Cleaning after only a few rounds
- Thread starter Yehen
- Start date
troutseeker
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Prince George, BC
Sure, I do it all the time. I used to religiously clean my guns after every shoot. Now it's more like a couple times a year... I don't find it makes a lot of difference in the way they shoot. The only one I clean regularly is my .223 as I put a lot of rounds through it, and I expect laser accuracy (mind you it shoots just as well dirty...).
Troutseeker
Troutseeker
1300_stainless
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia, Canada
I usually clean after each use. I've seen first hand how bad/quickly a dirty gun can wear parts down. It's not going to hurt them to be clean. Depends on what you are shooting too, if its dirtier ammo you should clean more often. You only shot 5 so it's not a big deal, unless the guns going to sit a long time before being shot with all that crud in the barrel. I think of it this way: I've never had a gun malfunction from being clean, but I have had it the other way around.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Be more concern about corrosion then powder fouling.
I live in a very dry climate and some of my rifles don't get cleaned...AT ALL.
These shoot best with a fouled pipe and the modern powders work just fine. It is almost like the pipe reaches a stable condition of dirt yielding excellent performance.
I will lube the working parts which ensures reliable function.
Like TS, I have been shooting my 223 alot. About every 100rds, I run a clean dry patch down the pipe to swab out the powder fouling. It usually takes a few rds to settle back down indicating that it prefers a fouled bore.
I have only chemically cleaned it 3 times in 750rds. There were no signs of copper fouling at all. I didn't clean because accuracy fell off, just that I felt guilty.
This is a super match pac nor that is working really well.
Troutseeker, want to come down for some shooting?
Jerry
I live in a very dry climate and some of my rifles don't get cleaned...AT ALL.
These shoot best with a fouled pipe and the modern powders work just fine. It is almost like the pipe reaches a stable condition of dirt yielding excellent performance.
I will lube the working parts which ensures reliable function.
Like TS, I have been shooting my 223 alot. About every 100rds, I run a clean dry patch down the pipe to swab out the powder fouling. It usually takes a few rds to settle back down indicating that it prefers a fouled bore.
I have only chemically cleaned it 3 times in 750rds. There were no signs of copper fouling at all. I didn't clean because accuracy fell off, just that I felt guilty.
This is a super match pac nor that is working really well.
Troutseeker, want to come down for some shooting?
Jerry
I agree entirely with Mysticplayer's approach. The cleaning of the barrel itself has done little for me other than the fulfillment of some obligation, and tends to screw up accuracy until I've fired a few more shots through it.
I too used to be a religious cleaner, cleaning everything before it went back into the safe. That got old pretty fast.
I'll clean my rifles that fire corrosive religiously. Right after shooting, before packing them into the truck, they get a spray down the barrel with brake cleaner, and a couple swabs with a bore snake. Then a swap with oil. Once home they get a complete strip down.
My other firearms that don't shoot corrosive get cleaned when the round counts are getting high or they start to look dirty enough to clean. Some times all they get is some oil and a couple passes through the barrel with a bore snake.
I'll clean my rifles that fire corrosive religiously. Right after shooting, before packing them into the truck, they get a spray down the barrel with brake cleaner, and a couple swabs with a bore snake. Then a swap with oil. Once home they get a complete strip down.
My other firearms that don't shoot corrosive get cleaned when the round counts are getting high or they start to look dirty enough to clean. Some times all they get is some oil and a couple passes through the barrel with a bore snake.
I can't make up my mind about this question to be honest. Up until lately I've been a clean freak, but lately I'll put them away dirty and do a very sloppy clean before I take them out shooting, but I always make sure the action mechanisms get cleaned and lubed properly. The barrel just doesn't seem to really need it, especially in the .22 which I don't clean at all other than the action now.
I still feel like I will go back to cleaning everything properly again but only before I go to shoot.
I still feel like I will go back to cleaning everything properly again but only before I go to shoot.
I've discovered that on my Savage 300wm, the first couple of shots after cleaning the barrel with copper / nitro solvent are dramatically off (impact low). I'll keep track of my group size and not clean the barrel unless it opens up. I can hardly take a rifle out on a hunt that doesn't hit on the first shot where I sighted it in. Better off leaving it mildly dirty.
