Barrel Cleaning Confusion. Pull Through and Foam.

[landtoy80]

When I was young all I did was run an oiled patch through the barrel and called it clean. Was at gun shop one day and the smith said I had copper fowling and he removed the copper. After that I used a brush and solvent to clean. I then found the foam bore cleaner and Otis pull through cleaning kit and have used that combo for years now. I do not use a brush as the foam cleaner does not need scrubbing.
Now, the data shows it not good to clean the bore till you get bad grouping results.


My questions are:
Do I need to oil the bore after shooting? (when I don't clean it)

Are there any negative results to using a cable pull through (Otis) cleaning system? The only contact with the barrel is the brass weight on the coated cable.

Any data if the foam bore cleaners causing damage to barrels?

Do I need to oil barrel after foam? Some foam cleaners say no and some yes.

Bore snakes, do you clean them? How often? If you don't clean them, are you not just pulling or reintroducing contamination back into the bore?



I do a full cleaning when using corrosive ammo.

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: Barrel Cleaning Confusion. Pull Through and Foam.

You're putting way too much thought into it. Just shoot it.

 

[exhogflyer]

Re: Barrel Cleaning Confusion. Pull Through and Foam.

More harm is done by excess/wrong cleaning than anything else.Barrel bore should be lightly oiled when stored for any length unless it's stainless...then it's an option ( unless some horrid unusual use).To clean use some type of powder solvent,then use some type of copper solvent,then dry and lightly oil.And you don't need to do this after every session.I have some rifles I've not cleaned for several hundred rounds, the rifle will let you know when it's dirty.And the less anything touches the bore the better.

 

[wjwill]

Re: Barrel Cleaning Confusion. Pull Through and Foam.

I learned the hard way about cleaning after after every shooting. now I clean around every 700 to 800 rounds. Lowlight has a good post about cleaning somewhere.

If someone else knows where it is, please post it.

 

[bucster]

Re: Barrel Cleaning Confusion. Pull Through and Foam.

Well, a coating of oil can't hurt, particularly if the barrel isn't stainless. I agree with the other guys that we spend way too much time cleaning. My 5R is always copper fouled and when I use wipeout and get it real clean, it doesn't shoot any better. Until someone does a controlled scientific study it's all just a matter of opinion, like global warming. The bottom line is to do what makes you feel comfortable. If cleaning every 10 rounds does it, then okay. I clean after every 60-100 rounds and my system is no better than anyone else's.

 

[CopperCreekAmmo]

Re: Barrel Cleaning Confusion. Pull Through and Foam.

I agree. Over-cleaning is a time consuming hassle and it's bad for the gun. I like to use a bore snake and some bore cleaner (liquid or foaming). No sense over thinking it. Plus it's more time to shoot!!

 

[Armed Ferret]

Re: Barrel Cleaning Confusion. Pull Through and Foam.

when accuracy degrades, my rifles get foamed, patched, and put away (or resume shooting).

otherwise i don't touch it.


*assuming i'm not shooting blackpowder, of course.

 

[BasraBoy]

Re: Barrel Cleaning Confusion. Pull Through and Foam.

Apart from being a "beer and popcorn issue" there are as many different opinions on cleaning, products, routines as shooters here.

All I'll say is I have a 1915 Enfield...shot it in slightly damp conditions (no falling rain, just moist air) a week back....put it away for three days without cleaning. When I came back to it and there was already signs of rust on the outside of the barrel near the muzzle.

I cleaned and oiled it straight away when I saw the rust.

Now, granted this rifle is nearly 100 years old, and barrel technology has come a long way, BUT the material inside the barrel on this rifle is the same as that outside........

It's your money tied up in your firearms...do what works for you.