Crown cleanliness - pefection or pedantry?

[zambezi]

Every third or fourth clean of any of my rifles also includes an additional inspection of the crown. Since I use mods on all my calibers, carbon build-up on all the crowns is a given. Inevitably the crown gets wet on each inclement outing, so the chance of fostering a corrosive paste on the most important part of your barrel seems real enough to me.

Some folk declare crown carbon build-up does not happen on their rifles. Penny to a pound they are the same folk who call for reinforcements when looking for socks...

Cleaning the crown is likely to be a marmite thing. But let me submit this photo montage as evidence for its need and the method that works for me. The crown gets crusty so the first thing I do is push a dry patch to the mouth before wafting the crud off . The best tool for removing the carbon that chemicals won't lift is a glass fibre pencil and with accurate application the crud comes away and can then be removed with a vacuum to leave a much improved muzzle

 

[paul o']

Do like a polished crown clean mine with Carb spray and a plastic pot cleaner then have at the barrel lol .

 

[jer]

Every third or fourth clean of any of my rifles also includes an additional inspection of the crown. Since I use mods on all my calibers, carbon build-up on all the crowns is a given. Inevitably the crown gets wet on each inclement outing, so the chance of fostering a corrosive paste on the most important part of your barrel seems real enough to me.

Some folk declare crown carbon build-up does not happen on their rifles. Penny to a pound they are the same folk who call for reinforcements when looking for socks...

Cleaning the crown is likely to be a marmite thing. But let me submit this photo montage as evidence for its need and the method that works for me. The crown gets crusty so the first thing I do is push a dry patch to the mouth before wafting the crud off View attachment 165149. The best tool for removing the carbon that chemicals won't lift is a glass fibre pencil View attachment 165150 and with accurate application the crud comes away View attachment 165151 and can then be removed with a vacuum View attachment 165153 to leave a much improved muzzle View attachment 165152

Good post there Zambezi, the images really show what occurs and which without a good inspection may be missed.

 

[User00040]

@zambezi great tip on the glass fibre pencil, will have to get one now!

I think some folks who use over barrel/reflex moderators (think T8) report less fouling simply because the muzzle crown is either close to or in contact with the bit of the moderator that goes over the barrel.



I am happy to clean the crown more and use a 'can' type. I usually wet the crown with KG1 and leave for a short while before wiping off with a patch. Seems to work OK for me.

 

[CarlW]

Excellent thread, @zambezi .

There's no excuse for slovenliness. Anyone with a dirty crown should be horsewhipped. Same goes for their shoes...

On my stainless barrel, I use a drop of white vinegar on some grey (ultra-fine) Scotchbrite. The muck comes off almost instantly.

On blued rifles, I use KG1 (like @caberslash ) and some kitchen roll.

PS vinegar removes bluing...don't ask me how I know...

 

[Cottis]

Excellent thread, @zambezi .

There's no excuse for slovenliness. Anyone with a dirty crown should be horsewhipped. Same goes for their shoes...

On my stainless barrel, I use a drop of white vinegar on some grey (ultra-fine) Scotchbrite. The muck comes off almost instantly.

On blued rifles, I use KG1 (like @caberslash ) and some kitchen roll.

PS vinegar removes bluing...don't ask me how I know...

Dammit Carl. Dirty crowns and shoes? What about car footwells? If we include the lot, can you just give me a bullet and put me out of my misery? Would save yourself administering some heavy duty flogging as well.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

KG1

best stuff ever

 

[takbok]

I seriously worry about you lot...

 

[BLUEROLL]

I agree that build up can occur after a session on paper, but certainly after just one or two shots from a live quarry trip 99% of it can be removed after removing the moderator when you get back to the slip in your vehicle and its still soft. When giving the rifle a proper clean use a "Krazy Kloth" to restore the bright gleaming polished finish.
The Krazy Kloth is also brilliant at removing powder residue from the outside necks of fired cases, prior to re-size.

 

[jb1]

Are you going to finish cleaning the crown tomorrow ???

I like to see nicely polished crowns
.

 

[Hunter 6.5]

@zambezi great tip on the glass fibre pencil, will have to get one now!

I think some folks who use over barrel/reflex moderators (think T8) report less fouling simply because the muzzle crown is either close to or in contact with the bit of the moderator that goes over the barrel.

View attachment 165155

I am happy to clean the crown more and use a 'can' type. I usually wet the crown with KG1 and leave for a short while before wiping off with a patch. Seems to work OK for me.

That's what i do as well. After any shooting i soaking a patch with kg1 and stick over the crown for few minutes, then whipped out with dry patch until perfectly clean

 

[paulbshooting]

After every stalk when I've fired a round when I get home, zip the mod off and wipe crown with KG1 on cloth, rifle goes in cabinet. Prob too much and fussy but it works for me.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Well its only justice that those guilty of the crime that is install of a rifle moderator should endure the pain of regularly burnishing their filthy crowns.

K

 

[hedge hunter]

Excellent thread, @zambezi .

There's no excuse for slovenliness. Anyone with a dirty crown should be horsewhipped. Same goes for their shoes...

On my stainless barrel, I use a drop of white vinegar on some grey (ultra-fine) Scotchbrite. The muck comes off almost instantly.

On blued rifles, I use KG1 (like @caberslash ) and some kitchen roll.

PS vinegar removes bluing...don't ask me how I know...

Horse whipped jesus carl go steady☺