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This question is coming from someone who grew up in the benchrest shooting community where we cleaned barrels rigorously between every relay to the line averaging less than ten shots total between cleaning.



If the groups are still tight...

If the shots are still hitting the point of aim...

If we live in dry desert climates without notable concern for rust...

Why do we clean rifle and handgun barrels ?


Why don't we wait until the gun tells us to clean it by actual reduced performance ?

Have heard some folks talk about going a 1,000 rounds of more without degraded accuracy performance.

Thoughts ?


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i hate cleaning guns, unless they are doing something weird

The main reason rifles are cleaned is so we can argue about which bore cleaner/foam/solvent is da best.

I guess you clean the bore for the same reason you clean the entire rifle. It's part of taking care of your equipment. And I think there is a happy medium between anal bench rest cleaning and gratuitus neglect.
As some of the fellows with their SS and plastic rifles are learning, you can't just toss old trusty rusty into the closet and wait for it to start stringing shots. By then, under that fine coating of copper and crud, may be a nice layer of rust or some really neat pits.
If I understand correctly, carbon fouling is hydroscopic --it draws moisture. And so, even in a dry region, you could have a problem.

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
I guess you clean the bore for the same reason you clean the entire rifle. It's part of taking care of your equipment. And I think there is a happy medium between anal bench rest cleaning and gratuitus neglect.
As some of the fellows with their SS and plastic rifles are learning, you can't just toss old trusty rusty into the closet and wait for it to start stringing shots. By then, under that fine coating of copper and crud, may be a nice layer of rust or some really neat pits.
If I understand correctly, carbon fouling is hydroscopic --it draws moisture. And so, even in a dry region, you could have a problem.

I am definitely in the latter category but you make good points for the casual shooter. Who just throws "Ole Betsy" in the closet after the season...

I don't consider running an oily patch through the bore and wiping down with oily rag to be "cleaning". I clean because I was taught to...

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Since barrels are cheap...

Shilen, Pac-Nor, et al, will send you another barrel any time for only the exchange of a little number from a plastic card.

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I do it because I like consistency. How many shots before accuracy falls of??? How do you keep track of this????

I don't want my round count to be at "Failing accuracy" when I need accuracy.


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Are there any differences in cleaning a stainless steel barrel ?

quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
...taking care of your equipment. ... under that fine coating of copper and crud, may be a nice layer of rust or some really neat pits. ...

The BeeMan has landed two right on the nose.

quote:

Posted by Mete:
Are there any differences in cleaning a stainless steel barrel ?

When I Kill something after or during a rain, or when the woods is dripping, the Stainless and Synthetic allow me more time to get the Game Skinned and Gutted. With Termite Food Stocks and constantly Rusting Blue steel, if you do not hurry and "dry and clean" the rifle first, then it will assume a Brown Patina both inside and outside. Plus "Warp" the Termite Food into a constantly shifting new position which will totally change the Point-of-Impact from day to day. Termite Food continualy absorbs and releases moisture, just the way it works.

I'd rather take care of a "known good barrel" and not let it get damaged, than to spend $$$money$$$ on a new one and take a chance on it being not quite as good as the old one. Plus the Time used redeveloping all the Loads and the Time spent on getting it Replaced are always in short supply..

With the Gun Cleaning products available today(2010), it is very easy to keep a firearm clean with a short amount of time and effort.

quote:

Posted by Hammer:
...folks talk about going a 1,000 rounds of more without degraded accuracy performance.

Perhaps they are into "Barn Shooting"!

There are a increaseing number of shooters that don't clean barrels much.
Take a typical rough factory barrel. Half of them won't shoot until you get them dirty. Clean it down to bare metal and you have to put it back in before it settles down. You will find that the barrel gets more fouling shots than hunting shots.
OK, you could argue that you want to preserve it, but why in the name of all that's holy would you want to preserve something like that? So it can torment you longer?

I'm finding lately that I can extend time alot between serious cleanings with the occasional pass of a boresnake. Also a pass of the boresnake before a serious cleaning seems to speed it up alot. Anyone ever seen negative consequences from a boresnake?

quote:

Originally posted by Hammer:
.

This question is coming from someone who grew up in the benchrest shooting community where we cleaned barrels rigorously between every relay to the line averaging less than ten shots total between cleaning.



If the groups are still tight...

If the shots are still hitting the point of aim...

If we live in dry desert climates without notable concern for rust...

Why do we clean rifle and handgun barrels ?


Why don't we wait until the gun tells us to clean it by actual reduced performance ?

Have heard some folks talk about going a 1,000 rounds of more without degraded accuracy performance.

