Storing a rifle with moderator on

[gixer1]

I shot a friends rifle the other day to check it’s accuracy, I then drove 15 mins to check the bore with a friends borescope - the moisture droplets in the barrel after 15 minutes was significant.

That’s creating carbonic acid…and the barrel will corrode with this.

A moderator would be no different - it needs to be dried out as much as possible.

Regards,
Gixer

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

please leave mods on CF rifles
It drives the UK rebarrelling business.....

 

[Tim.243]

Thanks for all the comments.
Shall I phrase the question, slightly differently?
If I buy a brand new moderator, pop it on the rifle and put it in the cabinet before using it, will it damage the rifle?

See I told you the mod thread police will turn up lol

 

[jb1]

Simply why leave them on ??? Takes literally seconds to take off and replace. No benefits leaving on at all, but increases potential damage to crown if left on regardless of how dry and clean
you think It is. Just no need.

 

[timbrayford]

Thanks for all the comments.
Shall I phrase the question, slightly differently?
If I buy a brand new moderator, pop it on the rifle and put it in the cabinet before using it, will it damage the rifle?

No...provided that you don't have a humidity issue trapping moisture !

 

[cooksey]

Why is it everyone worries so much with centrefire rifle but I bet most people can't remember the last time they look the mod of Their rimfires!

 

[Sheamus]

Never stored my 22lr with moderator on. Or any other centrefire..
Beats me why anyone would want to store a gun with one fitted

 

[Trickyd66]

Never stored my 22lr with moderator on. Or any other centrefire..
Beats me why anyone would want to store a gun with one fitted

Convenience... as my original post, I'm not looking to leave a mod full of crud / condensation etc on the rifle. Mod will come off as soon as I have finished shooting. When home I clean the rifle and the mod. Both are lightly oiled. Mod thoroughly dried How can a clean , dry mod cause damage to the barrel, when in effect it is only an extension of the barrel and has been through the same cleaning regime?

 

[Trickyd66]

Like many others, I learned the hard way that you never leave a moderator on the rifle when not in use. I remember Steve Beaty (Ivythorn Guns) telling me that around 70% of rifles that come through his hands have pitting at the muzzle end due to mods being left on. It just isn't worth the risk.
I doubt that a completely dry, clean mod would do any harm, but as most mods benefit from building up a bit of crud, it seems unnecessary work to clean a mod each time after use.

As it happens it is one of Steve's "pitted barrel " rifles already.. shoots better than I can

 

[andyk]

Looks like you’d already made your mind up, so why ask?

However much you clean the mod, it isn’t going to be ‘as new’ clean unless you put the parts in an ultrasonic cleaner or similar.

I always take them off. Perhaps it’s a waste of time, perhaps not. The only way I’ll find out is by leaving one on and finding out if the barrel and crown rust, at which point I’ve got a pitted barrel and crown that can’t be repaired. Personally, it just doesn’t seem worth the risk.

 

[Sheamus]

Convenience... as my original post, I'm not looking to leave a mod full of crud / condensation etc on the rifle. Mod will come off as soon as I have finished shooting. When home I clean the rifle and the mod. Both are lightly oiled. Mod thoroughly dried How can a clean , dry mod cause damage to the barrel, when in effect it is only an extension of the barrel and has been through the same cleaning regime?

The only time i clean the rifle and moderator is on the 1st May each year. Then they get mopped out the last few days in July. The 22lr has never been cleaned in over 20 years.
So don't ever listen to my advice about cleaning regime's.

 

[moeggesit]

Thanks for all the comments.
Shall I phrase the question, slightly differently?
If I buy a brand new moderator, pop it on the rifle and put it in the cabinet before using it, will it damage the rifle?

As I see it the only issue is crud getting into the thread (minor issue) and corroding or condensation forming when you return from outdoors (mostly in winter). I tend to air my rifles and mods very well before storing, often on or against a radiators or next to fireplace. I never clean mods except for a deep soak when it’s seriously coked up, when is dry there is nothing to run down the barrel, unless you oil the mod or add some fluid to run down.

I do not usually leave the mod on but won’t give it a second thought to put it back once aired and at room temperature.

 

[Dickie]

As it happens it is one of Steve's "pitted barrel " rifles already.. shoots better than I can

I’m sure Steve one of the most trusted in the trade will love to see that comment.
There has been 30 posts here and probably 20 post say don’t do it, gunsmiths and associates are all rubbing their hands and praying that you do and Tim.243 because of his own reasons but then he likens it to shotgun chokes says nah no worries.

 

[Trickyd66]

I’m sure Steve one of the most trusted in the trade will love to see that comment.
There has been 30 posts here and probably 20 post say don’t do it, gunsmiths and associates are all rubbing their hands and praying that you do and Tim.243 because of his own reasons but then he likens it to shotgun chokes says nah no worries.

For clarity, Steve sold it as being pitted and would hit a tennis ball at 100yds... I think it is better than that. (And the price matched his description )

 

[Dickie]

For clarity, Steve sold it as being pitted and would hit a tennis ball at 100yds... I think it is better than that.

Problems is people won’t read past the earlier post and the reputation damage is done.

 

[sy247]

I go away for shooting for the weekend and leave the mod on from Friday - Sunday usually. Other than that it is always stored separately.

 

[Mike1979]

All my mods come off my rifles for storage whether rimfire or CF. If im away shooting for the weekend my mod comes off after Ive been out and goes back on before I head out again. Personal preference but the mod wont do any harm if its not on the end of the rifle

 

[sy247]

All my mods come off my rifles for storage whether rimfire or CF. If im away shooting for the weekend my mod comes off after Ive been out and goes back on before I head out again. Personal preference but the mod wont do any harm if its not on the end of the rifle

I will start taking it off in future. It shoots well and I would like it to stay that way.

 

[cjm1066]

After 25 years using moderators, I clean the barrel and let the moderator dry for a few days, then reassemble ready to go. Moderators collect water vapour/condersation, that's what rusts barrels.

 

[Polar Lynx]

Only reason for taking off moderator spells condensation. Damp air turns into water when cold material meets hot or hot meets cold material. Water drops may react with carbon and then rust and pit.
There are several ways to fix this natural law. One is to always remove moderator after an outing, another is to see to that both that gun and moderator have the same temp when moved into cabinet. If gun is placed on f.e. a radiator or open fire place a few hours before cabinet there will be no issue. If living/shooting in a very damp and salty area it pays off to go for stainless steel barrel material and titanium moderator.
Every time moderator is on or off there will be wear to the barrel thread. In the end moderator will turn lose or bend.