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This is a great thread & interesting question -
I clean my gun after every shoot (in a 2 hour shoot I only take about 25 shots since I need to keep the barrel cool & want to make every shot count) - and I clean every time with a copper solvent (nylon brush, dry patches & M-Pro 7) - never noticed groups opening up (other than due to an overheated barrel or me screwing up) -
Should I relax a bit on the constant cleaning & maybe only do it every hundred or so shots (ie: 4-5 shoots....)? From what I read here I'm overdoing it a bit -
I clean my gun after every shoot (in a 2 hour shoot I only take about 25 shots since I need to keep the barrel cool & want to make every shot count) - and I clean every time with a copper solvent (nylon brush, dry patches & M-Pro 7) - never noticed groups opening up (other than due to an overheated barrel or me screwing up) -
Should I relax a bit on the constant cleaning & maybe only do it every hundred or so shots (ie: 4-5 shoots....)? From what I read here I'm overdoing it a bit -
I honestly don't notice a difference in accuracy after cleaning in my Tikka, it's always the same clean, dirty, hot or cold barrel. It's a stainless steel, heavy barrel so maybe that has something to do with it... IDK for sure.
I've heard people say that the "fouling shot" which is the first after cleaning seals all the imperfections in the barrel lands and grooves which improves accuracy.
I have trouble believing that anything in the barrel other than the distinct lack of rifling or a MAJOR crack, pit or high spot could really affect accuracy. As long as the bullet starts spiraling out of the barrel the accuracy should be there and the gun has done its part. Think about it, that bullet is being pushed by something in the neighbourhood of 40 000 psi of pressure on average if not more. A little blob of powder is really going to do something to a bullet going 3000 fps?
IMO, cleaning is more about maintenance and ensuring your firearm lasts. I do feel that buildup of grime in the barrel and action creates more wear, FASTER which LEADS to increased inaccuracy, however. I'm a mechanic by trade, and that makes sense to me. Changing the oil in your engine every 5000 kms or 3 months doesn't affect the power or performance significantly, BUT by doing that simple maintenance you prolong the life of the engine by reducing the number of wear particles in the engine itself.
Once your barrel is broken in, that's as accurate as it's ever going to be, your job is to keep it from wearing in more as long as possible.
So to make a long answer short... go ahead and clean as often as you want, because you're not doing any harm by cleaning MORE often (other than maybe stripping screws when you don't use the proper sized screwdrivers to take the rifle apart!!)
I've heard people say that the "fouling shot" which is the first after cleaning seals all the imperfections in the barrel lands and grooves which improves accuracy.
I have trouble believing that anything in the barrel other than the distinct lack of rifling or a MAJOR crack, pit or high spot could really affect accuracy. As long as the bullet starts spiraling out of the barrel the accuracy should be there and the gun has done its part. Think about it, that bullet is being pushed by something in the neighbourhood of 40 000 psi of pressure on average if not more. A little blob of powder is really going to do something to a bullet going 3000 fps?
IMO, cleaning is more about maintenance and ensuring your firearm lasts. I do feel that buildup of grime in the barrel and action creates more wear, FASTER which LEADS to increased inaccuracy, however. I'm a mechanic by trade, and that makes sense to me. Changing the oil in your engine every 5000 kms or 3 months doesn't affect the power or performance significantly, BUT by doing that simple maintenance you prolong the life of the engine by reducing the number of wear particles in the engine itself.
Once your barrel is broken in, that's as accurate as it's ever going to be, your job is to keep it from wearing in more as long as possible.
So to make a long answer short... go ahead and clean as often as you want, because you're not doing any harm by cleaning MORE often (other than maybe stripping screws when you don't use the proper sized screwdrivers to take the rifle apart!!)
Generally, more wear is caused to your rifle's bore by poor cleaning practices, than the bullets going down it. Cleaning rods rubbing the bore repeatedly cause more damage than most think, especially on guns that must be cleaned from the muzzle. Bore guides will help here, as will good cleaning rods and care in their use.
I clean mine as needed, which means guns I haven't shot much may go years between cleanings.
I clean mine as needed, which means guns I haven't shot much may go years between cleanings.
Good thread, now I won't feel so guilty for leaving mine sitting a while before cleaning. I do like to sit down on a quiet evening and set out all the gear for a good cleaning occasionally but nowhere near as often as I used to - I think it's more about the hands on equipment stuff more than a real need to clean. After shooting my handguns at the range I do a few swipes with an all in one cleaner and my boresnakes and then I will do a light cleaning before shooting again.
There are those that over clean (military types and benchrest shooters)
Those that clean inadequately (don't really know what to but some something)
And then of course this is the lazy person like me that only cleans when I need to.
I am not trying to cut down the benchresters, they are looking for the accuracy in the .1's and .2's. If they didn't clean the other shooters would be horrified and warn him that his #### will fall off. But seriously most people are not looking for that type of accuracy, nor can most factory rifles hold that accuracy. If I shot that game, i would likely clean more often.
