Still Confused About Bore Cleaning?

[roysclockgun]

After nearly fifty years of rifle shooting, I am still baffled by how to clean a bore for best results, regarding accuracy, and how not to damage the bore.
Currently I run Hoppes #9 through the bore, while still hot at the range. When I get home, I swab the bore with Butch's Bore Shine and follow the instructions on the bottle. It seems to take a lot more swabbing than the instructions indicate, and I still get blue coloration on the patch. I do not use wire brushes, but only nylon and patches. I use a bore guide, from the breach end. I do not leave Butch's in the bore much longer than one minute.
What am I doing wrong?
Will too much "cleaning" destroy accuracy?
Should I clean until no blue shows on the patch?
TIA,
Steven

 

[JD338]

I would use Butches Bore Shine at the range, it is a better cleaner than Hoppe's.
I would also get some Sweet's 7.62 for thew copper fouling. It will cut out the copper with a minimal amount of effort.
Another patch with Butches followed by dry patches and then a thin coat of quality oil such as Rem Oil and you are all set.

JD338

 

[Ol` Joe]

A shot of WipeOut foam left over night then patched out, and the bore lightly oiled if storing is all you need. Wipe Out has a oil base and protects the bore some alone, but I like to be sure if I`m useing the rifle in the next week or so. There no longer is a need to run a brush or patch after patch down a bore to get it clean.
Patch Out is the same as Wipe Out but you apply with a patch instead of squirting a foam in the bore. Both work xtreemly well IMO.

 

[blacktailhunter]

Your barrel does not need to be clean in order to shoot well. In fact, the opposite just might be true. I do not own one rifle that shoots better on a clean barrel than a slightly copper-fouled barrel. 10-15 shots after a complete cleaning is usually where they settle in. How I determine this is to shoot them with a clean barrel until accuracy gets to where I know it should be. Then, I shoot them until accuracy goes away. I call this my "operating window." I only use Wipe-Out for complete copper cleaning, and that is only used when accuracy has gone away due to copper fouling, period. Other than that, I will send a few patches with Butch's to get the bulk of the day's shooting crud out. Once the patches go from dark blue to just a little blue, I follow that with a wet patch of Hoppes and then a dry patch, I'm done. This will leave enough copper to fill in any micro-voids and also leaves enough powder/carbon fouling for "consistent friction" on the bullet.

There are many ways to effetively clean a barrel. If you have a custom barrel, follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The bottom line is this:

Always use a bore guide.
Always use a one-piece coated or carbon fiber cleaning rod.
Never get in a hurry.
Stay away from the crown.
You can clean your barrel too much.
Do not use a Teflon product in your barrel.
Your rifle will tell you if it likes to shoot clean, dirty, or in between. All you need to do is ask it.

Like barrel break in proceedures, barrel cleaning methods can vary greatly. I just know what has worked for me without ever damaging a single rifle. There are so many good cleaning products on the market today, just pick one and go with it. Again, this is how I do it effectively, but it is certainly not the only way.

 

[Big Squeeze]

Too much cleaning, will not harm accuracy assuming you`re using the right cleaning rod such as a "Tipton" that is bore friendly. You`ve been using a bore guide already which is good.

The above methods are very good, as everyone has their own little quirks about the right way to clean a bore.

Along with my bore guide and Tipton rod, I use solvent such as Hoppes along with patches until the patches come out clean for two cycles. Then, I use JB Bore Compound as directed (as I`ve done for 35+ years), then followed up with some of the more recently introduced JB Bore Brite. JB Bore Compound was rumored in the past to have some abrasive effects on bores. Not true!

Although other products like "Butches" will match for effectiveness, after doing the above, you cannot get a bore any cleaner (no blue patches afterwards), or any shinier.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Along with my bore guide and Tipton rod, I use solvent such as Hoppes along with patches until the patches come out clean for two cycles. Then, I use JB Bore Compound as directed (as I`ve done for 35+ years), then followed up with some of the more recently introduced JB Bore Brite. JB Bore Compound was rumored in the past to have some abrasive effects on bores. Not true!

I hate to say it but, JB is abrasive. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1160 ... G_COMPOUND

I used it in the past and still use Remingtons 40X which is also abrasive and was in the past called "Rem Clean" and is produced by the same company https://www.us-products.com/borepaste/

They are both excellent products and are the fastest way I have used to clean a bore. I just prefer a less aggressive method today.

