Cleaning

[IdahoJoe]

How do you clean your rifle bore?
What brake in procedure do you use?

 

[justgoto]

Cleaning Procedure
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I'll start by a dry patch down the barrel, and a dry patch in the chamber to get all the oil out I applied after the last cleaning.

Then I'll shoot the rifle.

Then...
​

I use a carbon/powder residue solvent and a bronze brush first, (run all brushes and patches from chamber to muzzle.) I run about 10 swipes, then run a dry patch.

Then I apply a copper solvent with a nylon brush, I'll apply a newly solvent soaked brush 5 times on my 22 inch barrel. I'll let that sit for 5 minutes then run a dry patch through.
I'll examine the patch and muzzle, if the patch is dark blue and bore shows more signs of copper, I'll repeat the copper cleaning until the patch comes out light blue and/or I see no copper in the bore.

Then I'll repeat the cleaning procedure for carbon/powder residue until the patch comes out clean. I also use a chamber brush to get any carbon or what have i in the chamber during this phase.

I'll run a bronze brush of oil then dry patch, then an oil soaked patch. I'll run a oil filled cloth in the chamber... making sure the barrel and chamber are not going to rust.

I usually take one or two shots a day, cleaning my bore for carbon/powder residue only; after 10 shots I'll then clean for copper also.

Break-in Procedure
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Here is what I did when I broke-in my new Howa during load development, (had 20 ladder test cartridges.)

I cleaned the bore thoroughly as above.

Shot one shot.
Cleaned as above, (most of my focus was on making sure there was no copper.)
Adjusted my scope, (I was bore sighting too.)
Took another shot.
Cleaned as above, (most of my focus was on making sure there was no copper.)

I repeated that procedure; (shot then cleaned,) for 20 shots, (as to not skew my ladder test.)

If I was just shooting factory ammo and simply sighting the scope, I would have shot 1-5 cleaning after each shot. Shooting shots 6-11 cleaning every other shot. Then finishing with shots 12-20 cleaning every third shot.
...
I just wanted to point out that you can still do other things during the break-in period. I came away with a zeroed scope, a few charge weights to test, and a bore that copper fouled a lot less than it had been.

 

[longrangeschool]

The advice above is very accurate and proven. If you need any more help would be glad to help. I think that "most" people never completely clean their rifle bores. Simply running a brush and a couple patches through it is no where near enough effort. If you want to try an aerosal foam cleaner I would reccommend Wipe-Out. The test to see how well the bore has been cleaned is to foam it up after you think all the carbon and copper is out. My guess is that you will be surprised at how much "more" the foam finds.

Travis Kamps
(406) 580-9700
[email protected]

 

[BuckSnort]

+1 For Wipe-Out.. I love the stuff, might start brushing my teeth with it...

 

[joe0121]

I am a huge fan of KG products. Leader in Metal Protective Coatings | Protective Coatings & More | KG Coatings

Especially the bore polish. Also Use a bore guide and a carbon fiber rod. It wont flex and mar the bore. You would be amazed at how clean your action stays using a bore guide.

 

[J E Custom]

How do you clean your rifle bore?
What brake in procedure do you use?

My first recommendation would be to use the barrel makers break in procedure and recommended
solvent.

If you do not know the manufactures process, then I would recomend a clean and shoot for
a minimum of 10 shots and then clean and shoot 3 shot groups and clean for 3 or 4 times
and the barrel should be on it's way. If it doesn't clean up easy after this you can continue to
shoot 3 and clean until it cleans up easily.

Use no abrasives, just let the bullet do the work and you will get many years of use out of it.

J E CUSTOM

 

[roninflag]

I dahoe- remington 700 sendero?

 

[IdahoJoe]

Its a Cooper jackson hunter


What is every ones opinion on bore snakes

 

[joe0121]

Its a Cooper jackson hunter


What is every ones opinion on bore snakes

I think they are excellent for a range bag as a quick way to clean the bore. I also usually run a bore snake before I shoot just as a way to make sure the bore is clean and free of obstruction.

 

[thewileyone13]

I agree with the second post but I was always advised not to use any hard solvents during the break in (at least 50 rounds). I use Butch's Bore Shine and have had good luck with it. I use Sweet's or Montana X-treme for copper.

I clean after every round for at least the first 20 rounds with only Butch's Bore Shine

I then clean after every 3 to 5 rounds until I get to 60.

I do not use any copper solvents until 100 rounds.

My cleaing procedures:

wet patch 2x

scrub with wet nylon brush

dry patch

wet patch copper solvent x2 and let sit for 10 minutes

dry patch

wet patch copper solvent x2 if comes out blue, let it sit 10 min

Dry patch repeat until clean

wet patch lube and let stand, barrel down so the action stays dry

 

[JeffP40]

My favorite is Wipeout. Easy, and cleanes well.

As far as break-in, just shoot. No tricks neccesary. When accuracy goes downhill, then clean it good, and shoot the crap out of it again.