Looking to learn best practices re: barrel cleaning

[BroncoMustang]

I little while back I had a bolt action rifle made (rather expensive for me, I saved up for a while to do it). I recently got a scope and took it out at the range. Having invested quite a lot into it I am hoping to learn from others as to what are the best pratices in hopes of the barrel lasting a long time and optimizing its accuracy. How frequently should it be done, etc.? I've heard that some solutions are too harsh for barrels. Any guidance you can share would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[BroncoMustang]

In case it impacts your feedback, I got a custom barrel from Bartlein and a custom action from American Rifle Co. Thanks again; looking forward to learn from others out there.

['ol shooter]

For copper fouling I use the commercial removal solutions and follow the directions.
A couple I have used are Butch's Bore Shine and Sweet's. Neither would completely remove some old fouling from a Savage .223 and Mauser 8mm barrel, I had to use Bore Brite paste to get it all.
As far as basic center fire cleaning goes, I still use good old Hoppe's #9, I think I'm addicted to the smell.
I did try M-Pro 7 a few times and was not impressed, maybe I didn't use it correctly.

[TKM]

http://riflebarrels.com/support/centerfire-maintenance/

[baih777]

A good one piece cleaning rod. I use Dewey.
The length of the rod should be barrel length plus action plus the guide rod.
Oh and a guide rod.
Bronze brushes. Good set of jags for cleaning pads for the bore.
I use bore paste plus a squirt of Ballistol.

https://www.brownells.com/gun-cleaning-chemicals/solvents-degreasers/bore-cleaning-paste/j-b-non-embedding-bore-cleaning-compound-prod1160.aspx

After I am done I run a bore snake twice.

My bad. At the range I just shoot. I should clean at the range too .

[Divernhunter]

One piece coated rod(Dewey). Bore guide. Patches(lots of them. Bronze brush if needed. Jag for rod I like the Dewey on Dewey rods.
1st Wipe-Out and let it set. Patches until clean. Then wet patch or 2 of Barnes CR-10 or Sweets 7.62. Do NOT let it set more than 10min. More patches Last wet patch or 2 of Butches Bore Shine or Tetra-Gun or shooters choice/Kroil oil 50/50 or other good solvent and let sit 15min. Dry patches and if clean you are good. If not start over. Rarely do I need to start over. Sometimes I will do the Wipe-Out 2 times before moving on IF I get a lot out the 1st time.
Last if I plan to shoot in a week or so then I am done. If not the I use Tetra-Gun oil. A touch of G-96 grease on the locking lugs.

I clean when the firearm starts to loose accuracy or every hunt trip at the end. Or when I feel like it. Remember more barrels have been ruined from over/improper cleaning than by not cleaning enough. Corrosive ammo requires cleaning each time and I take a rod/jag/patches to the range with some windex. A few patches at the range while the barrel is warm removes a whole lot of stuff.
The shoot and clean and shoot and clean is a complete waste. However it does cause you to not overheat the barrel which is the worse and most common reason for barrels going bad before they should. If you cannot hold the barrel in your hand it is too hot and let it cool. This will be different for different barrels and outside conditions.

I will sometimes also just pull a dry Boresnake thru the barrel between cleanings

The way to clean and lube your trigger and bolt is a completely different process.

If you handload and it is for target shooting/fun then reduce loads from max for better barrel life when you can. Brass will also last longer.

[fish45]

If you ask 10 guys you'll get 10 different answers. Whatever you do don't leave copper fouling remover in the barrel longer than necessary. It'll eat at the copper in the barrel.

[Bigtwin]

What does the barrel manufacturer say on how to clean the barrel?

[sigstroker]

I asked a similar question awhile ago, and it was pointed out that a barrel manufacturer has an incentive to give bad advice in order to sell more barrels.

[BroncoMustang]

I asked a similar question awhile ago, and it was pointed out that a barrel manufacturer has an incentive to give bad advice in order to sell more barrels.

I hope that you are wrong, but part of me wants to believe it.

To all of you: thank you for your input; I appreciate it.

