Just put the cleaning rod into the chuck and spin the bronze brush in the barrel. Both ways. Run wet patches in between to get the stuff out that you break free.
My grandpa taught me to clean your gun after every use; i.e. only put away clean. That way it is always ready. This has worked well with me for 60 years.
I was taught to clean a rifle barrel after each outing, so I just kept doing this when I bought my own rifles. I have never owned a precision rifle like the one shown in this video. My favourite hunting rifle was an old .303 Jungle Carbine which was no long distance champion(no surprise there, with a history of military surplus ammo and a healthy dose of neglect from the original owner). The furthest shot I ever took on an animal was 330m. Once I had the barrel properly cleaned, with all the corrosion damage and metal fouling removed, I kept it spotless(cleaned every time I used it, without fail), purely out of respect for that beloved rifle. The problem I encountered was that the first shot from a clean barrel(the most important one that had to put the animal down) shot to a different point of impact from the following shots. I eventually got familiar enough with my own hand loads to know where that first shot would go, and made the slight adjustment accordingly. I believe that a barrel deserves to be cleaned after each use, whether it's been fired or not, because dust and other stuff can find it's way into where it does not belong. Just my 2c worth... :)
I clean after a range trip. The only time I did not clean was right after checking zero for hunting season. I figured I got the gun zero'd when it was dirty. But really, cold bore is not so much a thing as cold shooter. So, I really like the clean is the only factor that is reproducible. For cleaning, I will pull the snake through few times. The brass brush a few times. Then Hoppe's #9 on patches until clean. Then dry a few patches and then gun oil a few patches. I also do this to the chamber and action. On bolt action, I just clean the bolt as it is and then I put grease on the bolt and cycle a few times. I store the rifle muzzle down.
The best thing to happen to my bore cleaning process was getting a borescope. Seeing exactly what is going on inside your barrel is invaluable. The first thing I learned from it is that a clean bore produces dirty patches and i was thus over brushing and couldn’t tell when the bore was actually clean. With the borescope i can tell if there is carbon or copper or both and where. I can also evaluate how effective various solvents or abrasives and procedures are at cleaning the bore. To everyone else here’s my advice: Clean however and how frequent you like… but… get a borescope. No matter what your process is, it will get better if you can see whats going on in there and you will evolve towards a process with full confidence in what is working best for you.
If I go to the range for practice, I clean when I get home. If I go to a multiple-day competition where I shoot 50-100 rounds per day, I clean after each day of shooting. I start with a traditional bore solvent and run patches until they come out clean, then I run a few strokes with a bronze brush, then back to the solvent until clean patches come out again, then I run a copper removing solvent until no more blue shows on the patches, and after a couple patches of alcohol (to remove any trace solvents) I will run a patch through with a tiny bit of oil on it if I'm storing the rifle for any period of time (if I'll be shooting it again very soon then I skip the oil patch).
I clean every time and inspect with a borescope. I believe that's just ingrained in me from spending half of my life in the military. How people maintain their firearms is up to them I just know how I prefer to maintain mine.
I do the same. I used to clean at random and not track my rounds down the tube. Now I keep a journal for each of my rifles and found that my results are more consistent.
On the topic of that wooden stock rifle. Would love to see a build with a howa(any cal) barreled action, laminated stock, shusher can and quick load build up with tips in the cost range under R1k per 50. Bed the action, accuracy test, simple bipod, a proper "accurate hunting" rifle. Shoot out to 300m with staggered random ranges. I honestly think many will gravitate to that real budget build of components we get get easily and within a 20k budget ready for the field. Yes you have sponsors, we understand that, but a scope like zerotech 3-9x40 on that rifle will do wonders for the simple Joe. You have the knowledge, the skills and we appreciate all your content. I have a 25-06 built just that way, with my own loads, i don't hesitate on any headshot opportunities out to 200m with that zerotech. sub half moa at 100m. I would love to see someone with your skills take it further and possibly even just as good or close to a fully built Ali chassis rifle.
I think to keep your rifle clean is good, but the biggest problem in the shooting world, the people became to tactical and to impress each other and that took the fun out of shooting, I say, use the method that works for you as person and take all the advise that you can get and keep what works for you. But to keep your rifle clean is very good as your rifle is your second right arm and you must be proud of what you have does not matter if you have an R100 rifle or a R1000000000000 rifle, enjoy the sport and the time you spend with fellow shooters. Pete thank you for your channel it showed me the small things that we all forget and thank you for keeping us busy and alert!!!
Yes, a cordless cleaning video would be good. I thought you just used it for the carbon ring. Quick recovery, makes me want to look into that for my wrist. Fractured Alna gives me problems, broken wrist no problems. Ya im a bit F-ed up. Torn rotator cuff surgery too. 😪
I really like your reasoning behind this. It's a job I hate as I'm not convinced I'm doing a good job and would love to see the process you use along with the tools and products.
Would you make a video on your cleaning process? All I'm familiar with is a two-by-four down the barrel of a .303 Lee Enfield. I would love to see the modernised version of that.
Would definitely like to see a video where you break down step by step on your cleaning mate, and products used 👌🏽 mines very random and something I’ve often wondered should be more routine
I have been shooting rifles for over 60 years. After every shooting session I run a patch with solvent on it, run it thru the bore a few times and then clean patches until they come out clean and dry, then a slightly oiled patch down the barrel and call it good. Once a year I dismount the action and thoroughly clean everything, letting solvent sit in the bore for about 20 minutes then clean dry and then an oil patch. This has worked for me for over 60 years and my rifles never suffered rifling damage or loss of accuracy. Each to their own, what works for you and you are happy with results.
