cleaning my rifle

stinkybriches · 11-04-2009, 08:27 PM

so.... i havent cleaned my rifle in say 4 months. by that i mean the bore, as i always wipe down the outside and the bolt.
heres the deal. i had read in the gun rags and on this forum that cleaning without a bore guide was potentialy very harmfull to the bore and throat of my rifle. so after shooting about three boxes of ammo i decided it was time, and i ordered a guide off midway. i just started the process, and whoa is it dirty. im glad i can now resume my normal regimin of cleanin between every box. i know its not neccisary, but i shoot more at targets than deer, and im still testing factory ammo for it.

Midas · 11-04-2009, 09:10 PM

I don't use a bore guide, never had a problem with wear/damage etc.

In my opinion if you use a good, one piece coated rod then you don't run a high risk of doing damage to the throat area, like you would with a two piece aluminum setup.

stinkybriches · 11-04-2009, 10:22 PM

ive been at it for a couple hours now. all i have to say is holy copper buildup

.

jrswanson1 · 11-04-2009, 10:32 PM

What are you using for the copper buildup? And are you using a bronze brush or jag? They can give false readings since they have copper in them.

Jim

nathangdad · 11-04-2009, 11:08 PM

a bore guide is a good idea and it does help yet it is not totally necessary.

Quite often people overclean thus damaging their bores.

Da Mc · 11-05-2009, 01:59 AM

With today's modern smokeless powder it's not too much of a concern about the powder damaging or pitting the barrel. However though the copper fouling can be a problem if left for a long time. I use a good copper solvent and let it soak for about 3 minutes and then run some solvent through it again and turn the gun upside down to get the other half of the barrel exposed to the cleaner. Repeat the process until the patches no longer come through blue or green. After that take a flashlight and look at the first couple of inches of the muzzle end and if you still see the copper color in the barrel, repeat until the copper residue is no longer visible. Works for me and it increases the value of the weapon when you sell the gun and someone looks down the bore and it looks new.

Da Mc · 11-05-2009, 02:02 AM

One thing I found that is a worthwhile investment is a bore snake. Works very well and reduces cleaning time. Good luck.

ArkansasHunter · 11-05-2009, 02:14 AM

I'm going to take my cleaning rods and Loc-Tite them together (except where they swivel) and then slip heat shrink tubeing over them and heat.

Presto !!! the rod is coated, if there is any truth to bore and muzzel wear this will resolve it.
A.H

samuel · 11-05-2009, 02:38 AM

There is a lot of truth to bore and muzzle wear,proven time and again by the military having to clean so much but also by civilians cleaning a lot.A bore guide is a help in preventing throat erosion and an absolute must when cleaning from the muzzle,unless you are one of the lucky ones smart enough to use a bore snake. ,,,sam.

SwedeSteve · 11-05-2009, 07:24 AM

I run a boresnake through at the range while the gun is warm. Then detail clean at home with a one piece carbon cleaning rod.

stinkybriches · 11-05-2009, 08:25 AM

i also bore snake at the range. for the copper i use hoppes benchrest.
it seems to work really well, much better than regular hoppes on copper.
i also use a one piece rod. and i dont put brushes in my barrels, although
i have been toying with getting a jag of the appropriat size.
what do you guys use to get the copper out.

Mr. Gunwrench · 11-05-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

I'm going to take my cleaning rods and Loc-Tite them together (except where they swivel) and then slip heat shrink tubeing over them and heat.

I've heard that a soft coated rod could result in scratches in the bore due to the soft coating picking up micron sized dirt and dragging it along the bore. I like to use Shooters' Choice - Copper for copper fouling. It's a bit expensive, but I would rather pay now than a lot later for a new barrel. I also love their plastic formula for my trap gun. I have brushed it till it shines like new and put that stuff in there and let it soak, it resembled paint after you apply pain stripper.

big shrek · 11-05-2009, 01:05 PM

BoreSnake is probably the best way to go...simple, easy, can't screw up & gouge the barrel with it.

