How often should I clean it?

[Cfl Mike]

Hello, and thanks for help in advance.

I have a Smith and Wesson 30-06 IBolt Rifle, using the stock weaver rail with TPS TSR "W" rings, and a SWFA 5-20X 30MM scope (this might be relevant as I ask these questions). I usually shoot it at either 200 or 600 yards. Using 175 Serria MatchKing with about 47.4 Grns of Varget. Before that I was using 150 gr. Civilian Marksmanship Program stuff.

Now I was told by a friend that you really should only clean the barrel every ~1000 rounds or so, because the fouling will actually help with accuracy or something like that. He has a .308 Arctic Warfare, and it works fine for him, and it was working for me up until last weekend. When I started shooting last weekend I had maybe had 200-300 rounds through the gun since I got it, and have only cleaned and lubed the bolt and receiver.

So I started shooting and for some reason my gun wouldnt dial in. I was adjusting my scope but the bullets seem to be hitting close to the same space, even after adjusting my scope, and using holdovers. So I was kind of convinced it was the scope or the rings. The rings seem fine and I dont have a sure fire way to test if its the scope. So I was wondering could this just be from not cleaning my barrel or something? How often do you clean yours? Is there a "right" interval of cleaning for this type of gun and shooting?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[-=boone=-]

Re: How often should I clean it?

Only clean the barrel when accuracy starts to drop off. In this case about every 200-250 should work fine for you. Or try pulling a bore snake through that barrel every couple hundred rounds. Then do a thorough cleaning every 500.

 

[gathumper]

Re: How often should I clean it?

Man, that title sounded so wrong!!!

 

[gunjunkie45]

Re: How often should I clean it?

When is starts to smell funny.

 

[Jeeprider]

Re: How often should I clean it?

There is no definitive answer to this question. There are a lot of variables, I do agree with boone though if you're noticing accuracy dropping off then by all means clean the bore. I also like to clean prior to storing a rifle for any period of extended time. Also depending on the kind of environment you live in ie. hot/humid, damp/cold. Those things will have an effect on your bore if not cleaned and oiled. As a side note always patch out excess oil in the barrel prior to shooting.

 

[ilish0704]

Re: How often should I clean it?


Life is not the word, the sharp eyes visible wonderful expressions; Book is the word of life, rich feelings in people deeply understood.

 

[JonnyHawes]

Re: How often should I clean it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: boone</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Only clean the barrel when accuracy starts to drop off. In this case about every 200-250 should work fine for you. Or try pulling a bore snake through that barrel every couple hundred rounds. Then do a thorough cleaning every 500. </div></div>

Listen to boone, he has helped me with many problems and he knows what he is talking about.

 

[caseyru67]

Re: How often should I clean it?

When the flies follow you. It could be time.

 

[rmbgreen]

Re: How often should I clean it?

I clean mine every time I shoot 20 rounds or more

 

[leadbullet]

Re: How often should I clean it?

clean when accuracy drops off, I clean my 308 every 400 rds or so, the 6mm stuff way more often.
make sure all your scope rings screws are tight also.
hope this helps.

 

[Judd]

Re: How often should I clean it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gunjunkie45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When is starts to smell funny. </div></div>

HAHAHA!!! That is hilarious.

I run a wet patch through and let sit 20 min and then run dry patches until dry every other time to the range regardless of how much I shoot. Then will use a nylon brush once a month or so.

 

[JGorski]

Re: How often should I clean it?

Or you could take this advise from Brad Sauve.

During the first few years I owned the rifle, I was crazy about cleaning. My log shows that I cleaned the barrel 80 times in the first 998 rounds. That works out to cleaning every dozen rounds! No wonder it took me so long to find the right load! Boy, have I changed my habits. I still clean the barrel, but I run a much higher round count between cleanings than before. Now, I shoot 100-200 rounds before I give the barrel a thorough cleaning. This goes with my general thinking--that some folks will benefit from added trigger time more than anything else. Spend more time shooting than loading 'perfect' ammunition or cleaning. Squeezing that last quarter-minute out of your groups won't do you any good if you can't hold one MOA or you can't read wind conditions.
http://www.6mmbr.com/308Win.html

 

[Cproflow]

Re: How often should I clean it?

I'm coming up on 200 rounds without a cleaning, and so far so good. Accuracy is still excellent, and about all I've done is run a bore snake through once or twice.

This is a new thing for me, because previously I felt compelled to clean a rifle after every range trip (~50 rounds). I think this gave me a little variability in POI for the next range trip. I was never letting the rifle 'get settled in' so to speak.

 

[The Zebra]

Re: How often should I clean it?

Keep in mind that the copper will fill microscopic pores in the barrel and by cleaning, you will remove that. In most rifles, that copper fouling will attribute to accuracy, not take away from it. As others have said, clean when accuracy begins to drop off.

 

[Graham]

Re: How often should I clean it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: armedzebra</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Keep in mind that the copper will fill microscopic pores in the barrel and by cleaning, you will remove that.</div></div>Microscopic pores?

 

[operator74656]

Re: How often should I clean it?

Ahhh the age-old question with more answers than people posting on this forum....while I do not believe there is any particular "right" answer there probably are some "wrong" answers. My personal philosophy has been trying to hit a middle ground. I think cleaning after every 20 rounds is excessive and will probably damage your barrel in the long run. I clean copper fouling every 50-100 rounds. I don't clean out the copper nearly as frequently. GAP has a nice barrel break-in and cleaning guide if you desire to go that route. Also, there is a video on rifle cleaning in the online lessons......

