How often to clean Rifle?

[Hoyt03]

How often do you clean up your rifle? How mnay shots do you put through it without cleaning?

I'm guessing most people will clean up after sighting in gun or after shooting alot of rounds at the range, and probaly maybe clean it at the end of the deer season.

Just looking for everyones input on this. Like most other topics i'm sure I'll get 20 responses with 20 diff answers, but I just like to se how others do it.

Thanks

[VTbowman]

Re: How often to clean Rifle?

With a rifle I clean by running a Hoppes #9 solvent patch threw once and then dry patches, (No brushing or foam cleaner then) after I sight in/bench shoot. I am only trying to knock out the stuff you can see loose in there with the naked eye. I feel your gun shoots a bit more accurately if left a tad fouled. Then a light oiling on the outside only to remove finger oils and keep the rust off for the up coming crappy weather I am sure to encounter while hunting.

After hunting is done for the year a real good scrubbing/cleaning, (now foaming bore cleaner), and heavy oil down in adn out when the gun will be put away for a few to several months.

MLs are a lot different proceedure for me but you did not ask abut that. LOL

[OJR]

Re: How often to clean Rifle?

I clean after about 10 rounds. I use Barnes CR10 to make sure I get the copper out because that is what is going to affect your accuracy.

After I am sighted in, I shoot one fouling shot and leave it until I am done hunting for the year.

After hunting is over, I clean real good and use a light oil in the barrel.

[AJ]

Re: How often to clean Rifle?

I let the gun tell me when its time to clean. If I know the gun will shoot 1" groups time after time, and all of a sudden I see it shooting 2" groups, it gets scrubbed. Just remember, the more often you clean, the easier it is. The longer you let the fouling build up, the longer it takes to remove all of it.

Some guns like to be shot dirty. They may shoot their best accuracy after a certain amount of fouling is built up. This means the shooter needs to fire a couple sighter rounds and then shoot for a group. Some guns like clean bores. As the fouling accumulates, the accuracy will go away. generally, I clean after 20 rounds or so these days. My cleaning regime involves removing most if not all of the fouling (copper and powder).

[wtnhunt]

Re: How often to clean Rifle?

Like AJ says, I let the gun tell me. When my accuracy starts to go, I know it is time for a cleaning.

[VTbowman]

Re: How often to clean Rifle?

How much does a gun that talks costs?

Man you guys always have a leg up on the good stuff. LOL

Good advice.

[woodsman2230]

Re: How often to clean Rifle?

I clean my gun after sighting it in...then I clean it after the season.

[NS whitetail]

Re: How often to clean Rifle?

I clean mine after practice at the rifle range before the season and then once again when I am done deer hunting

I don't clean it during the season because of the strong smells of the oils and cleaners

[Guest shotist]

Re: How often to clean Rifle?

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How often do you clean up your rifle? How mnay shots do you put through it without cleaning?

[/ QUOTE ]

I will concur that it is the rifle that will tell you when it needs a good cleaning. Some barrels may go 10 shots...I've had some that would go 250. When they start pitching shots unexpectedly, it's time.

Much of it has to do with barrel surface finish, bearing surface length of the bullets used, bullet jacket hardness, rate of twist, bullet velocity and so on.

Cleaning is something that I never do after sighting in for hunting. I want a fouled bore for that first shot. I have had barrels that take 5-8 shots before they settle down with a sqweaky clean bore.