Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
Somepeople look like they spend more time cleaning it than actually shooting on this thread 
Routine cleaning to prevent barrel damage
- Thread starter Jon69
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It's a displacement activity.Somepeople look like they spend more time cleaning it than actually shooting on this thread
Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Some people OCD change their engine oil every month too, when doing it annually will have given the same service life to the vehicle, but they get to enjoy laying under a vehicle and getting oil everywhere in the process, wasting time and money.
Shooting overbore or barrel burners, using short barrels with slow burning powders, leaving mods on, putting rifle away damp, that’s the killer, not irregular cleaning
Shooting overbore or barrel burners, using short barrels with slow burning powders, leaving mods on, putting rifle away damp, that’s the killer, not irregular cleaning
Nickb
Well-Known Member
Ain't that the truth.Somepeople look like they spend more time cleaning it than actually shooting on this thread
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
I asked my late friend, Clifford Owen, how they managed in Normandy when he and his regiment the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry were on Hill 112. He said that the men pulled their rifles through every day. Casualties were "Somme like". He detested Montgomery saying "That man killed all my friends with his plans of attack."
www.cornwallforever.co.uk
Clifford, as I've recounted before, being a Captain didn't carry a rifle. But he well equipped himself. In its holster in the small of his back he wore an issue .38 Enfield. In a pocket inside his battledress blouse he carried a .32 ACP Colt 1903 and finally in case capture and search found those? In a pocket sewn inside the front of his battledress trousers was a .41 Remington Double Derringer.
He still had all three when I knew him in the 1990s and thereafter. The only one he used to kill was the .32. With which,in the North of England, he shot a pheasant by the roadside and took back to his encampment to have cooked. In North Africa he carried his Winchester 92 in .44-40 which, again, I had the privilege and pleasure of handling when I knew him.
He also, as I said I do, cleaned any weapon after it had been fired. Again a wise thing because of corrosive primers.
DCLI and the Battle for Hill 112 |
In 1944, the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) fought the Battle for Hill 112 in Normandy.
www.cornwallforever.co.uk
Clifford, as I've recounted before, being a Captain didn't carry a rifle. But he well equipped himself. In its holster in the small of his back he wore an issue .38 Enfield. In a pocket inside his battledress blouse he carried a .32 ACP Colt 1903 and finally in case capture and search found those? In a pocket sewn inside the front of his battledress trousers was a .41 Remington Double Derringer.
He still had all three when I knew him in the 1990s and thereafter. The only one he used to kill was the .32. With which,in the North of England, he shot a pheasant by the roadside and took back to his encampment to have cooked. In North Africa he carried his Winchester 92 in .44-40 which, again, I had the privilege and pleasure of handling when I knew him.
He also, as I said I do, cleaned any weapon after it had been fired. Again a wise thing because of corrosive primers.
Ratsbadboy
Well-Known Member
At the risk of some of you getting injured rolling about the floor laughing, I have to admit I actually enjoy cleaning my rifles and clean them after every use - regardless of the number of shots fired. I enjoy cleaning the guns so much I often clean my friends rifle too. My regime is simple - patch soaked in BoreTech Eliminator pushed through and left to soak for 5-10 mins, then 10 to 15 strokes of a bore brush also soaked in Eliminator. Then another wet patch to push out the dirty solvent followed by dry patches until they're coming out clean. I then push through a patch soaked in Ballistrol followed by 10-15 strokes of a bronze brush also soaked in Ballistrol. The debris is pushed out with a patch soaked on white spirit. I then dry patch until clean. I know this sounds a long laborious process, but it usually takes only around 30 or so minutes. 30 or so minutes of pure enjoyment 
The cost per flannel patch in 2025 makes such an approach unaffordable without subsidy or crowd funding.
K
K
At the risk of some of you getting injured rolling about the floor laughing, I have to admit I actually enjoy cleaning my rifles and clean them after every use - regardless of the number of shots fired. I enjoy cleaning the guns so much I often clean my friends rifle too. My regime is simple - patch soaked in BoreTech Eliminator pushed through and left to soak for 5-10 mins, then 10 to 15 strokes of a bore brush also soaked in Eliminator. Then another wet patch to push out the dirty solvent followed by dry patches until they're coming out clean. I then push through a patch soaked in Ballistrol followed by 10-15 strokes of a bronze brush also soaked in Ballistrol. The debris is pushed out with a patch soaked on white spirit. I then dry patch until clean. I know this sounds a long laborious process, but it usually takes only around 30 or so minutes. 30 or so minutes of pure enjoyment
Good for you and I bet your mates are overjoyed.I clean my rifles more then I need to but frankly the time and materials are cheaper then a re-barrel
The inability to edit is not good for my well hung lesbian fingers!Corbin Dioxide…. Hasn’t he just set up a new political party
I agree with everything you say. Trouble is without bore scoping your barrel regularly you won’t be able to see the pitting develop. I have taken to removing carbon after every outing with light oil patch to finish
I’m liking the inclusive language regarding your digits. Perhaps you could suggest their pronouns in future
8x57
Distinguished Member
An old boy told me that shortly after El Alamein Monty pulled up in his staff car, stood up and gathered the troops around the car. He proclaimed "Men you have done well, I'm taking you home to England", a great cheer went up and Harry though he's not such a bad guy after all.
Then Monty added "I'm taking you home, (pause) via Italy" to which Harry muttered "You bast**d.
Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
Problem with stripping copper out all the time is your probably not getting the most accuracy wise out your rifle.
Tr guys just shoot till groups open, strip the coper back then shoot about 10- 20 rounds to foul the barrel/ re copper it to get the accuracy back.
Was at bisley on sat after stripping out my rifle. First few groups were naff then tightened right up again. Was shooting at 200m
Tr guys just shoot till groups open, strip the coper back then shoot about 10- 20 rounds to foul the barrel/ re copper it to get the accuracy back.
Was at bisley on sat after stripping out my rifle. First few groups were naff then tightened right up again. Was shooting at 200m
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Funny you mention this. I've only had a couple of rifles do the same.
One of which is my current Winchester.
After a deep clean it takes about a dozen or more shots to come back together.
Not this TR guy. I clean back to steel (or nearly) after every shoot. What if the 'group opened up' during a competition? I'd come last even worse than usual.
My theory on this, having had a barrel like it myself (as well as a borescope) is that barrels that behave like this are actually fairly pitted. Removing the copper which has usefully filled the pits makes reduces the accuracy, and then you need to fire 10-20 rounds to smear them all full again so the bore is smoothish ones more.
I can't think of another reason why a barrel full of crud would shoot better than a nice shiny clean one - other than that rifles are occasioanly prone to inexplicable behaviours....
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
No pits in the Winchester barrel. I don't think it's as simple an explanation.
Maybe a rougher finished barrel
.Who knows....
Yes - I guess that like pits, a rougher finish might improve with a good smear of jacket material. My worry is always what's going on under that smear while I'm not looking.No pits in the Winchester barrel. I don't think it's as simple an explanation.
Maybe a rougher finished barrel
Who knows....
Perhaps give it a jolly good seeing-to with JB Paste, or similar?
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