Rifle bore cleaning techniques

[Altitude sickness]

This is one of those subjects that never seems to be 100% one way or the other. Many variables and opinions. Bench rest shooters are probably the most fanatic and have a dozen different systems or procedures.

For cleaning the bore after copper clad or solid copper bullet use
Some shooters clean after 3 shots. some let it go all season. some say copper fouling isn’t harmful . Only Carbon, plastic, lead buildup needs to be removed. Copper does not continue to build up.

I let my barrels go until I see accuracy starting to slide, which takes a long time. I have to force myself not to clean too often.

Here is my ritual/beliefs and habits.

After the initial imperfections from barrel manufacture are filled in by copper. Even very expensive, lapped barrels still have microscopic striations, chattering and imperfections that copper will fill in

I only clean for carbon removal and rust prevention.

I don’t try to strip all the copper out, because then I have to lay new copper down. Before it’s shooting at its best.

Muzzle loaders and anything using plastic and lead is another topic.

So what is your process and findings.

 

[Joker12]

This is one of those subjects that never seems to be 100% one way or the other. Many variables and opinions. Bench rest shooters are probably the most fanatic and have a dozen different systems or procedures.

For cleaning the bore after copper clad or solid copper bullet use
Some shooters clean after 3 shots. some let it go all season. some say copper fouling isn’t harmful . Only Carbon, plastic, lead buildup needs to be removed. Copper does not continue to build up.

I let my barrels go until I see accuracy starting to slide, which takes a long time. I have to force myself not to clean too often.

Here is my ritual/beliefs and habits.

After the initial imperfections from barrel manufacture are filled in by copper. Even very expensive, lapped barrels still have microscopic striations, chattering and imperfections that copper will fill in

I only clean for carbon removal and rust prevention.

I don’t try to strip all the copper out, because then I have to lay new copper down. Before it’s shooting at its best.

Muzzle loaders and anything using plastic and lead is another topic.

So what is your process and finding

 

[cash_tx]

Agreed. I am a recovering over-cleaner as well; not so much with copper removal, but was doing a Hoppe's #9 powder solvent scrub of the barrel after every range session (followed by a light coating of Rem Oil). Reading over a number of internet resources has helped cure me of this, the most significant of which is the GunBlue390 channel on YouTube. He does a tremendous job of explaining the logic and metallurgy of "rationalized" cleaning, and it aligns pretty much with what you said. He is mostly against using a copper remover in all but the most extreme cases.

I've come around to thinking about the barrel lining kind of like a cast iron skillet. You want just the right amount of seasoning, without promoting rust.

 

[Joker12]

I like your reasoning. Why clean if accuracy doesn't improve when you do. One of my favorite hunting rifles requires about 5 rounds put through it after cleaning before it settles down and shoots consistent groups. My experience mirrors yours.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I think it’s a good public service topic. To warn people that very aggressive cleaning can actually eat at the sharpness of your rifling, and if done too often and too many times can ruin a good barrel quickly.
In my opinion, just running a carbon removing cleaner is all that is needed after shooting

then before long-term storage oil it

 

[mdwest]

Hunting rifles get one thorough cleaning a year. Once the season is over they get taken down to armorers level maintenance,closely inspected, deep cleaned, and lubed. Before the next hunting season starts they get taken to the range at least once (typically more than that), they get the zero confirmed, the bore fouled, and checked to confirm function. With hunting rifles I never really concern myself with a genuinely spotless bore.. I get it very bright and clean to the naked eye and get the rest of the rifle visibly clean… but that’s it.. I don’t get extreme… if a little “black” is still coming out on patches after the bore has been punched several times.. that’s ok..

Sporting rifles get cleaned and lubed up a good bit more.. they they also see higher round counts.. they’ll get broken down for a basic cleaning with the bore getting punched a few times and get lubed up about every 500 rounds and will get a thorough cleaning (bore spotless and entire rifle completely free of carbon) maybe every 1000-1500 rounds.

Sporting shotguns (trap/skeet/sporting clays) get a basic cleaning about every flat of ammo (250 rounds) and get a deep clean a couple of times a year (we’re putting about 5000 rounds per gun per year through them these days)…

I’m not too terribly picky about cleaning products… I’ve got ballastol, rem oil, hoppees,and a few other options in the cleaning kits… I do prefer ballastol (although it seriously stinks) on the firearms with fine wood on them).. but typically coat my wood stocks with a home brew of beeswax and mineral oil…

I don’t baby any of my firearms.. they all see pretty hard use… they get taken to the field and/ or range in the rain, snow, heat, cold, etc… they get exposed to dirt, grime, mud…

All run reliably and shoot well with those fairly minimal routines..

 

[Altitude sickness]

If the weather is nice I clean on the deck.

Most often, I clean in the house. When I do. I light a big candle while using solvents in the house. It some how removes the solvent smell from the air. Maybe burns them. ???