Just curious. Have an 18" .223 wylde, cleaned it, shot it twice, cleaned it as a "break in". Clean after a couple hundred rounds or so. Experimenting with what the barrel likes, how it'll shoot with a clean bore. I generally like to air on the side of less barrel cleaning if the gun allows.
how often do you clean your SPR's barrel?
- Thread starter jLorenzo
- Start date
So not at all?
Brush with some mpro7, patch till clean. Maybe a chamber brush once in awhile. BCG is a diff. Story.
No removing copper.
That's what cleaning is to me. Just curious as to what others do/think about the topic.
If you had to guess how many rounds a month? Precision shooting or off hand drills? My BCG is nickel boron so wiping off is easy. I may be slightly ocd but not compared to most. My interest is only in finding the accuracy sweet spots. If the barrel tightens up after a few mags, if it shoots tight clean etc.
Could care less about cleaning, but dont mind doing it. I find myself cleaning less and shooting more. But every once in awhile I clean to keep the gun in good shape.
Pretty much never clean the bore unit the gun starts telling you it needs too, e.g. when accuracy declines. As bolts/carriers go, clean and lube as needed to maintain proper cycling, cans with a lot of blow back tend to make this more frequent. I typically clean the action after a match or operation to ensue its in top condition for the next event but I have gone as long as 5000-6000ish without cleaning and just adding lube durning training events.
On my SPRish rifle the round count is seasonal based on how tall the corn is, some months its 3-400 the next month it could be 20. All barricade or positional, never sat at a bench.
My 3 gun rifle has been averaging 6-7k a year and that gets the BCG and upper wiped out maybe once a month, mostly just to keep track of parts wear. I think my last barrel got cleaned once before I smoked it at 12k rounds. It shot sub moa till around 11k rounds and I only cleaned it because I was bored during the winter.
Fun fact: that barrel would shoot 3 of 5 groups at moa when I pulled it, and it had about 1.5" of freebore.
What was the average accuracy when it was new and when you pulled it? Did it all go to hell at once or was it gradual
It was consistently a .7-.8 moa barrel with a 6x scope, thats all I ever asked of it, never tried precision loads or higher powered optics. After 10k it hovered closer to 1 moa and at 11.7k it started keyholing about 5% as close as 50 yards.
I lied about the SPR barrel, I just remembered I cleaned it once, but it was because I cut some of the extension out and wanted to be sure all the fine metal shavings were gone.
I use a Mk 12 Mod 1 varmint hunting most of the year. Shoot suppressed on a near daily basis but only 1-5 rds most days. I am on my 4 Th barrel. I clean the action about once a week or as soon as it starts to slow down and I hear it. Most evenings I run in a chamber brush to keep it slick. I clean the barrel every 3 months or so or if accuracy falls off. It works for me but might not be the plan for others. If I am going to do a long uncomfortable sit in hot or cold weather, I darn sure want my rifle to work. No question. No excuse.
I will clean the chamber after every 1-2 outings because its an AR and its all suppressed.
As far as the barrel, it only gets cleaned when I start having a noticeable change/lack of accuracy which is usually fliers that I 100% sure know weren't me. Anything other than that is a waste of time.
Some people seem to spend more time fucking cleaning than they do shooting.
As far as the barrel, it only gets cleaned when I start having a noticeable change/lack of accuracy which is usually fliers that I 100% sure know weren't me. Anything other than that is a waste of time.
Some people seem to spend more time fucking cleaning than they do shooting.
About the barrel wear issue I see above. My barrels are basically shot like bolt guns. Loads are MK 262 or 77 grain SMK. 24.3 grains TAC. All suppressed. My rifles shoot sub MOA at 600 Meters for vertical when new. Some will do half that. None have held that level of accuracy beyond 5300 rds.
This subtle change does not show up at 100 M for me. The bores still scope OK. I am guessing velocity is getting inconsistent.
Alan Brown from Crane said this is exactly what the Navy has found. He was also not a fan of cleaning the bore, but always clean the action and chamber after firing. He also recommended cleaning the crown occasionally as debris build up and effect accuracy. With flash hider or suppressor.
