Results 11 to 20 of 68
-
01-07-2012, 07:15 #11
- Join Date
- Aug 2011
- Location
- Virtutopia
- Age
- 41
- Posts
- 9,390
Re: Squeaky clean barrel vs semi clean barrel - Rifles
Andrew, the problem is I shot 3 groups of 3 shots each. The best group was about 1.5 inch. So I think I fouled the barrel up enough.
About 3 weeks ago my father and I were on the range and I decided to shoot a 5 shot group. 4 of the 5 shots sat in a horizontal line each cutting the other (one long ragged horizontal hole) and the other shot sat in the middle of the big hole about 10mm lower. This to me is the type of accuracy I got used to! Then I cleaned the barrel and now I get no joy!
Lian, this isn't point of impact that moved, my groups just opened up (if I understand your post correct).
-
01-07-2012, 08:45 #12
Re: Squeaky clean barrel vs semi clean barrel - Rifles
Hi Roelof, howzit?
How frequently were you cleaning your rifle?
A range session for me will be anything from 20 to 40 rounds and I clean after each session? I clean with both solvent and copper solvent although as my barrel seasons I find less and less copper build up. I clean until the 2X4 come through as clean as it went in and that there are no visible signs of foreign matter in the barrel. I have always done this, from the day I bought the rifle new, so if nothing else I treat the barrel consistently the same, if that is a good or bad thing I son't know.
Before concluding that a dirty barrel is required for accuracy check if anything else has changed. From what I have read and some personal experience a horizontal grouping like that could also be indicative of the fore-end of the rifle slipping slightly on the front rest.
A hunting pal of mine says he shoots his barrel clean, after a hunt he goes home and the dirty rifle goes into the safe for next hunt. At the next hunt he picks up from where he left off.
Interesting thread!
-
01-07-2012, 09:02 #13
- Join Date
- Oct 2008
- Posts
- 1,675
-
01-07-2012, 13:18 #14
- Join Date
- Aug 2011
- Location
- Virtutopia
- Age
- 41
- Posts
- 9,390
Re: Squeaky clean barrel vs semi clean barrel - Rifles
Deon, it is a new batch of ammo I loaded. But from the same tin of powder and the same primers. I do need to check the screws (have removed the stock recently to oil it, but this has never in the past been an issue...assumption is the mother of all ...). Scope mounts shouldn't be a problem haven't had any such issues in the approx 500 shots with the rifle.
Will go to the range in the week and report back.
-
01-07-2012, 18:55 #15
- Join Date
- Jul 2008
- Location
- Not where I want to be..
- Posts
- 12,596
Re: Squeaky clean barrel vs semi clean barrel - Rifles
Thinking some more about it it I feel I should qualify - my non regular cleaning relates to not cleaning my rifles to the metal with copper solvent etc.
I do occasionally "clean" with Eezox and/or Slip 2000 Carbon Killer by way of pushing through a wet patch of Eezox or Carbon Killer and drying out with a dry patc/es.
Before firing a round after a "rest" period i use a boresnake.
-
02-07-2012, 11:13 #16
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- Centurion
- Age
- 40
- Posts
- 250
-
02-07-2012, 12:07 #17
- Join Date
- Sep 2009
- Posts
- 4,390
Re: Squeaky clean barrel vs semi clean barrel - Rifles
It is brilliant - albeit that from a chemistry perspective it has been misnamed (the Copper in the barrel is as elemental Cu - it is the solvent that removes the two little electrons making it soluable Cu2+. So the "remover" is actually the jag patch. If it is blue, it is Cu2+)
I am very fond of Robla Solo - it has been around for yonks, and should be used with caution (for example it can screw metal and wood finishes), but it is really good. As is M98, BarrelMagic and a whole host of others.
That said - I am very much with DeonH on this. I carefully avoid "over cleaning", and typically only use copper solvents once a year for a spring clean. If your rifle starts grouping badly with the minimal cleaning regimen - by all means, a good clean and copper removal is a good place to start.
I always remove powder residue (with Hoppes #9) after every shooting session. I cannot see any value in leaving the combustion products of carbon and nitrogen as residue on steel.
Sweet
-
02-07-2012, 12:10 #18
- Join Date
- Sep 2009
- Posts
- 4,390
Re: Squeaky clean barrel vs semi clean barrel - Rifles
-
02-07-2012, 13:00 #19
- Join Date
- Oct 2008
- Posts
- 1,675
Re: Squeaky clean barrel vs semi clean barrel - Rifles
Very good. Takes a LOT of the strain out of cleaning your barrel. Just let the solvent do the job. But to be frank, I haven't used anything else (incl. Boretech) since discovering local product M98 (http://www.gsgroup.co.za/09access.html) a few years ago. Less than half the price of the imported muti and quite phenomenal in how efficiently and effectively it cleans a rifle barrel! Other than Hoppe's No. 9 for, as per Sweet, a quick post shoot / pre storage maintenance clean, I haven't found the need to use anything but M98. It really is that good.
-
02-07-2012, 14:17 #20
- Join Date
- Jan 2009
- Location
- Port Elizabeth
- Posts
- 1,159
Re: Squeaky clean barrel vs semi clean barrel - Rifles
I don't use a boresnake for routine cleaning, but it is very handy in the field, say to clean out dust etc after a long day in the field.
Similar Threads
-
clean barrel
By arthur007 in forum IntroductionsReplies: 10Last Post: 27-05-2013, 07:53 -
Wynn's Clean Green to clean brass
By neilw in forum Reloading DiscussionsReplies: 17Last Post: 21-10-2012, 07:59 -
what is clean - how clean is clean -how dirty is good - what is dirty
By treeman in forum General Firearm DiscussionReplies: 4Last Post: 16-08-2012, 13:39 -
How do you clean the barrel of a PCP?
By THOMAST in forum Air Guns / Airsoft / PaintballReplies: 10Last Post: 08-06-2012, 21:38 -
How important is a clean barrel
By hunter in forum Maintenance & CleaningReplies: 17Last Post: 31-12-2008, 14:49
Bookmarks