Clean or not to clean

[paddlehead]

I know a few guys that swear by not ever cleaning the barrel of a gun to maintain accuracy/consistency. Other guys swear that every 50 shots or so, then one more round down the tube to get the oils etc out so there are no flyers the next time in the field.

What are some of your thoughts? I have a long range gun I got from a brother in law that has possibly several hundred rounds since the last cleaning. Wondering if it will effect accuracy, or anything else for that matter. Should I clean it or leave it? It shoots just under sub minute off a bipod. 30-378....

Thanks!!

 

[bradb]

test it and see

 

[gelton]

I try to clean as infrequently as possible, and my groups seem to tighten up around 100 rounds and I normally clean every 350-450 rounds. Here is a good video on the subject:

[video=youtube;_KRUAv3Byp4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KRUAv3Byp4&index=40&list=PLJUaiRIEduNXoal2_PkBZi0vDCIcEPxUn[/video]

 

[Sam Millard]

I know a few guys that swear by not ever cleaning the barrel of a gun to maintain accuracy/consistency. Other guys swear that every 50 shots or so, then one more round down the tube to get the oils etc out so there are no flyers the next time in the field.

What are some of your thoughts? I have a long range gun I got from a brother in law that has possibly several hundred rounds since the last cleaning. Wondering if it will effect accuracy, or anything else for that matter. Should I clean it or leave it? It shoots just under sub minute off a bipod. 30-378....

Thanks!!

If it were me, I would treat it like a new barrel, and clean it to bare metal to have a reference point for further data. I would clean it up, check zero and velocity with a cold, clean barrel, and see how much the velocity comes up when fouled. Then I would shoot it until it doesn't shoot well anymore before cleaning it. Keep notes on all of that, and cleaning/not cleaning becomes a non-issue. Mine get cleaned every 2-400 rounds.

 

[gelton]

^^^ What he said

 

[GKPrice]

If it were me, I would treat it like a new barrel, and clean it to bare metal to have a reference point for further data. I would clean it up, check zero and velocity with a cold, clean barrel, and see how much the velocity comes up when fouled. Then I would shoot it until it doesn't shoot well anymore before cleaning it. Keep notes on all of that, and cleaning/not cleaning becomes a non-issue. Mine get cleaned every 2-400 rounds.

I recently watched an active marine sniper interviewed and he said what gelton and Sam say to the word

 

[PathFinder]

When you guys do clean, is it copper and all, down to bare metal again or not? I've only ever lost accuracy due to fouling with one load (original Barnes X). But that's also my only precision rifle that I've had over 300 rounds through.

 

[BigDog00]

How do you guys that don't clean for a few hundred rounds store your guns? Do you run a wet patch down the tube or just leave it dry? I would think that if it sits long enough a dry barrel will rust.

 

[Sam Millard]

I store mine in a drag bag, the safe, or leaned against the window for coyote patrol. If it gets wet, I take the bolt out, wipe it down, clean the chamber and raceways, then stand it up barrel down overnight.

When I clean, I don't worry about even looking for copper, just powder fouling.

 

[gelton]

How do you guys that don't clean for a few hundred rounds store your guns? Do you run a wet patch down the tube or just leave it dry? I would think that if it sits long enough a dry barrel will rust.

Mine stays in a cabinet. My cleaning regimine depends on how long I plan on storing rifle if it's for months I give it a good cleaning if it's for weeks I don't. I haven't shot as much lately so just last week cleaned mine down to the bare metal, it just sucks starting over to get it seasoned again.

 

[5MilesBack]

When I clean, I don't worry about even looking for copper, just powder fouling.

I'm glad you said that. I thought I was odd. Maybe the wrong word to use, as my family would debate that I am most certainly odd, or at the minimum "not normal". I'm OK with that. I don't like what I see in society today as "normal".

 

[bhylton]

I store mine in a drag bag, the safe, or leaned against the window for coyote patrol. If it gets wet, I take the bolt out, wipe it down, clean the chamber and raceways, then stand it up barrel down overnight.

When I clean, I don't worry about even looking for copper, just powder fouling.

I hope this is not hijacking the thread. But what about during load development? I agree starting with a clean barrel to begin with, but i always have cleaned down to bare metal between range sessions during load development also. shoot maybe 12-15 round ( a few different powder charges or whatever) then clean before my next batch of loads. would you also suggest not cleaning during load development?

 

[Sam Millard]

I hope this is not hijacking the thread. But what about during load development? I agree starting with a clean barrel to begin with, but i always have cleaned down to bare metal between range sessions during load development also. shoot maybe 12-15 round ( a few different powder charges or whatever) then clean before my next batch of loads. would you also suggest not cleaning during load development?

Absolutely! I want to know how the load is going to shoot under the conditions I will be using it. If you clean between sessions, you are working with different loads, and different barrel conditions. There are enough variables to deal with as it is, the barrel condition shouldn't be one of them.

 

[bhylton]

Absolutely! I want to know how the load is going to shoot under the conditions I will be using it. If you clean between sessions, you are working with different loads, and different barrel conditions. There are enough variables to deal with as it is, the barrel condition shouldn't be one of them.

I got ya. So once your barrel is fouled (however many shots that takes) your barrel condition will be consistent up until it becomes, lets say, heavily fouled. And i would guess the number of shots it takes before a barrel really needs cleaning is going to differ between rifles, ie: a lapped, cut rifled custom barrel vs the factory barrel on my A-bolt.

 

[Sam Millard]

I got ya. So once your barrel is fouled (however many shots that takes) your barrel condition will be consistent up until it becomes, lets say, heavily fouled. And i would guess the number of shots it takes before a barrel really needs cleaning is going to differ between rifles, ie: a lapped, cut rifled custom barrel vs the factory barrel on my A-bolt.

Exactly! Generally speaking, the finer the finish, and the closer the dimensional tolerances of the barrel are held, the less it fouls, and the less it needs to be cleaned to stay accurate.

 

[wind gypsy]

What are some of your thoughts?.. several hundred rounds... 30-378....

Ready for a rebarrel?

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

 

[30338]

I got a laugh out of that one. Too funny.