How often should a bolt gun be cleaned and can you over clean? I've heard that dirty will effect accuracy
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Cleaning
- Thread starter Gryntch
- Start date
A bolt gun should be cleaned as often as needed. When accuracy falls off or depending on fouling.
Yes you can over clean or improperly clean and cause more damage than good
Yes a dirty gun will affect accuracy. Some guns accuracy falls off when dirty, some take many shots to fill imperfections when cleaned to bare metal to shoot well again. Some never need to be cleaned and shoot well when dirty
Yes you can over clean or improperly clean and cause more damage than good
Yes a dirty gun will affect accuracy. Some guns accuracy falls off when dirty, some take many shots to fill imperfections when cleaned to bare metal to shoot well again. Some never need to be cleaned and shoot well when dirty
No, there are various denominations that each preach the virtues of their beliefs. They espouse virtues that they have heard and feel. I fall into the science based denomination with a few deviations to create my own.
There are a number of great treatises to be found. And yes I meant it to sound religious because in many ways it is with beliefs, commandments and faith.
There are a number of great treatises to be found. And yes I meant it to sound religious because in many ways it is with beliefs, commandments and faith.
Grew up shooting rimfire and never cleaning, I have moved to cleaning after each trip using bore tech chemicals, one piece rod spending time soaking the chamber with C4.
Sorry, there are threads that span months. Some don’t see that there is any great harm to not cleaning. I sort of believe that for Rimfire but Frank Green ( of Bartlein Barrels) has shown evidence that the residue can catch and retain moisture that can lead to pitting even on Stainless barrels. And that has motivated me to adapt it to my laziness.
These threads are always fun to read, but bottom line there is no right or wrong answer. Everybody will do what they think is right for them. For me, it depends on each gun. For personnel defense guns (home defense, concealed carry...), I will make sure they are well cleaned lubricated after each range session because I want to make sure they will work when I need them. For hunting rifles I do not shoot very often, I will clean and lubricate before I put it back in the safe. For range toys such as my steel challenge guns or range toys, I am lazy and usually will not clean them until they start to malfunction (which will make some people cringe). When I do clean, I usually clean pretty thoroughly using ultra sonic cleaners and good products such as Bore Tech mentioned by oldrifleman. Lots of info out there, read and decide what is right for you.
I've heard that if you use a bore scope things will look so bad you'll order a new barrel immediately
I don’t obsess. I see the changes over all the barrel lives I haveAnd you can obsess about the structure of the bore and worry about it.
Damage is 100% expected but how bad? And or when to clean isn’t guess work
The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to clean as continuing to shoot will harden the carbon that's already in there.
Ask @Frank Green who has posted on this exact subject.
I try to at least do a quick clean (with Eliminator) when I get home from a range trip of 40-60 rounds. If not, I def want to catch it before it gets much over 100 rounds.
I do quick cleans and deep cleans using JB Bore Paste (NOT Bore Bright) or Rem 40X. And I use Mr. Green's method that he has also posted here in detail. And yes, I'm a Frank Green groupie...I admit it (hahaha)...he just has the expertise and the experience that far exceeds pretty much any of the rest of us and he's very willing to share it.
Ask @Frank Green who has posted on this exact subject.
I try to at least do a quick clean (with Eliminator) when I get home from a range trip of 40-60 rounds. If not, I def want to catch it before it gets much over 100 rounds.
I do quick cleans and deep cleans using JB Bore Paste (NOT Bore Bright) or Rem 40X. And I use Mr. Green's method that he has also posted here in detail. And yes, I'm a Frank Green groupie...I admit it (hahaha)...he just has the expertise and the experience that far exceeds pretty much any of the rest of us and he's very willing to share it.
I also am a bit of a groupie, I may not follow everything he says, but I do try to follow the spirit of the lessons.
And, if you ever spoke to him...he's a super nice guy. Its that Wisconsin stuff, I think....not like us river rats from the east coast! haha
