How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

[Thump_rrr]

I have a Savage 10BA that shoots really well when I do my part.
I was having dificulty grouping when I cleaned it after every range session so I shot it dirty for the last 2 months.
The groups range from 0.5 MOA down to 0.25 MOA when I do my part.

I'm worried that I may harm the barrel by not cleaning it out regularly.
This is my first precision rifle so I don't want to mess it up.

 

[dbateman]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

You will not harm it by not cleaning the barrel after every range trip.

Just shoot it till you notice your accuracy drop off and clean it.

 

[Oneteam]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

+1. shoot it and when it stops grouping, clean it.

 

[RedGoat]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

I clean when accuracy starts dropping off...

 

[2_many_dogs]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

i clean the barrel only if i see the accuracy degrade. but, i always clean the chamber, receiver, and the bolt after each session. i coat my projectiles so i don't think i am leaving behind any copper.

every so often, i feel like i have to clean the barrel even if i do not notice any decrease in accuracy. i do not notice any change in point of impact between clean and foul.

 

[ORD]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

What is this mystical "rifle cleaning" business of which you speak?!

Seriously, more quality rifle barrels have been harmed by frequent (and arguably improper) cleaning than have been harmed by letting them go for a good while before cleaning. Try running a search using the search engine linked to in my sig line and you'll find several threads covering rifle cleaning. Personally, I don't generally clean my rifles unless the accuracy starts to decline or if I've been out hunting or competing and gotten them soaked, covered in sand/dirt, etc.

 

[Defcon424]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

wait , people actually clean their guns ? Lol. I rarely clean any of mine and shoot the crap out of them too. Guess im lazy. But seriously, if it aint broke then dont fix it. i clean when accuracy falls off, im a terrible shot tho so who knows

 

[no1special]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

a few years ago after a nra 1000 yard national championship, they interviewed david tubbs and michelle gallager. both a pretty fair shooters. tubbs is a cleaning fool. gallager said," clean? what a novel concept. i clean when the accuracy goes away." so you make the call.

 

[coug]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

What the first guy said was spot on. I usually go about 200 rounds before cleaning unless I know I'm not gonna get to shoot for a long time. I know a gun maker that went over 500 before he had to clean.

 

[2brothers641]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

Every savage I have owned has shot better dirty.

 

[longrange223]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

my savages seem to like to be shot back in after a good cleaning so i stopped cleaning them so much...

 

[Swift]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

Boresnake after every outing, wipe off bolt periodically, thorough cleaning every 500. Sometimes a dirty weapon is an accurate weapon.

 

[Mendocino]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

My AW in 260 has about 800 rounds through it since the last cleaning. It still shoots bugholes. It spends a lot of time in the desert and is externally rather dirty, giving it character. I do wipe the bolt down occasionally.

 

[wIg SpLiTtEr]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

Also, whenever accuracy degrades and you decide to clean it be sure to document cleaning date and round count in your log book so you will know what to expect from your rifle.

 

[Freeze]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

My rifles usually go 400-500 then they get a wet patch followed by a few dry ones. That's about it for the bore. Chamber and bolt get a wipe down if there was any grit around. On my 308 custom with rock barrel, if I scrubbed it clean the firt five rounds down the pipe were a wash, then it was back to proper, normal self so I just stopped cleaning till accuracy fell off or there was so much carbon that I was having to change me dcome ups cause the round seemed to be slowing down.

 

[Cmonroe]

Re: How long can I go without cleaning my rifle?

What, we have to clean these things? I'll push carbon out but never cut copper until they stop shooting. A good cut rifled barrel (non-magnum) will usually go 200 to 500 rounds without cleaning copper and a poly barrel will get you even more.

I promise you more damage is done cleaning rifles than shooting them.