Bore maintenance

[Odysseus1911]

I had always been told that after cleaning a barrel, you run a patch with a lite coat of oil down the bore before putting the gun up. I’ve seen somewhere (can’t remember where) where someone borescoped a rifle after the bore had been “oiled” and then a round fired. There were very small dimples up and down the bore. Apparently the non-compressible oil gets trapped between the bullet and the bore and the hydraulic pressure actually causes the oil to deform the barrel steel into a little pocket for each droplet of oil pushed aside by the bullet.

1) Does this have any practical effect on accuracy or bore life?

2) Does everyone still run an oil patch after cleaning?

 

[Deleted member 10043]

The idea is later run a dry patch before firing. No I don't leave oil in the barrel. It's too dry where I live and the rifles get out on a regular basis.

 

[Steel head]

I Don’t anymore.

Maybe if I was running cheaper factory barrels that sit a lot.

the oiled barrel will almost certainly have a different POI on the first shot than a dry bore.

 

[Brandon05_88]

After cleaning, I usually run a patch down the bore with Rem Oil to lightly coat it. It will sit for 5 minutes, then a single pass with a snug dry patch. I want a very thin film of oil on the surface, but no oil in the bore. I've never tracked accuracy since I know I cleaned the bore and it will need a shot or two to stabilize anyway.

 

[Jack Master]

I always leave rem-oil or Break Free in the bore. I have 2 choices in my Iowa environment.
1. Oil the barrel and MAYBE have "oil dimples"
2. Not oil the barrel and for-sure have a rust pitted barrel.
I'll take my chances on the oil dimpling. It will likely be better than rust pitting.