Cleaning question. Should last patch be dry or wet?

[Long Range]

Would like your opinion on this. Should the last patch you run down your gun be completely dry, or should it be a little wet with oil?

I read that you can damage the barrel if there is too much oil in the barrel, but I don't know what constitutes too much. Will applying oil to the last patch be enough oil in the barrel to damage the barrel?

What I have been doing is slightly put a little bit of oil on the last patch and squeeze it into the patch. I figure there is no way that this could be too much oil to damage the barrel and I would have the protection of the oil layer for the last patch.

I honestly don't know here and always wonder about this and that is why I would like your opinions here and what you think and do.

Thanks

 

[rduckwor]

For long term storage you're fine, in fact, this is my preferred method.

For immediate use or short term storage, I think you are probably fine as well.

The caution about oil in the barrel is more like LOTS of oil in my experience.

Doesn't sound like you fit that category.

 

[djskit]

My last 3 patches are oil, then 2 dry.

 

[LSUbeatUby40]

Squeezing the oil bottle and shooting oil down your barrel, IMO, would be too much oil. Putting oil on a patch and running down the barrel is in no way bad for it. Just make sure you run another patch to get most of it out before shooting again.

 

[velillen]

My last patch always has some oil on it. Usually 2-3 drops on the 'tip" with the rest of the dry patch sliding behind it if that makes sense.

 

[Hawk45]

I run a few oiled patches followed by one dry. Put her away. When ready to shoot, I run another dry patch and hit the range.

 

[Timo Turl]

None of the above. Clean it at the range and then put another 10 rounds through it before you pack-up. That way next time you shoot you'll do so starting and ending with a fouled bore. Consistency.

 

[JoshcBoucher]

None of the above. Clean it at the range and then put another 10 rounds through it before you pack-up. That way next time you shoot you'll do so starting and ending with a fouled bore. Consistency.

I think the "oil can ruin a gun" thing came from the days when WD40 became popular. A lot of guys would spray the stuff all over everything and into the barrel and put her away. IT RUINED A LOT OF GOOD STOCKS. In general, too much oil collects dust and dirt. If I shoot a cleaned gun, I watch the first few shots, just to "test" the arguments pro or con. My results are Top secret.

 

[M40_A1]

The reason I've heard (too much) oil can affect a bore is because oil is not compressable. The bullet does not just "push" all the oil out as it travels down the bore. It rides over those incompressable droplets. I imagine the gilding metal of the bullet indents first, but perhaps "too much" oil also indents spots in the bore as well (?). It's always a good idea to dry patch a bore that has oil in it before shooting it again. As well, a puff of smoke from oil in the bore can give your position away (this being "Sniper's Hide" after all).

 

[pinklbd]

I always run at least one Dry through the gun after running an oil patch through

 

[damoncali]

It does not matter.

 

[Rifles Only]

One oiled patch then one or two dry patches.