How do you clean your barrel?

[hyperion.excal]

Im just wondering, i heard this at the range yesterday and its about cleaning the handgun barrel.

Guy#1 says that its better to clean the barrel thoroughly meaning clean it well and keep the bore brush going until its completely clean. The inside of the barrel has to be spotless and it will give you the best accuracy.

Guy#2 says the barrel does not need to be cleaned well. Run a cotton patch with a cleaning solvent then run the bore brush 2-3 times then wipe and should be good to go. His reasoning is that, brushing the inside of the barrel with the bore brush too much will shorten the life of the barrel, damage the rifling or something.

To me, cleaning the barrel is the most important part of cleaning my handguns. I really clean my barrel well and they are residue free after each cleaning session, but after hearing Guy#2 claims i am wondering if i am doing more harm than good by cleaning it well? I was taught to clean the barrel well, as clean barrel will result to better accuracy and thats how it always worked for me.

I want to know what you guys think and how do you clean your barrel? Is Guy#2 right or is he spreading FUD? Thanks

[FX-05 Xiuhcoatl]

I'm with Guy #1,
1st.. I pass a patch with solvent down the barrel,
2nd.. then pass the brush 3 times from breach to muzzle,
3rd.. dry patch down the barrel "repaet till the patch is dry"
4th.. repeat steps 2 and 3 as needed
5th.. oil patch down the barrel
I found that cleaning my sks barrel is faster than cleaning my AR-15.

[wjc]

I do a little of both those methods similar to FX-05...

I'll run a wet patch first to loosen everything up then run a bore brush twice to
clean the heavier gunk. After that its 3-4 wet patches then run dry with a pawl till clean.

[sirgiles]

how does lazziness in cleaning a barrel spread fear, uncertainty and doubt?

[Press Check]

I've tried numerous barrel-specific cleaners, but have always reverted back to Foaming Bore Cleaner by Gunslick Pro.

Inject the foam into the bore, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, I drive out the foam, loosened copper and other fouling particles with a nylon brush. After that, I attach a cleaning patch with some CLP to the nylon brush and run through a few more times. After that, I run a dry patch through to see if anything is left, and finally, I lightly oil a patch and drive that through the bore for lubrication.

[peacedivision]

I guess the notion that a brass brush and some solvent will somehow hurt a barrel vs hot lead/copper at 1000fps.

[dem0critus]

I recently posted a very similar question. It seems that there are two schools of thought here which you've basically identified exactly. That said, I've found that you can save a lot of brushing by using the right solvents if you're trying to avoid brushing as much as possible. I use hoppes no. 9 and let it sit in there for around 30 to 40 mins, brush 2 or 3 times thru, push some patches thru and repeat if necessary. Of course i finish with some clp.

Im not really concerned with the brass brush damaging the barrel, but i guess keeping it to a minimum cant hurt.

[kmca]

There's a good article on the Schumann barrel web page about barrel cleaning and solvents, if you're interested.

http://www.schuemann.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3zZ4oir3t50%3d&tabid=67&mid=445

[CK_32]

RTF 17

Bore brush coated in cleaner scrub a few good times about 5 to 10 passes
Tear a wad of paper towel and run it through like a patch wih a pencil
And repeat 2 or 3 times until it comes out clean

Run through 3k rounds with our a problem so far.

[undercow16969]

it's a pistol...if you carry for defense and target plinking why is the minimal amount of accuracy that is lost that important? I do clean mine thouroughly though with a cotton swab not a wire brush and solvent. Now my 22-250AI...well that is a $1400 barrel with 6.5" group at 1k yrds at 4300fps so that is a different story all together.

[CK_32]

Then again I havnt cleaned it for 4 months after a 300 round range trip... Have faith it will still run fine.

[1911Luvr]

I've tried numerous barrel-specific cleaners, but have always reverted back to Foaming Bore Cleaner by Gunslick Pro.

Inject the foam into the bore, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, I drive out the foam, loosened copper and other fouling particles with a nylon brush. After that, I attach a cleaning patch with some CLP to the nylon brush and run through a few more times. After that, I run a dry patch through to see if anything is left, and finally, I lightly oil a patch and drive that through the bore for lubrication.

Wow, this is exactly what I do.

[InGrAM]

Bore snake with some sheath. Unless shooting lead.

[daybreak]

Patches with solvent, then bore snake, then patch with oil. I try not to obsess over it.

[Fherot]

Spray barrel inside and out with Ballistol and ignore it for a half hour or whatever.

Come back and push a cotton patch through then a boresnake a couple times. Done.

Clean as a whistle.