How do you know you're done cleaning?

[Experimentalist]

When cleaning a firearm the only feedback most of us can get, short of a bore scope, is inspection of the cleaning patch.

So, do you inspect your patches? If so, what condition does the patch have to reach before you consider the cleaning process finished?

[dominic]

They have to look the same way coming out as they do going in before I consider it clean.

[tankerman]

Depends on how long I feel like cleaning.

[D.M.C.]

Most of my experience is with rifles, but I figure if I am going to put in a good amount of time cleaning, I will do a job right and make sure it's a clean patch coming out. Honestly, I am usually more concerned with the star chamber than I am with the barrel.

[Can'thavenuthingood]

When I'm out of cookies, I'm done cleaning.



Vick

[Springfield45]

When there is no riflings left inside the barrel.

[Jonathan Doe]

I usually use about 10 patches per rifle when I clean them.

[sorensen440]

When the patch is clean and dry for me

[Jicko]

When you put a couple of patches soaked with Sweets 7.62 and they come out clean (white..... not black nor blue-ish..... ).... after that, just a patch of solvent to get the Sweets out, and a couple of dry patchs....

BTW, patches need to go in TIGHT....

[Seesm]

I like tight patches...

[bill104]

I use the Otis system now, and like it, but I still use up several patches, til I get nothing but white out the end.
I also use 2 or 3 patches on the chamber as well, mostly in the star area.

[glockman19]

It's clean whtn I run through a patch and it comes out clean.

Then I just run a patch with oil on it for storage.

[gaucho750]

Don't shoot me but I like my bore snakes.

[swerv512]

what's the point of cleaning if you arent goning to do a good job? i run the patches through until there is nothing but cleanliness coming out the muzzle.
Cleanliness is next to..... you get the point.

[Matt C]

Bore looks shiny and clean. But then, I don't really shoot a long range (beyond 500m) with bolt guns. I'd probably keep those a lot cleaner. Usually I just use a bore snake, 3-4 passes does it.