Will a deep clean affect accuracy?

[CaptDru]

I have a 22-250 that my dad bought in the mid 90's used at a gun show. I think he paid 5-600 for it. It's a C prefix 700 BDL Varmint. The gun looked like it was well cared for, but back then we didn't have a borescope or know the round count of the barrel. Since he bought it, I dont think we put more than 200 rounds through it and it always shot bugholes with 50gr vmax factory ammo. We never gave it a proper cleaning, since it shot so well.
I went back home for the holidays and brought it back with me to shoot. It had not been shot in close to 10yrs. I put the bore scope through the barrel and saw heavy carbon build up, lots of fire cracking and pitting on the lands. I'm thinking this rifle is going to need a rebarrel. Which would be a shame since it is such a beautiful rifle. I should have take before pics of the barrel but I didn't think about it till after I cleaned it. I did the best I could and figured I would shoot it after to see how it shoots. Here are some pics of it clean.

Despite how rough this barrel looks, it shot amazingly well. I was shooting .25-.50 inch groups with most touching each other at 100 yds and about 3 shots almost touching at 300yds. The accuracy it produced really surprised me. So my question is, if I used a paste to thoroughly clean it, would I lose the accuracy? Or should I just continue with my normal cleaning regimen? Sorry for the long post. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[M1A1ABRAMS]

I would go shoot it if the carbon isn't causing issues. See if the same consistency can be obtained. If not then you have nothing to lose. No matter which way you decide to go. I bet once the barrel is fouled it should shoot just as good as it did before. If not try a deep clean. And if that doesn't work buy a barrel.

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

...I have a few comparable factory rifles chambered in 22/250 and 6mm, the barrels look very similar to yours. The 50 vmax is an amazingly accurate bullet I've also found out, easily shoiting sub 1/2 inch groups all day long. I DANZAC my own bullet and have found that they fill all those cracks nicely and both guns are still shooting sub 1/2's with 1000's of rounds through them...maybe you should try some vmax molys to fill it all in...can't hurt anything with that many rounds down the barrel..

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

If it Still shoots good Leave it Alone.
Go shoot it and have Fun.

Borescopes Don't always Tell the Truth.

 

[akdad]

If it shoots good leave it alone. The end goal is a good shooting barrel and you already have it.

 

[ShtrRdy]

It will probably take a number of rounds to get the accuracy back. Could be 10 to 20 rounds.

 

[Chokoloskee Joe]

I have the same rifle in .223 and it usually takes just 3-4 rounds to get back to its accuracy.

 

[Laelkhunter]

If you were happy with the accuracy before borescoping it, I wouldn't change anything as far as cleaning it. If you get too aggressive with a deep cleaning, you might cause some damage. I agree with K.E.C. Darkside "Borescopes don't always tell the truth", and I would like to add "The target tells more of the truth than the borescope". How did we ever get a gun to shoot good groups before we discovered the borescope??

 

[KH_Outdoors]

From personal experience, do not use abrasive or paste type cleaners if its shooting well and unless you absolutely have to.

 

[M1A1ABRAMS]

I have a 22-250 that my dad bought in the mid 90's used at a gun show. I think he paid 5-600 for it. It's a C prefix 700 BDL Varmint. The gun looked like it was well cared for, but back then we didn't have a borescope or know the round count of the barrel. Since he bought it, I dont think we put more than 200 rounds through it and it always shot bugholes with 50gr vmax factory ammo. We never gave it a proper cleaning, since it shot so well.
I went back home for the holidays and brought it back with me to shoot. It had not been shot in close to 10yrs. I put the bore scope through the barrel and saw heavy carbon build up, lots of fire cracking and pitting on the lands. I'm thinking this rifle is going to need a rebarrel. Which would be a shame since it is such a beautiful rifle. I should have take before pics of the barrel but I didn't think about it till after I cleaned it. I did the best I could and figured I would shoot it after to see how it shoots. Here are some pics of it clean.View attachment 629903View attachment 629904View attachment 629905View attachment 629906
Despite how rough this barrel looks, it shot amazingly well. I was shooting .25-.50 inch groups with most touching each other at 100 yds and about 3 shots almost touching at 300yds. The accuracy it produced really surprised me. So my question is, if I used a paste to thoroughly clean it, would I lose the accuracy? Or should I just continue with my normal cleaning regimen? Sorry for the long post. Any advice is appreciated.

Have you shot it since your initial cleaning ? Just curious on your results.

 

[CaptDru]

Have you shot it since your initial cleaning ? Just curious on your results.

Yes, shooting bugholes at 100yds and 3 shots almost touching at 300yds about .25 inch apart.

 

[Huntaddict]

Croc skin is one of the terms I have heard for a barrel that looks like that, snake skin etc...had a 6.5 CM that had a barrel that looked just like that. It shot fine...ended up replacing it and turning it into a 6CM.
If it runs, run it. If not, it is likely more about the throat than anything else and I would also be careful with abrasives. Only place I ever use them is for a carbon ring and then it is done very carefully.

Borescopes are great! I have one and love it! It can help to confirm or deny what you think is going on and for all the $$$ we all spend on all the stuff - 200 bucks to save changing a barrel or confirming you need to set it back or do work, is worth it to me

 

[CaptDru]

Thanks for all the advice. I am of the school of it ain't broke, don't fix it. I was just thinking if I ran an abrasive it would smooth out the cracks and pits and extend the barrel life a little. Probably just going to do my normal cleaning until accuracy really falls off.

 

[Huntaddict]

Thanks for all the advice. I am of the school of it ain't broke, don't fix it. I was just thinking if I ran an abrasive it would smooth out the cracks and pits and extend the barrel life a little. Probably just going to do my normal cleaning until accuracy really falls off.

Abrasives will not generally extend barrel life. Remember, you are taking material away...especially at the level at which it would take to smooth out that barrel - leave it alone