 

[SigsauerP229]

Re: How often should I clean it?

I usually shoot anywhere from 50 to 150 rounds per range session. If I'm going to shoot it the next day I won't clean it but if it's going to sit for a week, I will run some patches with M-Pro through to remove the un-burnt powder as it is corrosive. It would probably be just as affective to run just a dry patch to remove the powder and there are some people that do just that until they see a drop in accuracy and then they remove the copper.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: How often should I clean it?

I think the key paragraph is this,

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So I started shooting and for some reason my gun wouldnt dial in. I was adjusting my scope but the bullets seem to be hitting close to the same space, even after adjusting my scope, and using holdovers. So I was kind of convinced it was the scope or the rings. The rings seem fine and I dont have a sure fire way to test if its the scope. So I was wondering could this just be from not cleaning my barrel or something? How often do you clean yours? Is there a "right" interval of cleaning for this type of gun and shooting?
</div></div>

This sounds like a scope issue or you are chasing your tail!

Is the scope not responding to adjustment? Or is it only the first shot after adjustment hitting where the last shots landed?

As to cleaning, yeah, too many people over do it. I'm averaging 300-450 rounds before I'm seeing anything I would blame on a cruddy barrel.

One more question; does the scope adjustment put the rounds where you intend after you've cleaned the bore?

 

[Cfl Mike]

Re: How often should I clean it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: queequeg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think the key paragraph is this,

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So I started shooting and for some reason my gun wouldnt dial in. I was adjusting my scope but the bullets seem to be hitting close to the same space, even after adjusting my scope, and using holdovers. So I was kind of convinced it was the scope or the rings. The rings seem fine and I dont have a sure fire way to test if its the scope. So I was wondering could this just be from not cleaning my barrel or something? How often do you clean yours? Is there a "right" interval of cleaning for this type of gun and shooting?
</div></div>

This sounds like a scope issue or you are chasing your tail!

Is the scope not responding to adjustment? Or is it only the first shot after adjustment hitting where the last shots landed?

As to cleaning, yeah, too many people over do it. I'm averaging 300-450 rounds before I'm seeing anything I would blame on a cruddy barrel.

One more question; does the scope adjustment put the rounds where you intend after you've cleaned the bore? </div></div>

Well I have never cleaned the barrel, so I cant answer that question, it is a fairly new gun. Yea it wasnt really responding to adjustments, although, when I was shooting the wind kept changing direct (with mirage), it wasnt very strong wind but it wasnt weak either. Plus its a top notch scope so I really dont want to think it was the scope. What I probably need to do is go out again, and try shooting it at like 100-200 yards and see what happens, before I make any decisions on what to do with the scope, which is why I asked about cleaning.

 

[KeithR41]

Re: How often should I clean it?

Cleaning is a waste of time. I usually go 500-600 rnds between cleaning. Lube the bolt each time and wipe the big crud out of the action. You only need to clean when the accuracy level drops off. Maybe your rifle needs it after 200rnds but everyone of mine keeps right on trucking. Plus, cleaning SUCKS!

41

 

[LighthouseJ]

Re: How often should I clean it?

I started out shooting 8mm Mausers with corrosive ammo, and was taught to clean it every time you shoot it, ASAP.

Now I shoot non-corrosive stuff, but it still feels like the gun would disintegrate if I didn't clean it immediately.

Plus, it gives me a chance to do a post-trip check of parts that I don't normally notice at the range.

BTW, just joined this forum.

 

[JGorski]

Re: How often should I clean it?

My buddies with their BR guns clean after about 10 shots, now that shouldnt have to happen, but they swear by it.

 

[Graham]

Re: How often should I clean it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JGorski</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My buddies with their BR guns clean after about 10 shots, now that shouldnt have to happen, but they swear by it. </div></div>It might help to explain why they do it, but we don't.

 

[JGorski]

Re: How often should I clean it?

This says it all:
My rifle is human, even as I am human, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other.

 

[Graham]

Re: How often should I clean it?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JGorski</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This says it all: My rifle is human, even as I am human, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. </div></div>That states only an objective; it doesn't impart knowledge.

Am I to understand that you don't know why benchresters clean after few shots and we clean after many shots? [Hint: What matters to them doesn't matter to us.]

 

[scotharr]

Re: How often should I clean it?

Lots of variables:
-what is your accuracy standard?
-what cartridge?
-how hot is your load?
-what kind of barrel and how old is it?

The point is the answer can vary quite a bit based on responses to the above. My experience shooting F-Class where a very high degree of accuracy is required:

Assuming you have a premium, hand-lapped barrel:

243WIN:need to clean every 150 rounds or so. I shoot moderate loads. 1/2 the cycle if you shoot hot loads and have to maintain 1/2 MOA accuracy.
308WIN: Clean every 150 rounds even with hot loads. You can get away with 300 rounds between cleanings with moderate loads.

 

[Cfl Mike]

Re: How often should I clean it?

I pretty much answered all that in the original post, I should have titled the thread a little differently I dont think anyone read the OP except for that one guy I quoted above.

Either way thanks for the input guys.

 

[copterdrvr]

Re: How often should I clean it?

After 45 plus years of shooting, I've started to make what are to me significant changes to my cleaning schedule.

I would always spend hours ensuring that I removed every evidence of copper from my barrels. I've come to realize that my rifles need to be alittle "dirty" to shoot well.

Group on right was fired with clean barrel, the left target was after about 50 or so rounds. Both are five shot groups.