This is something that I see posted quite a bit, but I don't know exactly what they are referring to. The comment that I see a lot is "More barrels have been ruined by improper cleaning than anything else." What are some of the common cleaning mistakes? How do they harm the barrels? And last, but not least, can the harm be reversed?

Most of the damage done to barrels while cleaning are from using the wrong equipment.
Use the best cleaning rod you can afford and do not use the aluminum ones you see at wally world. I like the coated rods myself,some people like the hard steel rods and others a bronze rod. Whatever rod you use wipe it down often as to keep it from dragging the same grime through the barrel that your trying to clean out.
Use a rod guide that fits either the breach or the muzzle depending if its a bolt,auto or lever. Dont try to kill the rod when stroking it through the barrel,excessive pressure on the rod will make it flex in the barrel and rub against it of the throat. Make slow smooth strokes with the rod when patching or brushing. Be real carefull of the throat and the crown of the barrel as that is where the most cleaning damage is done. Once the damage is done it can be fixed by re-crowning or re-cutting the throat. Bad cleaning habits will show up over time as the gun will just quit shooting worth a crap.:::::MV

Bad cleaning :
Mixing cleaning solutions
Cleaning from muzzle end
Cleaning without bore guide(some says so)
Cleaning without a coated rod
Cleaning without proper patch material
Cleaning with steel brush
Reverse brush in the bore
Forget to run oiled patch to protect bore
Forget to remove oil in the bore before shoot
Solutions run back into action(ruin wood or bedding)
Using undersized rod(rod should fit caliber so rod doesn't bend and scrape the rifling)
Not doing cleaning when you should.

Only stainless steel one piece rods are exceptable to me...brass, coated pick up particles of grit and scratch bores....lots of throats are washed by rods. gouged lands occur through poor cleaning practices, most never know it happened.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com