How often should a rifle barrel be cleaned?

So as you can see once the lid on the can of worms is opened there are lots of ways.... roughly achieving the same result for each person concerned. Stick to what you know works for you and your equipment and if you are getting no problems regarding serviceability and are getting accurate results down range on target why change your embedded routine. I cannot stress enough the importance of the removal, stripping down and cleaning of your moderator though (if that's possible, mines a Sonic) I currently use the VFG 1 piece rod and bud system along with M Pro 7 Gun Cleaner post firing and lube any bearing surfaces with Clenzoil.
 
.22 pull through and squirt of wd40

6.5 mod off always (even on way to and from stalking), wipe down, patch out, solvent patches, leave while I dismantle the mod and clean inside, jag (one way only), patch out, solvent, jag, patch out, grease, store muzzle up, Napier VP90 in cabinet.

I thought that was enough but when I went to an accuracy freak friend of mine who is seriously into ballistics to work up a load he proclaimed my rifle "filthy" by his standards.
 
I have recently changed over to the VFG system which is quick and easy.
Mod off and clean tube every outing if fired, for everything.
 
Read a very interesting article where a rifle crown was deliberately damaged in stages and test fired at each stage of what was destruction of the crown. At no time did the rifle lose accuracy.
Cannot remember the article source and certainly I am like most on here and look after my rifles diligently but it was quite surprising.
I think at times " crown paranoia " can make people forget how tough barrel steels are.
Has anyone else seen the article I describe ?
 
Yes I believe that's the one if my fading memory serves correctly.

Of course I am sure there will be plenty of examples of the exact opposite where accuracy has gone to pot with relatively minor crown damage.

I have bought a few rifles from a nearby RFD who regularly would suggest a recrown to a brand new rifle to ensure best achievable accuracy, normally done when getting screwcut prior to the days when factory rifles came ready to moderate.
 
I think at times " crown paranoia " can make people forget how tough barrel steels are.
We are talking about some people here who believe a relatively new and previously sound rifle can suddenly develop 'head space' issues sitting in the gun closet over night. Any post where a person describes a peculiar mark on a fired case will bring a nearly instant suggestion that the rifle be taken to a gunsmith to have the headspace checked.:lol:~Muir
 
Hi,

I have the same rifle and clean it after every outing with wipeout, unless I haven't fired it (!). Definitely affects accuracy, if you zero with a clean barrel and then coke it up, but take a few before its affecting minute of deer. That said, why take the chance? Its a sweet rifle and I want to look after mine.
 
You should clean your gun everytime after it has been fired ,and before being stored away:)
 
i only plan on cleaning mine if accuracy fails or the bullets cant leave the barrel. if it shoots straight why worry.
 
Just to share my trip of the day... A patch soaked in Meths followed by three dry patches will remove carbon fouling.
If copper removal / solvent cleaning is then required it works a lot better and a lot faster after using the meths and drying patches.
It's great stuff.... takes only a minute, can do no harm to your barrel and costs next to nowt :-).
 
Over 60 years ago,Grandad, BLACK WATCH 13th.bttl./42nd.reg. (Survivor of gas attacks at YPRES) ALWAYS, after rabbit or grouse hunting, inspected my .22 single shot and it HAD TO BE SPOTLESS !!!!!!! or my 3 shells were handed over and no hunting for 3 days.(Back in QUEBEC Canada, in the 1950s boys who lived in the country /farm lands were permitted to go off into the ''bush'' by themselves.....Have things changed or what EH !!!!!!
Today,if its been wet while hunting or just target shooting ,firearm gets OLD #9, AND oiled....
if weather has been dry, its wiped down with a light oil on metal and wax on wood.
I shoot year round and only STORE my hand guns in a metal gun safe......long guns are around the house with trigger locks.(Out of sight).
 
i only plan on cleaning mine if accuracy fails or the bullets cant leave the barrel. if it shoots straight why worry.
This is how I do it. I don't remember the last time I ran solvent through my Tikka 7-08. I was out on a very windy and dusty day last summer practicing and so i ran a patch with a scant drop of oil through it, then patched til dry. I have been shooting it pretty regularly since with no cleaning of the bore: just the action. Checked my zero a week ago thursday and it shot half MOA just where I expected it to be. Dragged it all over the mountains this past week and placed a 120 Game Pro exactly where I wanted it on a bedded down muley doe @ 225 yards.

Cleaning is highly over rated.~Muir
 
Ran some solvent down the barrel of my Mauser about 150 shots ago. Will shoot another 50 on Tuesday evening down the shooting cinema. Will run some bore foam and a brush out before i go boar shooting. Two things i do when traveling abroad with my rifle, Clean barrel and clean underpants.
 
Every time its been fired for me. I spray Forrest MILFOAM up the barrel, leave for 20 mins to work then run a Napier Rifle Clean patch throught twice(2 patches)
 
Clean mine if they get wet - Always.
Other than that the action gets oiled and the chamber gets cleaned out on a regular basis but I leave the bore alone.
But - I always fire a couple of rounds into a ditch before setting out on a stalk.
Ensures no oil residue left in the bore.
If I'm going early morning I do it the night before.
 
Clean mine if they get wet - Always.
Other than that the action gets oiled and the chamber gets cleaned out on a regular basis but I leave the bore alone.
But - I always fire a couple of rounds into a ditch before setting out on a stalk.
Ensures no oil residue left in the bore.
If I'm going early morning I do it the night before.

i fond this fouling shot thing intriguing. I know a few people say they do it at the start of a stalk but doesn't that scare everything off? Also, how far off is your clean barrel accuracy? Surely only an inch or so? I can't tell a cold barrel, clean barrel from a fouled one on mine maybe that's just luck.
 
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