I have a model 70 30-06, and I have been doing some work on ( pillar bedding lapping scope rings ,trigger work ect.) a Rem 700 mountain rifle. seems both guns are a bit more happy fouled or dirty 10 - 20 rounds just still getting better? I am not a bench rest shooter and I am sure I have better and worse days at the trigger. still both guns just seam to keep getting better if I clean less? !! Both guns have had 200 or so rounds fired with very good cleanings and break in protocol. What do you folks think, your experance? Please.

I can't sleep at night if I have a dirty rifle in my safe. That's just me. Some of my rifles shoot better fouled. I think I know which ones they are and just plan on it

I'm actually on the fence and I'm about to throw my "rifle must be clean" attitude out the window and replace it with an "as long as it ain't rusting away and still shoots better than me" attitude. I'll save a few gray hairs and a bit of blood pressure

Hello,
When I shoot the rifle and return home, I clean the rifle/pistol/shotgun, etc. Good practice to get into as long as you are not using a bare metal rod, cleaning from the muzzle and wearing out the lands and grooves from the unprotected rod. Just a routine developed over a long number of years. Others may vary of course and can do as they wish, but above is my approach.

Hi MW

Here's how you do it, a distillate of many frustrating hours of weird groups and inconsistencies.
1) Clean the barrel and decopper it with whatever you like until the patches have no blue on them.
2) Go shoot
2) Using Hoppes No9 yellow label patch the barrel until its clean the put a wet patch through and put it away.
3) Next time you go out put a wet patch through and then a dry on to remove any solvent.
4) When you return whether you fired a shot or not put a wet patch through and put it away.
5) Decopper only when you fing groupings open up.

Using benchrest cleaning techniques with a hunting rifle can turn you nuts as you can't shoot a fouling shot.

Forum bragging aside mt Sauer 202 groupsd 0.4" on a cold clean barrel 3 shot group using this technique. An for as factory sporter that has made all the difference.

Mark

I live 500m from the ocean.I clean and oil after every shoot.
rob

quote:

Originally posted by Maine Woods:
...I have better and worse days at the trigger. still both guns just seam to keep getting better if I clean less? !! ...

Hey MW, We all have days where our focus and concentration is not what it should be. Realizing that is a big step toward reducing group size.

I also clean my rifles more than most folks do. Most of mine average in the 6s when I do my part with pristine clean barrels. I have no idea at all how they shoot with a bunch of bullets through the barrels, cause I clean then every 6 to 9 shots.

I know when I hunt that my rifles go afield with a clean, lightly lubed bore. The thing that is of utmost interest to me is where the "First Shot" will go from the barrel in that condition. I've never had to take a 3rd shot at Game in over 5 decades of hunting, so I'm also interested where the 2nd shot lands in relation to the 1st shot. But having a bunch of bullets close together is of no practicle use for my hunting.

So, I clean and clean and clean while shooting. I actually prefer to shoot a "cumulatinve 1-shot group" on a single target. Meaning 1-shot, clean and shoot, again and again. That tells me what I'm really interested in.

Plus, I never have to concern myself with Pitting created by a dirty bore. Just not an issue in "my" firearms.
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I see lot sof folks mention in various threads that "more barrels are damaged by over-cleaning" than anything else.

I suppose if they are blind-running-drunk or using the wrong cleaning equipment(a rat tail file in the bore ) then they could indeed mess one up. (Or leave Ammonia in it too long.) But if a person uses a bit of common sense, follows the directions on the specific Bore Cleaner he is using, I see no "rational" reason for cleaning a Bore to hurt it.

Best of luck to you.

Thank you all for your reply's I did my copper clean faoming cleaner ( outers)and then brush with Hoppes No. 9 and patch untill clean and dry. The gun has about 200 rounds fired now and I did 100 hand strokes with brush and JB bore bright about 60 rounds ago. Cleaning is easyer and groups are very good ( I am not David Tubbs! ) after cleaning last time first shots where OK POI and group 1.5 " as I shot more groups tightened up sub MOA ( could be me getting into the groove ? ) I think I will go more along what Mark H said. I have been worried about copper because I am shooting the Barnes TSX ,but I am seeing very little copper when I clean. Thanks All

Before I do anyting, my rifle gets cleaned, while I don't go anal over it, I like my barrels clean. Sounds like you have a good handle on it. Lot of barrels are ruined by over and improper cleaning than are ever shot out. Most of the shot out rifles I ever seen were just copper fouled and needed some care. I ended up with some pretty good rifle because of it. Its been a problem ever since the small bore high veliocity cartrige and rifle was invented. There are some really good products out now.

Another good reason to clean as soon as you get home is to get all that "missed" ammo out.

I'm starting to feel guilty (and lazy) after reading this thread. During hunting season my cleaning routine is limited to a wipe down, oiling the surfaces and running a couple Hoppes soakes patchs through the bore if I fired the rifle. I probably don't fire any one rifle more than 20 times during a really good season, and I'm not shooting copper bullets, but this routine has worked fine for me.

Maine, where are you from in Maine?

Hi b beyer I live in Turner. I have been cleaning a little less often, and a lot less agresively and all is well, Thanks MarkH.