Carbon-fiber rods are also wonderful...when you can find 'em

11-04-2009, 08:27 PM	#1
stinkybriches Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: wisconsin Posts: 86	cleaning my rifle so.... i havent cleaned my rifle in say 4 months. by that i mean the bore, as i always wipe down the outside and the bolt. heres the deal. i had read in the gun rags and on this forum that cleaning without a bore guide was potentialy very harmfull to the bore and throat of my rifle. so after shooting about three boxes of ammo i decided it was time, and i ordered a guide off midway. i just started the process, and whoa is it dirty. im glad i can now resume my normal regimin of cleanin between every box. i know its not neccisary, but i shoot more at targets than deer, and im still testing factory ammo for it.

11-04-2009, 09:10 PM	#2
Midas Chief Troll B' Gone Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 3,571 Images: 2 Blog Entries: 6	I don't use a bore guide, never had a problem with wear/damage etc. In my opinion if you use a good, one piece coated rod then you don't run a high risk of doing damage to the throat area, like you would with a two piece aluminum setup. __________________ The Second Amendment: America's Original Homeland Security. NRA Life Member

11-04-2009, 10:22 PM	#3
stinkybriches Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: wisconsin Posts: 86	ive been at it for a couple hours now. all i have to say is holy copper buildup.

11-04-2009, 11:08 PM	#5
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5,172	Well, a bore guide is a good idea and it does help yet it is not totally necessary. Quite often people overclean thus damaging their bores.

11-05-2009, 02:02 AM	#7
Da Mc Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Riverside Cal. Posts: 72	Gun cleaning One thing I found that is a worthwhile investment is a bore snake. Works very well and reduces cleaning time. Good luck.

11-04-2009, 10:32 PM	#4
jrswanson1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,093	What are you using for the copper buildup? And are you using a bronze brush or jag? They can give false readings since they have copper in them. Jim

11-05-2009, 01:59 AM	#6
Da Mc Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Riverside Cal. Posts: 72	With today's modern smokeless powder it's not too much of a concern about the powder damaging or pitting the barrel. However though the copper fouling can be a problem if left for a long time. I use a good copper solvent and let it soak for about 3 minutes and then run some solvent through it again and turn the gun upside down to get the other half of the barrel exposed to the cleaner. Repeat the process until the patches no longer come through blue or green. After that take a flashlight and look at the first couple of inches of the muzzle end and if you still see the copper color in the barrel, repeat until the copper residue is no longer visible. Works for me and it increases the value of the weapon when you sell the gun and someone looks down the bore and it looks new.

11-05-2009, 02:14 AM	#8
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 17,217	I'm going to take my cleaning rods and Loc-Tite them together (except where they swivel) and then slip heat shrink tubeing over them and heat. Presto !!! the rod is coated, if there is any truth to bore and muzzel wear this will resolve it. A.H __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER

11-05-2009, 02:38 AM	#9
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 10,914	There is a lot of truth to bore and muzzle wear,proven time and again by the military having to clean so much but also by civilians cleaning a lot.A bore guide is a help in preventing throat erosion and an absolute must when cleaning from the muzzle,unless you are one of the lucky ones smart enough to use a bore snake. ,,,sam.

11-05-2009, 07:24 AM	#10
SwedeSteve Suspected Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Anchortown, Alaska Posts: 23,576 Images: 1	I run a boresnake through at the range while the gun is warm. Then detail clean at home with a one piece carbon cleaning rod. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

11-05-2009, 08:25 AM	#11
stinkybriches Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: wisconsin Posts: 86	i also bore snake at the range. for the copper i use hoppes benchrest. it seems to work really well, much better than regular hoppes on copper. i also use a one piece rod. and i dont put brushes in my barrels, although i have been toying with getting a jag of the appropriat size. what do you guys use to get the copper out.

11-05-2009, 01:05 PM	#13
big shrek Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northwest, FL Posts: 3,128 Images: 56	BoreSnake is probably the best way to go...simple, easy, can't screw up & gouge the barrel with it. Carbon-fiber rods are also wonderful...when you can find 'em __________________ In every Unit...there is a Scrounger...