[JEFFJP_N_JJ]

Have been doing this 'ten dot hot shot' thing here and have wondered how often I should clean the barrel on my rifle?
Any recommendations from the shooters here...
Thanks,
Jeff

 

[geeck]

Sparingly... I contend more wear is introduced to a rifle by the cleaning rod than the bullets for most "shooters".

If you feel the need to spend quality time with your rifle do it at the range.

 

[JEFFJP_N_JJ]

Sparingly... I contend more wear is introduced to a rifle by the cleaning rod than the bullets for most "shooters".

If you feel the need to spend quality time with your rifle do it at the range.

Am tending to agree. I changed my flash hider to a muzzle brake and NOW my bore guide is sloppy and does not fit!?

 

[XXIV Corps]

I have always cleaned my rifle after returning from the rifle range. And I use a coated cleaning rod for the past twenty years on the barrels.



DI5

 

[us rifle]

I don't clean the barrels on mine every time they get shoot. I know some high power shooters don't clean their match ar barrels every match and may go 500+ rounds before cleaning. If they can shoot accurately in competition at 600 yards with a "dirty" barrel then I'm certainly not going to worry about cleaning the barrel every so many shots on a m14. If I was shooting bench rest I'd be pickier.

 

[JEFFJP_N_JJ]

I have always cleaned my rifle after returning from the rifle range. And I use a coated cleaning rod for the past twenty years on the barrels.




DI5

Yes, thanks, XXIV Corps,
As have I but am worried about my loose muzzle guide and have been using a .22 cal one. I use Dewey solid coated rods

 

[JEFFJP_N_JJ]

I just ordered me a new muzzle guide from Midway that is correct for the CA compliant muzzle brake

 

[Magnumdood]

Agreed

Sparingly... I contend more wear is introduced to a rifle by the cleaning rod than the bullets for most "shooters".

If you feel the need to spend quality time with your rifle do it at the range.

I agree wholeheartedly. That's why I'm shooting Moly-coated bullets only in my bolt gun. I'll probably wear the barrel out before I actually need to clean it.

I know I can't do that with a gas gun, but I'd still hold the cleaning to a minimum. I've got 10 cleaning rods hanging in my man cave. The stiffest one is a Witchta Xtreme. Even when I'm pushing a tight patch through the bore that rod isn't flexing. I wish I had bought it when they first came out.

 

[Eagle7840]

I like to clean my firearm bores after a range shooting, just habit. But I've relaxed a bit and clean it based upon the rounds fired. If you're concerned about muzzle wear use a nylon guide or a bore snake. As a reminder, that a clean bore will usually shoot higher than a fouled barrel. So whether you're hunting or at the range take a couple of fouling shots so you replicate the bore's condition when it was last sighted in. Thanks for the tip from Mr. Brownell

 

[Girth]

I clean my chamber regularly, as well as touch up grease as needed. Gas Piston/Plug gets cleaned every few hundred rounds. Everything else gets a detail cleaning once a year.

Used to be a religious cleaner..... giving the "neglect" thing a try for a while now. Rifle is running strong, and still out shooting me..... but Im getting better, so it may be time to upgrade in the future.

 

[JoshN]

I'm now a simple 3-4 passes with a boresnake only guy. I used to go over the top cleaning out the copper fouling down to metal after every range trip but my accuracy eventually showed it wasn't really helping anything. I haven't used a rod from the muzzle end in quite a awhile and none of my rifles are neglected nor noticed a decrease in accuracy.... Edit: That's just for the barrel. The rest of the parts (actions, bolts, trigger assemblies) are immaculate & cleaned regularly.

 

[smoothy8500]

I'm in agreement with us rifle. I probably go 4 to 500 rounds before cleaning the bore and gas system. Chamber gets a cleaning after each match though. I don't see any change in my 600yd accuracy before or after cleaning the bore. Criterion barrel doesn't seem to get too fouled. My NM AR15A2 for sure gets a bolt cleaning around 200 rounds or that will jam up.

 

[JEFFJP_N_JJ]

I'm now a simple 3-4 passes with a boresnake only guy. I used to go over the top cleaning out the copper fouling down to metal after every range trip but my accuracy eventually showed it wasn't really helping anything. I haven't used a rod from the muzzle end in quite a awhile and none of my rifles are neglected nor noticed a decrease in accuracy.

Thanks you guys, Girth and Planoguy,

Am learning here and am shooting 40+ rounds a weekend at least. I LOVE my bore snake!

 

[Girth]

Thanks you guys, Girth and Planoguy,

Am learning here and am shooting 40+ rounds a weekend at least. I LOVE my bore snake!

Just remember to clean that boresnake. You'll see some equate it to pulling a dirty shoelace through your barrel. GI1 If you arent cleaning it between uses, thats probably not too far from the truth. I'll pull mine through on occasion, like if I was shooting some dirty surplus, but always clean it between uses.

 

[Bill3508]

Not cleaning and leaving powder residue/ buildup.is asking for moisture exposure and subsequent rust. Absolutely no reason not to clean your rifle after a range session.

 

[timrb]

I just ordered me a new muzzle guide from Midway that is correct for the CA compliant muzzle brake

Don't know what kind of muzzle brake you have, but for mine I found that a 12 gauge shotgun shell with the primer drilled out works perfectly. YMMV

Tim

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Bore snakes bite....

.....OTIS......come home from range and right after a wipe down bore gets a lightly oiled patch pulled once....before going to range bore gets another lightly oiled patch pulled once....if accuracy starts falling off it's time for a complete barrel bath....

I got tired of washing out bore snakes....and my wife banned me from putting them in washer and dish washer.

 

[JEFFJP_N_JJ]

Don't know what kind of muzzle brake you have, but for mine I found that a 12 gauge shotgun shell with the primer drilled out works perfectly. YMMV

Tim

thanks tim but I had the right one for my flash hider but when it was changed to a muzzle brake it was loose so just googled and ordered a new one

 

[JEFFJP_N_JJ]

Bore snakes bite....

.....OTIS......come home from range and right after a wipe down bore gets a lightly oiled patch pulled once....before going to range bore gets another lightly oiled patch pulled once....if accuracy starts falling off it's time for a complete barrel bath....

I got tired of washing out bore snakes....and my wife banned me from putting them in washer and dish washer.

XUSNORDIE, No issues with that here. MY wife left me alone a long time ago...lol

 

[us rifle]

Not cleaning and leaving powder residue/ buildup.is asking for moisture exposure and subsequent rust. Absolutely no reason not to clean your rifle after a range session.

I stopped cleaning the bore's after each range trip years ago and have had zero rust/pitting. If I'm putting it away for a while I do clean it. I like shooting, not cleaning.