Barrel Cleaning

[ebruder]

OK I'm a bit confused...

I have been reading a great deal of confusion over the issue of barrel cleaning.

Some people say clean the bore every 20 rnds... others say at the end of every range session... others still say every 200 rnds... and others advocate waiting until the groups start to open (presumably several hundred rounds)... and some will say sue the gun juice every time you go to the range and avoid the whole brush, patch, brush, patch routine...

What do you guys think is the best way to keep your barrel clean... both in terms of barrel life and accuracy? Can you over clean your barrel?

 

[KING AK]

Clean it at the end of the day. 20 rounds isnt much, 200 I would say is excessive.

Try to keep crap out of the barrel and action and I think 50 rds or end of the day would be fine.

I dont think there is a way to over clean but you dont want to damage the surface. If you think its clean then send a clean swab thru and if its clean your good to go.

 

[maynard]

Clean it when the groups open up. I shoot fullbore target rifle so I alway keep an eye on the vertical displacement of the shots. When it starts shooting 3/4 MOA or more it is time to clean.
Benchrest shooters on the other hand clean a lot more then fire fouling shots to get the groups back. They are looking for accuracy in the .200" while Fullbore shooters are happy with 1/2 minute.
People that make and sell cleaning products want you clean every day or every 20 rounds, that's how they make their living. I say shoot it until the groups open up.

 

[Tony Gauthier]

Cleaning regime really depends on the bbl. involved. If you are talking about a factory bbl. you don't need to worry about cleaning until your groups open up. I have seen factory bbls. too clean. Most factory bbls. prefer a little copper in them, they seem to shoot better that way. All you can do is try it clean and then try it with a little fouling, you will see what it likes easy enough. Even match bbls. will show a shooter how often to clean. I have had match bbls that I only needed to clean after 30-40 rds. and others that needed to be cleaned after 10 shots. It is usually more of a carbon fouling that I worry about. A good match bbl. usually dosn't copper foul much...Tony