The military types i.e military, former military, cadets have all been told their wpn needs to be clean. This is true to make it function properly, the military doesn't really care if it can shoot 1/4 moa as long as it goes bang when you pull the trigger every time. So do as the good MCpl says and clean your rifle.
Then comes the lazy sods like me. My rifle gets a wipe down when it needs it. The bolt gets the locking lugs and primary extractor greased every day I use it. The barrel only gets cleaned when the groups open up. The bullseye in my game is about 2 moa. I shoot prone with a jacket and sling iron sights without any other support. On a good day the rifle and I can shoot 1-1.5 moa of elevation. If the rifle starts shooting over this is when I start thinking about the last time I cleaned it.
Those that clean inadequately (don't really know what to but some something)
And then of course this is the lazy person like me that only cleans when I need to.
I am not trying to cut down the benchresters, they are looking for the accuracy in the .1's and .2's. If they didn't clean the other shooters would be horrified and warn him that his #### will fall off. But seriously most people are not looking for that type of accuracy, nor can most factory rifles hold that accuracy. If I shot that game, i would likely clean more often.
The military types i.e military, former military, cadets have all been told their wpn needs to be clean. This is true to make it function properly, the military doesn't really care if it can shoot 1/4 moa as long as it goes bang when you pull the trigger every time. So do as the good MCpl says and clean your rifle.
Then comes the lazy sods like me. My rifle gets a wipe down when it needs it. The bolt gets the locking lugs and primary extractor greased every day I use it. The barrel only gets cleaned when the groups open up. The bullseye in my game is about 2 moa. I shoot prone with a jacket and sling iron sights without any other support. On a good day the rifle and I can shoot 1-1.5 moa of elevation. If the rifle starts shooting over this is when I start thinking about the last time I cleaned it.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I seldom let my rifles go more than 50 rounds between cleanings, although there have been exceptions. One reason is because I don't want to invest a great deal of time in the cleaning procedure, but another is that I am more concerned with the effects of moisture and salt spray than I am with powder or jacket fouling. Attention to these problems requires more care than simply scrubbing the bore clean. At times of rain or high humidity, or when the rifle has been exposed to salt spray, or begins to sweat after being brought into a warm building after a day out in the cold, I find it prudent to pull the action out of the stock, strip the bolt and treat all the metal surfaces with a water displacing product. My hard use rifles all have synthetic stocks, so leaving the metal wet with Gun Juice, Super Lube, or even WD-40 inside the stock does no harm.
The use of a foaming bore cleaner like Wipe Out, makes cleaing so easy that there is little reason to put up with a badly fouled bore. My single exception to the Wipe Out process is with my .308 target rifle. It cleans up quickly with Sweets, and I know that when I'm done there are no lingering traces of copper. Three or four times a year I might use Sweets in my other rifles just to ensure there hasn't been a spot that the foam missed that might be building up. The foam does turn a bit gummy if not completely removed, so now I run a patch soaked in Microlon over the trigger sear, bolt and bolt rails, and through the bore when I'm done.
The use of a foaming bore cleaner like Wipe Out, makes cleaing so easy that there is little reason to put up with a badly fouled bore. My single exception to the Wipe Out process is with my .308 target rifle. It cleans up quickly with Sweets, and I know that when I'm done there are no lingering traces of copper. Three or four times a year I might use Sweets in my other rifles just to ensure there hasn't been a spot that the foam missed that might be building up. The foam does turn a bit gummy if not completely removed, so now I run a patch soaked in Microlon over the trigger sear, bolt and bolt rails, and through the bore when I'm done.
Wait a minute - I have bolt action Rem 700 - but I have never taken anything apart for cleaning -
All I do is remove the bolt & clean the bore (chamber to muzzle) with patches, nylon brush & copper solvent. Then I have some kind of gun lube that I wipe over the bolt & in the magazine area. Never took anything apart, or touched the trigger or bolt anything like that. Its a target gun (heavy SS bbl, laminate stock) with probably 400 shots through it. Should I be completely taking it apart to clean it from time to time?
I'll be honest, I have no idea how to even do that -
All I do is remove the bolt & clean the bore (chamber to muzzle) with patches, nylon brush & copper solvent. Then I have some kind of gun lube that I wipe over the bolt & in the magazine area. Never took anything apart, or touched the trigger or bolt anything like that. Its a target gun (heavy SS bbl, laminate stock) with probably 400 shots through it. Should I be completely taking it apart to clean it from time to time?
I'll be honest, I have no idea how to even do that -
Remingtons are notorious for oil creeping between the action and bedding because both bedding screw come up through the action. There are only 2 screw to take it apart, so you might want to have a peek at it. You should also lube the rear of the locking lugs and the front of the bolt handle where it attached to the bolt. A little dab of gun grease goes a long way.