Thoughts ?


.

Why do I clean my barrels?

- Being that copper sticks to copper and builds upon itself, I like to keep it in check to ensure that the barrel ID is burnished with a hard layer of carbon without the copper getting out of hand.

- Being that my hunting rifles are not always stored and used in a controlled low humidity environment, are often exposed to big temperatures swings, and at times are completely soaked through and through, I like to ensure the barrel ID is maintained to prevent damage through oxidation.

- I like the knowledge of having a well maintained vetted rifle when afield and I believe that ignoring the barrel ID can be as bad as being too aggressive and can easily result in irreversible damage.

Rust never sleeps and pits can run deep. If you wait for the time the gun tells you something is wrong, it's too late.

Best

I dote on my rifles, they are my spoiled children getting their barrels cleaned after every shooting session.
My revolvers are, once tuned, the load and diameter determined, are cleaned once a year or every thousand rounds. Which ever comes first.

Jim

I hit 780 rounds through my 6.5x47 Lapua today. I haven't cleaned my bore in over 500 rounds. I shot a .111" 5-shot group last week. I live in Utah, a dry climate. My normal humidity runs 50% at night to about 20% during the day. When we have a storm it may hit 80% humidity.

Alan

GSSP where I live 80% humidity is normal if not low. LOL. I live on the coast of Texas, on a small penensula(friggin spelling). Humidity here most of the time is 80% and above. Right now in my shop it is 100% because of the time of the year. Gotta keep'em. oiled a little to keep' em from turning into a rust bucket. My safe has a 750ml dessicant in t. No rust in 15 yrs.

quote:

Originally posted by GSSP:
I hit 780 rounds through my 6.5x47 Lapua today. I haven't cleaned my bore in over 500 rounds. I shot a .111" 5-shot group last week. I live in Utah, a dry climate. My normal humidity runs 50% at night to about 20% during the day. When we have a storm it may hit 80% humidity.

Alan

I have talked about this with some of the guys I shoot with who are serious competitors and most of them go as long as you between cleanings.

I can't make myself do it!

BTW, I've been beating them pretty regular-like...

I'm retired and sorta a average shooter with handguns and go to the range once or twice a week. My favorites are in descending order are: 45ACP, 357 Mag, 380mm ( carry gun ) and .22 Ruger Single Six. Rifles are AK47 and .243 Win. theses kids get cleaned along withe the .380.

I reload all but the .22, D'oh, and would rather spend the time to reload than clean after every session.

Some of you guys they clean 'cause of accuracy falling off. Are you sure it's not just you having a bad day? I'd bet that even the bench rest kids have off days where they shoot only 1 inch MOA @ 200 yds.

quote:

Originally posted by Hammer:
.

This question is coming from someone who grew up in the benchrest shooting community where we cleaned barrels rigorously between every relay to the line averaging less than ten shots total between cleaning.



If the groups are still tight...

If the shots are still hitting the point of aim...

If we live in dry desert climates without notable concern for rust...

Why do we clean rifle and handgun barrels ?


Why don't we wait until the gun tells us to clean it by actual reduced performance ?

Have heard some folks talk about going a 1,000 rounds of more without degraded accuracy performance.

Thoughts ?


.

Just experiences something along these lines that have changed my mind about cleaning frequency.

I have always been one to clean my barrels totally clean after a range session.

I went to a match with a barrel shooting well in practice, cleaned it well before the match and accuracy and POI went all to hell. Took many rounds for it to settle down.

Next instance was with a newly barreled rifle that was broken in. Had a good -0- while shooting load development. Found a load. Went home and loaded a bunch up and cleaned the rifle.

The first couple of shots were low and subsequent shots walked up to -0- THEN began to group well.


I won't be cleaning my rifles anymore UNTIL I SEE DEGRADED ACCURACY!

quote:

I won't be cleaning my rifles anymore UNTIL I SEE DEGRADED ACCURACY

I seem to really clean my barrels almost never. Only if they develope a significant issue. Usually a light oil patch after firing and dry patch before.

I have a factory MKX 22-250. I shot .75MOA when knew last count it has 7-8000 rounds down the barrel. It has never had a serious cleaning and groups are still in the .75" range. I keep saying when accuracy goes I'll replace it.

I think for a lot of us is because that is what we did in the military. It took me a while to break the habit of cleaning every piece of carbon off or or in the weapon.

Jim

gives us something to do on long cold winter nights

I would clean and clean and clean till the cows came home. Now, I don't get too uptight. I guess in some respects it's a Freudian thing caressing and fondling. D'oh! I gotta do it more!