Rifle cleaning discussion

[ND308]

Thinking of comparing techniques with you gents. The way I generally clean my rifles.

1. Take bolt out / moderator off
2. Point barrel gently downwards
3. Give superficial bits a spray and wipe down with either browning Legia / degreaser
4. Boretech eliminator with a nylon brush a few strokes 5-10
5. Either eliminator on patch’s or a carbon remover (depending how many rounds I’ve put through - generally eliminator and then every few months il go with carbon)
6. Copper remover if needbe via brush/patches
7. Couple of patches of eliminator and then a dry patch.
8. I then just give the bolt a wipe with degreaser/legia - make sure no gunk is on it and stick it away.

If I get in and have only shot once - given it foxes on a night - I will generally just stick a Boresnake through and leave it at that.

Anything people do wildly different or would change up?

 

[gixer1]

Pretty similar although I only use the boretech, leave it in for 5 mins, 10 passes with a nylon brush and then patch out until the patches are clean, then bore snake with a spray of legia to leave a coating of oil.

Regards,
Gixer

 

[doigan]

That's basically what I do, never had any concerns, until I bought a borescope. Worst thing I ever did, ignorance isn't only bliss it's much cheaper too

 

[gixer1]

I bore scope mine and it’s in great condition - was actually surprised as it’s not that intensive a cleaning regime…

 

[User00056]

Boresnake for me. Then a quick glance through the barrel to see if it looks shiny enough to make me happy. Metal and wood gets a wipe over with Renaissance Wax, and for the most part that's it. Chamber gets a brush from time to time if I remember

 

[ND308]

That's basically what I do, never had any concerns, until I bought a borescope. Worst thing I ever did, ignorance isn't only bliss it's much cheaper too

Was it after the borescope you began cleaning more thoroughly or did something else change after it?

 

[ND308]

Boresnake for me. Then a quick glance through the barrel to see if it looks shiny enough to make me happy. Metal and wood gets a wipe over with Renaissance Wax, and for the most part that's it. Chamber gets a brush from time to time if I remember

Usually if I’ve been out and only shot 1/2 a Boresnake is more than enough for me. Only tends to get a proper clean as above if I’ve been plinking/brought the Mrs out or I’ve been out a number of times and did the ol Boresnake between.

 

[doigan]

Was it after the borescope you began cleaning more thoroughly or did something else change after it?

No, I noticed a carbon ring and pitting, I just know that if my shots start to spread I am going to blame this even if it isn't. Hence will either end up with a new gun or barrel. Expensive either way

 

[VSS]

Oily rag over the outside after each outing.
Pull-through at the end of the fallow season.

 

[cjm1066]

I have used KG and boretech, both work but the bores scope provides the evidence. I find I am using JB faster more frequently since I got the bore scope.

 

[jthyttin]

either browning Legia / degreaser

Legia seems to be wood-safe do-it-all gun oil. The bit I don't get, you use either Legia or degreaser? Sound like quite opposite choices.

Also don't understand people using boresnake while they have access to proper cleaning equipment. Doesn't make sense, either keep circulating the crud in your rifle, or keep washing/cleaning the snake (that really doesn't get clean).

 

[gixer1]

Legia seems to be wood-safe do-it-all gun oil. The bit I don't get, you use either Legia or degreaser? Sound like quite opposite choices.

Also don't understand people using boresnake while they have access to proper cleaning equipment. Doesn't make sense, either keep circulating the crud in your rifle, or keep washing/cleaning the snake (that really doesn't get clean).

Legia is a “light” oil so will soften and clear any debris away and leave a light film, a bore snake doesn’t need to be constantly washed as it will clear away light debris, it’s like a very long patch.

Should they be changed out? Sure, I change them out after about 3 years however usually issues with them aw due to them getting a knot or twist at the chamber end and people carrying on pulling or the string being that worn they are falling apart.

Regards,
Gixer

 

[doigan]

Was it after the borescope you began cleaning more thoroughly or did something else change after it?

I had already ordered a bore scope and was waiting for it to arrive. Was shooting last Saturday at 600 and was not happy with results. I had been watching videos and some had been about carbon ring and how it can effect accuracy etc. Scope arrived and shock city. A part of me believes that it is the quality of the barrel and my Remington was in very good clean condition and that is about 15 years old and is cleaned the same way.

 

[Steff]

.... a bore snake doesn’t need to be constantly washed as it will clear away light debris, it’s like a very long patch.

....

Exactly, it's like a long patch. It will gather all the gunk from the barrel, which is what it is supposed to do.
Would I want to reuse it? Definitely not!!!

 

[gixer1]

Exactly, it's like a long patch. It will gather all the gunk from the barrel, which is what it is supposed to do.
Would I want to reuse it? Definitely not!!!

View attachment 381961

You are talking about a microscopic film…not shovel fulls of dirt.

 

[Steff]

You are talking about a microscopic film…not shovel fulls of dirt.

Take one shot from a squeeking clean barrel and the first patch will look like the dirtiest one in my picture.

 

[ND308]

Legia is a “light” oil so will soften and clear any debris away and leave a light film, a bore snake doesn’t need to be constantly washed as it will clear away light debris, it’s like a very long patch.

Should they be changed out? Sure, I change them out after about 3 years however usually issues with them aw due to them getting a knot or twist at the chamber end and people carrying on pulling or the string being that worn they are falling apart.

Regards,
Gixer

Tend to use Legia as you say to clear debris and give things a light rub. I’d use degreaser if it’s been a muddy/dirty or somehow ended up with oil/grease over bits - or on the bolt.

 

[ND308]

Tend to use Legia as you say to clear debris and give things a light rub. I’d use degreaser if it’s been a muddy/dirty or somehow ended up with oil/grease over bits - or on the bolt.

Oops wrong person to reply to - but still same thing

 

[gixer1]

Take one shot from a squeeking clean barrel and the first patch will look like the dirtiest one in my picture.

Yup, but it’s still a very thin film. You could clean a barrel a week after no shots and you’d get a dirty patch…steel degrades and surface corrosion happens, usually the film it leaves can help slow (not stop) further degradation.

 

[ChesterP]

Mine differed a bit.

I'd remove mod in the field rather than let any moisture into the muzzle. At home, I'd remove the bolt, inspect, clean, lightly oil and put to one side. Then the chamber and receiver would be cleaned after putting the rifle on a service cradle. I used wipe out on a brass brush and after a few initial pass throughs to get rid of most of the muck, I'd give it another dose of wipeout foaming cleaner and use enough strokes to remove most of the carbon before a final patch through followed by dry patch, then reassemble and put the rifle away.

I stopped oiling barrels after discovering (predictably) that it led to case obturation problems (witnessed by sooty marks on the cases), so if the barrel was stored for extended periods of more than a few weeks and I wanted a thin film of oil in the barrel, I'd then clean the chamber with a patch dampened with meths to remove traces of oil. Prior to shooting it again, I'd run a few dry patches down the barrel to remove oil traces.