“How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

I clean after each range session, typically 60 or more rounds, but primarily only if I don't know when the next session is, and definitely if it's going to be more than a week or two hence. I don't clean to maintain accuracy due to fouling issues, I clean to maintain accuracy due to pitting issues. The two are related, but my concern is for bore maintenance/preservation. As accuracy goes, frequent cleaning is not so much a benefit as a nuisance, since bores need to be reseasoned after each cleaning, to restore acceptable accuracy.

My matches are typically two weeks apart. I may skip the cleaning after a match if another one is due. If I miss a match, I clean instead, or at least try to.

Greg

 

[Andrew Blubaugh]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Stefan73</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Its not to occupy time! Look at the systems we use and the needs of said systems. If soldiers did not clean and maintain them then we would have lost a lot more soldiers to direct fire engagements!

Please gents, think before you post! Some dumbass might read this and get the wrong idea thinking it pertains to their said systems ie M4, M9, M240B, M249, M2HB etc etc vs the bore of the M24 or M40. </div></div>

Stephan,

Some units, especially big Army and Fleet Marine devote hours upon hours per week of each training cycle just to clean weapons. The M4, M240, M249, M24, M40, Mk11 all take less than 20 minutes each for proper functional cleaning. The M9 is less than 10 minutes. The M2 and Mk19 about 40 minutes each if tackled by a 2-3 man team.

I am talking <span style="font-style: italic">functional</span> cleaning not white glove inspection cleaning. The last military class I was involved with was an 8 day Mk11 class and I think we allotted 30 minutes on 3 different days for cleaning. Take into consideration they were running them suppressed half of the time, I don't think any of them devoted a solid 30 minutes to cleaning.

Pat Rogers (EAG Tactical) is another who believes we spend too much time cleaning weapons. He wrote an article for SWAT Magazine last year, a definite must read.

 

[B.Morgan]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

+1 for every 2 to 300 but only if groups start to spread. I have gone as long as 500 and cleaned out of guilt.

 

[Andrew Blubaugh]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

I have let my cleaning go well beyond 400 rounds a few times but the reason I knew it was time to clean was the bolt was getting tight when chambering. I can not recall a problem with accuracy. Are you guys seeing the groups open significantly? If so I'd like to know what (numbers) you are seeing?

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cowboy_bravo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Some units, especially big Army and Fleet Marine devote hours upon hours per week of each training cycle just to clean weapons. </div></div>

Exactly. The park has been "cleaned" off of most of the M16A2's in the infantry when I was active duty.

We were routinely scheduled for "weapons maintenance" for at least 1-2 hours a day for three days post-firing. These would be followed by detailed inspections. Depending on who was doing the inspection and who our platoon commander was at the time, most of the rifles were placed on "self-cleaning" mode and leaned in the corner of the barracks room while we engaged in more important matters (porn and video games). Most of us were well acquainted with the vast difference between "functionally clean" and "inspection clean". I don't own a single weapon that would pass a Marine Corps inspection right now. Every single one of them is clean enough to operate without malfunction.

The cleaning frequency passed down from the military is extremely damaging to weapons. Not to mention an "inspection ready" weapon is NOT "combat ready" and will jam in short order.

 

[Amric]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LoneWolfUSMC</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Not to mention an "inspection ready" weapon is NOT "combat ready" and will jam in short order. </div></div>

So true. "Inspection Clean" for us meant no lube anywhere.

 

[stefan73]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

I had my guys keep their weapons clean. I have seen soldiers in Iraq carrying weapons that looked as though they had been drug around through the dirt for a couple of days and possibly burried. That is unacceptable!
My guys weapons didn't have to be perfect but they had to be regularly cleaned and oiled for function. I'm more so a function over form type guy!

 

[samnev]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dbateman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">^ +1
when accuracy drops off
more barrels are ruined from over cleaning than from shooting </div></div>
+1 on over cleaning the barrel. I also only clean it when accuracy falls off.

 

[carbinero]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

What about breaking in a new barrel by removing copper as it drags into the bore...is the benefit negligible?

 

[Nessal]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

I run a few patches through the bore with some solvent after each session and that's it. I have only brushed once ever and that was with nylon brushes. I'm a firm believer that too much cleaning is bad for the barrel.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: carbinero</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What about breaking in a new barrel by removing copper as it drags into the bore...is the benefit negligible? </div></div>

Don't "break in". Just shoot it and you will see the rifle "shoot in" over the first couple boxes.

 

[Emilio]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

I run a bore snake down the tube after trip to the range and clean the bolt.

 

[jephs422]

Re: “How often do you clean your barrel ??????”

It depends on the rifle. my .223 bolt rifle gets a good scrubbing once every 1000 rounds or so, or whenever it starts to fall. On the flip side my .17 Remington fouls pretty fast, so it get's a scrubbing once probably every 100 rounds or so.