This subtle change does not show up at 100 M for me. The bores still scope OK. I am guessing velocity is getting inconsistent.
Alan Brown from Crane said this is exactly what the Navy has found. He was also not a fan of cleaning the bore, but always clean the action and chamber after firing. He also recommended cleaning the crown occasionally as debris build up and effect accuracy. With flash hider or suppressor.
Much of the cleaning regime is based off the actual use. Some are used as weapons of war. Some are serious hunting rifles. Others are range toys that people like to brag about how dirty they let them get. It all comes down to use and personal preference. A dirty rifle or one loaded with lubes and solvents puts off a lot of scent that I do not care for. Not sure I can reduce it but I do try.
I shoot pretty much every day. That’s not bragging, that’s fact. BUT, I’m a full time instructor, and I work on a 2500 acre range. IF I cleaned every time I shot, I’d be in the armory every night.
My rifles are far more likely to be lubed up when I pull them out of the gun locker, and shot at whatever we are training on that day. I clean my rifles only when I start getting erratic function. Probably comes out to ABOUT 2000-2500 rounds for rifles. I’m not shooting suppressed much, and I shoot Speer Gold Dot, Federal 168 GMM, And Hornady in my 6.5CM. I can DEFINITELY tell you most rifle barrels DO NOT shoot their best when freshly cleaned. They need that super thin layer of copper in them to smooth things out. Also, I find my rifles will typically change zero a bit when I de-copper the tube. Typically high and either right or left depending, but almost always high. Different barrels require a different amount of rounds before they settle back in. ROOKIE ALERT: do not clean your barrel, lay down and shoot a group or two, then adjust to that new POI. Shoot at least 20 rounds, AGAIN, depending on the rifle and barrel. I’m not too proud to admit it, I’ve done some silly things like that. Then, 20-25 rounds later, huh..... back to where you were.
Your cleaning regimen will be determined by your rifle. It’ll let you know. Best advice I have: don’t over do it. Keep it lubed, run it. I have heard MANY TIMES, from guys I trust (former Snipers, a former AMU shooter) “more barrels have been ruined by cleaning than by shooting.”
My rifles are far more likely to be lubed up when I pull them out of the gun locker, and shot at whatever we are training on that day. I clean my rifles only when I start getting erratic function. Probably comes out to ABOUT 2000-2500 rounds for rifles. I’m not shooting suppressed much, and I shoot Speer Gold Dot, Federal 168 GMM, And Hornady in my 6.5CM. I can DEFINITELY tell you most rifle barrels DO NOT shoot their best when freshly cleaned. They need that super thin layer of copper in them to smooth things out. Also, I find my rifles will typically change zero a bit when I de-copper the tube. Typically high and either right or left depending, but almost always high. Different barrels require a different amount of rounds before they settle back in. ROOKIE ALERT: do not clean your barrel, lay down and shoot a group or two, then adjust to that new POI. Shoot at least 20 rounds, AGAIN, depending on the rifle and barrel. I’m not too proud to admit it, I’ve done some silly things like that. Then, 20-25 rounds later, huh..... back to where you were.
Your cleaning regimen will be determined by your rifle. It’ll let you know. Best advice I have: don’t over do it. Keep it lubed, run it. I have heard MANY TIMES, from guys I trust (former Snipers, a former AMU shooter) “more barrels have been ruined by cleaning than by shooting.”
I clean the bolt/bolt carrier, and moving parts of gas guns far more often that I do the bore of the barrel. It is my belief that carbon, gunk, old lubricant that is full of dirt reduces the reliability of a rifle. So I want to keep the moving parts, and parts exposed to all that goop clean. Gas guns will operate far longer than most people think, but the dirtier they are, the closer the rifle gets to the chance of a malfunction.