[mmlook]

I hope that you are wrong, but part of me wants to believe it.

To all of you: thank you for your input; I appreciate it.

have a listen to the podcast below.

2 of the two top precision rifle shooters in the country
summary:
Jon Pynch
- follows the break in procedure
- cleans every 200-300 rounds
Jake Vibbert
- one patch, when it's new,
- never cleans the barrel again until he replaces it

https://vpprecision.com/2019/07/11/vp-episode-7/

[LynnJr]

Listen to Dan Liljas article above and never use a nylon brush as it's just a waste of time and he points that out in his article.

[longrange1]

ive shot out a lot of barrels and ive used just about every cleaning product made and have done just about every cleaning regimen you can find or heard of.

you DO NOT need those harsh chemicals like butches bore shine..sweets 7.62..montana extreme ECT in that bartlein barrel...it is hand lapped and looks like a mirror inside and is only going to hold a little copper in the throat for the first 10ish rounds(if that)and only because of the reamer marks going across the grain of the barrel.

my suggestion is to use either shooters choice or bore tech...i prefer shooters choice. also like lynn said i use a bronze brush when i scrub nylon does nothing.

my break in(and not really a break in its more to see how the barrel is going to hold copper)i shoot 1 round and clean for 3 rounds then shoot 10 and clean and im done...ive NEVER had a bartlein that needed more than this to smooth the throat out...you really do not want that initial build up in the throat its a MOFO to get out if the throat is a little rough.

as suggested above let the barrel tell you when it needs cleaned...IF you are a good shooter and know your equipment...if not clean every 300 is more than enough...also as stated above more barrels have been ruined by improper and over cleaning and heat kills barrels not fouling.

with all that said i had a 6CM that i didnt clean for 900 rounds and when i did clean it was not because accuracy was dropping off it was because it was just bugging me going that long.

last the best thing for that barrel is a good rod and a better bore guide...lucas is THE best bore guide made next would be the 21st centery and the sinclair...get one...they are not cheap but look what you payed for that gun!

lucasmjb@windstream.net

http://www.xxicsi.com/bore-guide.html

https://www.sinclairintl.com/gun-cleaning/rod-guides-bore-guides/index.htm

i prefer the 2 piece sinclair

[divingin]

Whatever you do don't leave copper fouling remover in the barrel longer than necessary. It'll eat at the copper in the barrel.

Umm, that's what it's supposed to do.

Unless you're implying there is copper as a component of chrome-moly or stainless steel, in which case you're mistaken.

The problem with leaving many copper removing solutions in the barrel is that many of the solutions are quite aggressive, and will attack the steel given enough time (most of these use ammonia to react with the copper.) Sweets, and Montana Extreme are two common ones, but there are others. You want to leave that stuff in long enough to dissolve the copper that has been deposited in the bore, but not long enough to affect the steel.

To clarify the "many" part of the above statement, there are copper removers that do not affect the steel. Boretech is one, there are others that I can't think of off-hand. Reading the directions on the copper solvent will tell you which type you've got.

[Meety Peety]

Bore cleaning is like religion, everyone thinks theirs is right and everyone else is wrong. For every "This guy does it this way and wins" anecdote, there is an opposite and equally convincing anecdote to prove it wrong. Prime example is the podcast the guy above mentioned. Two of the top shooters in the country doing the complete opposite when it comes to cleaning. It's important to keep in mind all of the circumstances surrounding the responses you'll get though. In the above situation, Jake shoots a BR variant at very low velocity and pulls a barrel at 1/2 to 1/3 it's expected barrel life. Unless you plan on getting yourself a barrel + gunsmith sponsor, using his cleaning method (Which is nothing) may not yield the same results.. or maybe it will, who knows. I've gone 600 or so rounds between cleaning just because I had back to back matches going and no time to reload + clean.. it happens. Accuracy didn't fall off and I still missed plenty of targets just by my own doing. At the end of the day, do what gives you the most confidence in your rifle's ability to perform when you need it to, because you don't need something so trivial getting in your head. Shooting is a mental game.

Also +1 for lucas bore guides, they are worth the money.