 

[blacktailhunter]

Too much cleaning, will not harm accuracy assuming you`re using the right cleaning rod such as a "Tipton" that is bore friendly..

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by harm accuracy, but all of my factory barreled rifles shoot considerably larger groups while shiny-clean and no copper fouling inside. I've seen a lot of people struggle with accuracy out at the range by spending more time cleaning and less time shooting. My point is that a clean barrel is not a constant factor to detrmine accuracy. It's the only place to start with a rifle in which you are unfamilliar.

+1 on the Tipton rod. They are my favorite.

 

[Big Squeeze]

Along with my bore guide and Tipton rod, I use solvent such as Hoppes along with patches until the patches come out clean for two cycles. Then, I use JB Bore Compound as directed (as I`ve done for 35+ years), then followed up with some of the more recently introduced JB Bore Brite. JB Bore Compound was rumored in the past to have some abrasive effects on bores. Not true!

I hate to say it but, JB is abrasive. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1160 ... G_COMPOUND

I used it in the past and still use Remingtons 40X which is also abrasive and was in the past called "Rem Clean" and is produced by the same company https://www.us-products.com/borepaste/

They are both excellent products and are the fastest way I have used to clean a bore. I just prefer a less aggressive method today.

......................Let me re-phrase!.... JB has very "little" abrasion. The point being, it has no ill effects and will not ruin a bore or affect accuracy.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

When It comes to bore cleaning I stand by my earlier posts:
Barnes CR-10
Hoppes Tornado Brushes
Butches Boreshine
Kroils

When these fail, the Outer's electronic foulout remover. :grin:

I only us JB's, or anything abrasive in an extreme circimstance. :?
Hoppies is just to weak to be effective.

 

[Big Squeeze]

Too much cleaning, will not harm accuracy assuming you`re using the right cleaning rod such as a "Tipton" that is bore friendly..

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by harm accuracy, but all of my factory barreled rifles shoot considerably larger groups while shiny-clean and no copper fouling inside. I've seen a lot of people struggle with accuracy out at the range by spending more time cleaning and less time shooting. My point is that a clean barrel is not a constant factor to detrmine accuracy. It's the only place to start with a rifle in which you are unfamilliar.

+1 on the Tipton rod. They are my favorite.

...........The original poster was concerned about bore cleaning methods and what the best way was to remove fouling. However, improper cleaning methods such as not using a bore guide and a metal rod does affect accuracy. By using the proper cleaning methods, "overcleaning" itself will not affect accuracy.

I realize that many rifles shoot better with a bore that is fouled. The fact remains, the rifle should still be thoroughly cleaned after each shooting session (with the exception of a next day hunt), and that groups will tighten up with more shots through the bore.

 

[hardpan]

Guys,
I guess that my guns are lucky or different.

I get very good groups with a clean barrel and use bore snakes to clean them. I also uses Hoppes. I know that a lot of guys swear by a fouled barrel and I won't argue with them. But, my guns shoot the same if they are clean or have 10 shots through them. In general, the OAL and right powder/bullet combination have a lot more to do with accuracy. Then, frankly, it is how I squeeze the trigger... all matter more than a clean or dirty barrel. At least that is how it is in my guns.
Hardpan

 

[blacktailhunter]

Guys,
I guess that my guns are lucky or different.

I get very good groups with a clean barrel and use bore snakes to clean them. I also uses Hoppes. I know that a lot of guys swear by a fouled barrel and I won't argue with them. But, my guns shoot the same if they are clean or have 10 shots through them. In general, the OAL and right powder/bullet combination have a lot more to do with accuracy. Then, frankly, it is how I squeeze the trigger... all matter more than a clean or dirty barrel. At least that is how it is in my guns.
Hardpan

Hardpan, if you only use a bore snake and Hoppes, then you are shooting with a fouled barrel even after cleaning.

 

[Guest]

Blacktailhunter is right, your barrel is fouled, Hardpan. It doesn't have much surface carbon or debris, but it's got plenty of copper fouling and embedded carbon.

Don't get me wrong, I love Hoppe's #9. It's a great powder solvent. It smells like guns and gun cleaning. I have to keep a jar around when I'm cleaning just to smell now and then. But it doesn't get much copper out. It will get some, but not much.