Copper removal - is it really required?

[The-Fly]

I've been under the impression that for best accuracy you should remove all the copper out of your barrel periodically. I recently read a review of a magpul dynamics precision rifle class where the instructor states he never removes his copper, and the rifle stays under 1/2 moa.

Thoughts?


Also, for cleaning your barrel of non copper fouling, is hoppes #9 sufficient, or should I look at other solvents?

 

[cmh2007]

I use wipeout every 550-600 just cause i feel its dirty enough.

 

[Genin]

I will only clean for copper if accuracy degrades. period.

 

[JGorski]

I've been under the impression that for best accuracy you should remove all the copper out of your barrel periodically. I recently read a review of a magpul dynamics precision rifle class where the instructor states he never removes his copper, and the rifle stays under 1/2 moa.

Thoughts?


Also, for cleaning your barrel of non copper fouling, is hoppes #9 sufficient, or should I look at other solvents?

Indeed it is, I use Hoppes #9 on my 6mmREM which fouls the barrel really well, and #9 turns the patches blue very well. Some guys only clean when accuracy goes south, I clean after every shoot, works for me.

 

[seanh]

Isn't there a sticky on this?

 

[XOR]

I wrote that review. I will state that I've never cleaned the copper out of any of my rifles. They all shoot just as fine as the day they were bought. For instance, I have an AIAW with almost 2500 rounds and it shoots under 0.3MOA still. I run borescopes down them from time to time and if there is a problem leaving the copper in there, I haven't seen it yet.

To get rid of carbon fouling in the rifle (bolt, action, barrel), I will use Simple Green and a nylon bore brush with some patches or a mop. This is a gentle cleaner that works well for carbon and the nylon brush has less chance of damaging critical areas like the throat and crown of the barrel. Plus, it won't damage the copper that is coating the rifling. With that said, I rarely clean my barrels in the stainless versions. In carbon versions I do it infrequently, except for running some anti-rust protectant down them if they will be sitting for a while.

Speaking for myself, I think there is more chance of messing up accuracy from over cleaning a barrel than leaving it alone. YMMV.