Do I have to clean and how.

[many shots]

Hi, A new poster. I hope this issue has not be beaten to death. If is has point me in the direction of the thread as I have tried search. I know there is more experience here than I will ever have so I'm looking for advice.

My question is this: I'm and old shooter but self taught. I am going to start a shooting program for several reasons. One goal is to I hope become a better shooter. Another is to get out side and to exercise some. Another is to have some down/ relaxation time. Time is the real issue here. Making a living and other chores get in the way of my fun a <span style="font-weight: bold">lot</span>.

I am fortunate that I have a place to shoot. It is about 15 minutes from home and work. My Rock River Predator lives in the truck. My plan is to drive out, ( I hope 3 times/week) for at least the next several months and shoot @ 200 yards. 1 shot each prone,sitting, kneeling and standing and then walk down and back, carrying the rifle to the 4 targets and score the shots. 20 shots is 5 times down and back for 6000 feet or over a mile of walking + getting up and down and into position and out. Not bad exercise for an old fat boy

I did the routine today. Total time , targets up and down, shooting, walking etc is about 1 hour thirty minutes. That is about all the time I can spare and now I have a dirty rifle.

I am usually obsessive about cleaning rifles. At least putting some rust protective in the bore. Can I just put this stainless steel barreled rifle away, assuming that I am going to shoot it in less than a week? If not can I get some guidance on a 5 minute wipe out that will allow me to fit my shooting into my time schedule.

 

[Graham]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

Leave it alone.

 

[Scouter19D]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

Its an interesting question, and one that has so many opinions its not funny. Here's my take, and how I play with my M1A NM. Every 175-200 or so the barrel gets actually cleaned. Solvent, brushed, patched clean. Not because accuracy has been degraded at all, but because it takes me so long to shoot that many and by then its just time. If you're not shooting crap chinese surplus ammo, there is NO NEED to clean every 10 shots. In fact, you'll find then you have to shoot some foulers for the previously set zero to show it's face again, let alone get a decent group. Talk to some professional shooters and ask them how often they come out with a freshly scrubbed bore/barrel with no rounds through them. Read an interesting article by Brad Sauve, his theory is 100-200 rounds. And he was an F-TR National Champ. Just sayin.

 

[Radar360]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

Use a bore snake.

If you're shooting good ammo you can probably wait and do it once a week. If you're shooting 'dirty' ammo, do it before putting it back in the truck.

Then monthly or so clean it using your usual routine.

 

[many shots]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

Thanks for the responses. I'm shooting 168 MK. 41.5 IMR 4895 FED 210 match and military cases. I am going to just leave it alone even though my OCD says nooo

. When I can't stand it anymore or if groups start to open up I'll clean it.

Thanks again.

 

[exhogflyer]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

What is this barrel cleaning you speak of?

 

[many shots]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

Patching out with sweet's drying and light oiling with ballistol.

 

[Rando]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

agree with those above @ 1-200 rnds. or a quick bore-snake if it really worries you between cleanings. best of luck.

 

[many shots]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

Thanks for the replies. Got out twice since the first post and so far all seems well with out cleaning.

 

[pepperbelly]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.


One old fat boy to another just put a boresnake in you range bag. Use it after enough rounds that you feel the need and clean it good after a few hundred rounds at home.
The snake won't take up any room and is very quick and easy to use. I keep one in my range bag while shooting pistol matches and use it between strings if I start getting fouling that affects accuracy.

Jim

 

[BittenbytheBug]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

I only lightly lube my barrel after a range session (typically I'll punch it out thee and shoot some foulers before I put mine away). When my accuracy drops off `400 rounds maybe more, I'll run some KG12 to remove some of the copper fouling.

My bolt and chamber get wiped out and relubed (the BCG is nickel boron and comes clean very easy)

Someone above mentioned barrel break in - I have no idea what that means except to shoot the darned thing. I've seen guys wear their barrels out prematurely with the shoot/clean and even using abrasive rounds...

 

[dorton]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

Mine gets run very dirty. There is a tickness of carbon in the chamber, and it does just fine.
It probably gets bore snaked every 1.5k-2k rounds or so, and thats about the extent of it.

 

[ejb]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

I clean every 2 or 3 hundred rounds or so but i do clean my chamber after a day at the range.

 

[many shots]

Re: Do I have to clean and how.

bore snake goes in the bag. I think that will allow me to treat my O.C.D. if I run it through every once in a while. I can shoot 1.5 inch groups pretty consistently prone with bipod and a sand sock. Since I don't shoot that much it will take a while but I think I will just shoot it until my groups open up. I wounder just how many rounds that will take?