from the muzzle before repeating the process from the breech, since the patch isn't attached to the rod. This will take some getting used to.
Further, for longer barrels, I have yet to locate an alternative to carbon-fibre rods. I hope CGNers have had good success with these rods and rod ends, or that you will comment.
Before I buy, I am hoping someone here can validate or comment on the advice from the store. It appears current practice favours a "plug-type" rod end, pushing an appropriate-sized patch. I assume the patch is expelled from the muzzle before repeating the process from the breech, since the patch isn't attached to the rod. This will take some getting used to.
Further, for longer barrels, I have yet to locate an alternative to carbon-fibre rods. I hope CGNers have had good success with these rods and rod ends, or that you will comment.
I clean when accuracy suffers, or when I suspect the accuracy might be suffering, or when I get caught in the rain. More often than not they shoot better dirty, and anything that gets taken out needs to be put back in. There are exceptions and I do have a few that like a clean bore, clean being something under 50. The very rare one will shoot bug-holes right out of the gate and keep the CCB right in there.
The bottom line is the barrel will tell you what it wants, if you are listening.
The bottom line is the barrel will tell you what it wants, if you are listening.
Take a look at Nordic Marksman for the plug style, bought the system for my Annie and am quite happy
I clean the rifle during break-in and then before each match (then re-foul it). I typically go about 300-400 rounds between cleanings because you will typically fire that many rounds to practice, verify dope and shoot the match. Cleaning will throw your zero off, so you don't want to do that. I retire my competition barrels after they have over 1200 rounds on them (after 3-4 matches - 6x47L). Then they get set-back and used for barricade practice till they die completely. They may get cleaned once or twice during that time. I use a Dewey cleaning rod and a Sinclair bore guide.
Cleaning procedure is:
3 wet patches (Butches Bore Shine)
12 passes with a bronze brush (adding solvent every 4 passes)
Wait 10-15 min.
12 passes with a bronze brush (adding solvent every 4 passes)
Wait 10-15 min.
Wet patch till they come out white
Patch the bore dry
Patch over a 45 cal brush in the chamber to clean out the solvent and marker (accumulated from marking brass for matches)
Is it squeaky clean after that? Nope! Don't want it that way. Want it clean enough, but not so clean that I don't get my zero and velocity back after 5-8 shots. Rifle groups and the SDs are in the low-to-mid singles.
Cleaning procedure is:
3 wet patches (Butches Bore Shine)
12 passes with a bronze brush (adding solvent every 4 passes)
Wait 10-15 min.
12 passes with a bronze brush (adding solvent every 4 passes)
Wait 10-15 min.
Wet patch till they come out white
Patch the bore dry
Patch over a 45 cal brush in the chamber to clean out the solvent and marker (accumulated from marking brass for matches)
Is it squeaky clean after that? Nope! Don't want it that way. Want it clean enough, but not so clean that I don't get my zero and velocity back after 5-8 shots. Rifle groups and the SDs are in the low-to-mid singles.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
If you are looking for patch loop attachments, see Bore Tech for their new "brass" tips that don't leach blue...
Also, there are steel 1pc long rods from a few manfs.. Shooters Choice, Bore Tech.
Shipping long rods is expensive and open to being bent but there are options. PM or email if you can't find locally.
Jerry
Here is an interview with Paul Reid from Team Surgeon. At 6:50 he goes into cleaning:
https://soundcloud.com/precisionshootingpodcast/psp-ep52-paul-reid-from-team-surgeon
https://soundcloud.com/precisionshootingpodcast/psp-ep52-paul-reid-from-team-surgeon
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
Read an article on I think it was precision rifle blog. They built 2 rifles in the same caliber. One was cleaned after every shooting event. The other was cleaned when accuracy dropped. After the shooting season was over they were both cleaned once again to bare steel. The one that was always cleaned looked like a new barrel the other did not.
Which was reported to be more accurate?
- Location
- Calgary Ab
^^^^ This, also would like to know.
AlexSherwood
Member
- Location
- Maple ridge bc
I clean after every trip out shooting. It comes down to personal preference and what your gun likes and doesn’t like. My 338lapua Magnum doesn’t like to be dirty where as my little 223 can shoot dirty all day long. If you have a custom action with tight tolerances you’ll want to keep it clean. You will want to clean the locking lugs ,rails and reces on the bolt and in the action. If your shooting a mass produced rifle then the tolerances aren’t as tight so you can get away shooting dirty. It’s up to you but keep in mind a dirty action will attract dirt and grime. Then when you move the action your grinding that dirt and grime against all the moving parts. That’s just my thoughts and yes there are lots and lots of different opions on this one.