I clean the moving parts in order to enhance reliability of the weapon, or prepare it for storage....I don't clean it just for the sake of cleaning it. Bolt guns don't have as much gas, carbon, and dirt being pushed into the action every time they are fired, so most of my bolt guns get wiped down, and only get aq thorough cleaning when accuracy begins to deteriorate, or when they are going to be stored for extended periods.
I clean the moving parts in order to enhance reliability of the weapon, or prepare it for storage....I don't clean it just for the sake of cleaning it. Bolt guns don't have as much gas, carbon, and dirt being pushed into the action every time they are fired, so most of my bolt guns get wiped down, and only get aq thorough cleaning when accuracy begins to deteriorate, or when they are going to be stored for extended periods.
We always taught to clean the SDM rifles daily and we didn't ride their asses, we treated 'em like adults. Not white glove bullshit, THAT'S what ruins more rifles than anything. If brass or copper is damaging your barrel, you need a new barrel. So I only use the Dewey shit for cleaning (KAC sent me a Tipton carbon fiber rod and I really like that one now too) but I make my own field version with a coated steel cable (if you strip the coating back, it'll JB weld into a Dewey fitting and it fits perfect). I use the same shit, same method whether it's an M2 or an M4 or an M24, and they all take about the same amount of time. Fact is I've never needed the field shit since I got out of the army but still take a kit anyway.
Wiping down and oiling, maybe a brush followed by a few dry patches and one lightly oiled one so it's not nasty. Sweets after a month of shooting (some agree and disagree with removing the copper coating in the bore) and a good anal cleaning, but still no white glove bullshit. Just CLP or TW25B (TW25B is too expensive to use like CLP for me so I only use that for lubing small, critical moving parts). I use Hoppes 9 too (but don't use the one that dissolves copper without thoroughly cleaning it out, same goes for Sweets). Most guys in class spent half an hour cleaning and prepping their shit for tomorrow, maybe a little more because most guys shoot the shit afterwards --just don't wanna be the first guy out the door and the first one to take a shit the next day!
They also make chamber mops that are like the chamber brush and those are about the fastest, easiest and best way to clean out a chamber on an AR. A brush guide is also nice, one that slips into the action and into the chamber, though I honestly don't see how it can protect much that a Dewey rod doesn't if it's used properly. I have one so I use it. It keeps shit out of the chamber, but again, if it's done right it's not an issue.
The only way I ever saw to get it white glove clean anyway was to use hot water, a pressure washer and simple green. Obviously a very stupid way to do it, but after 9 hours of cleaning after a field exercise and people will come up with anything just to go home. It'll get a SAW white glove clean though.
Seen a lot of dirty weapons take a shit, clean ones not so much. Yeah, I hate cleaning 'em too but since I do it often it never takes that long.
Wiping down and oiling, maybe a brush followed by a few dry patches and one lightly oiled one so it's not nasty. Sweets after a month of shooting (some agree and disagree with removing the copper coating in the bore) and a good anal cleaning, but still no white glove bullshit. Just CLP or TW25B (TW25B is too expensive to use like CLP for me so I only use that for lubing small, critical moving parts). I use Hoppes 9 too (but don't use the one that dissolves copper without thoroughly cleaning it out, same goes for Sweets). Most guys in class spent half an hour cleaning and prepping their shit for tomorrow, maybe a little more because most guys shoot the shit afterwards --just don't wanna be the first guy out the door and the first one to take a shit the next day!
They also make chamber mops that are like the chamber brush and those are about the fastest, easiest and best way to clean out a chamber on an AR. A brush guide is also nice, one that slips into the action and into the chamber, though I honestly don't see how it can protect much that a Dewey rod doesn't if it's used properly. I have one so I use it. It keeps shit out of the chamber, but again, if it's done right it's not an issue.
The only way I ever saw to get it white glove clean anyway was to use hot water, a pressure washer and simple green. Obviously a very stupid way to do it, but after 9 hours of cleaning after a field exercise and people will come up with anything just to go home. It'll get a SAW white glove clean though.
Seen a lot of dirty weapons take a shit, clean ones not so much. Yeah, I hate cleaning 'em too but since I do it often it never takes that long.