I’m a long range shooter but not a match shooter; I use 6.5 RPM OR 6mm-06 with high BC bullets. The main problem with over bore cartridges is getting the carbon out. SO that necessitates cleaning after 15-20 rounds.
So cold bore is a real thing but it doesn't have to impact the shot nearly as much if you leave the copper in the barrel. I clean out the powder but leave the copper (fills in all the micro cracks, etc.) It also allows the bullet to go down the barrel smoother and it's sort of self regulating so long as I'm not swapping out different kinds of bullets. The copper for the surface of the barrel is a little like using brass from your rifle to reload: it makes a more perfect fit (slightly) and, so long as the bullets are fairly close in composition (match vs. soft point vs. ballistic tip: they all travel through the barrel slightly differently due to different densities, pressures and speeds), the barrel picture the bullet sees is relatively consistent. It's actually more consistent than what it would see if you strip out all the copper. If you do that, cold bore shot isn't quite as far off from your warm shots.
I do not shoot competitively at all. Ill just throw my 2 cents in for what I have learned being around guns basically my whole life. My grandfather was one of the guys that if a round went down the barrel, it got cleaned. This is going back to before the finishes we have now were different, and the guns would sit in safes and would start to rust. He would always tell me to oil it and do not touch any metal before putting it in the safe. Since finishes have changed a lot since the 90's and early 2000's, I am still run patches through till there is no more carbon on them, plus I enjoy it! I like inspecting and just taking the time to come one with my toys. Maybe this will help, maybe not! Like the video regardless!
Prs rifle after every match. Hunting after season is over. Pistol every time I shot. I have never heard someone say oh man my gun is to clean to shot, I have heard it needs to be cleaned that's why it's jamming.
On my current .284 barrel I can shoot sub .2 MOA once it is fouled up a bit. The problem is that cleaning it immediatly takes me out of my current node with drastic increase in SD that settles back to 4-7ft/sec after a about 15 rounds. It also changes the POI high and right about 4cm and it slowly creeps back to natural zero. I HATE cleaning tbh. I only do it to avoid carbon ring issues. Some guns don't get carbon ring issues and others do. I have a .308 with 6000+ rounds and I have never cleaned it. It still shoots sub .5 MOA. If I could find a method that just takes care of the stupid carbon ring on my .284win without changing the condition in the bore and my zero with it, that would be great.
Can be a Case neck length issue. Keep them longer, maximum for your chamber. Keep inner chamfering to a minimum too. I’m sure you know this… Good luck!
@@glennllewellyn7369 thank you. I do trim to the recommended trim length each time so that could contribute to it. Explain the chamfering bit to me? I make sure I properly debur the case mouth to ensure I dont scuff the bullet when seating and also to avoid burs determining how the case lines up when chambered.
Sometimes I’ll use ammo that might be corrosive. So I do a light clean after every time I use it. Helps with any dirt that could have made it’s way in there. Also I spend time in the bush and all sorts of random stuff makes it’s way into the barrel. So a clean makes sense.
I found my hunting rifle which is suppressed, accuracy reduced in as few as 50 rounds. 3 wet patches with Boretech Eliminator followed with a nylon brush produces a barrel clean enough so follow up patches go through clean. The rifle shoots well on a clean barrel so it is worth doing regularly.
Depends on the rifle caliber. My 257 wby magnum gets cleaned after every 20 rounds burning 71.5g of powder and using all copper bullets it requires a lot more maintenance higher performance means higher maintenance. Now my 6.5 creedmore I’ll shoot close to 150 rounds then clean I have shot close to 700 rounds without cleaning and still getting sub moa groups. My gas guns I clean after I’m done shooting them just because they get much more dirty and I want to keep it reliable.
I don’t have a set amount of time or rounds between cleanings. But I usually don’t thoroughly clean it, typically just swab the barrel a couple times with clp. More often I’ll just clean the bolt and chamber when it gets too much dirt in it(windy high desert)
Copper is not your enemy, it's the burned powder. I use bore rope, and cleaning rod, when the accuracy is not in the normal level. Carbonring is PITA, and makes the issues in the rifle, once you have one.
I have also started using the drill method and will be honest is much quicker and I also think it cleans better. Put a little JB Bore paste on a nylon brush. 10 passes and then patches until clean. Then small amount of oil on a patch. Maybe my imagination but since I have started this method I feel accuracy has improved.
Piete, Your cordless drill cleaning method could ware your barrel out quicker that shooting projectiles through it. Just think what the rod is doing inside your barrel when it's spinning around. Could it be like a hole reamer machining away the metal ?
Do you clean or not, and how often? I think one important definition in a discussion like this is what we mean by cleaning. It ranges from pulling a bore snake through to check that all copper/carbon is gone using a boresnake. I clean my barrel after every session, but some wouldnt define my barrel clean. My method is to run a cleaning agent through the barrel after a session, let it soak on the way home and then remove until the patch isnt to dirty. Then I run an oiled patch through. My though/goal is to remove potential corrosive substances that might hurt the barrel in the long run. I dont spend too much time doing my procedure.
Context I leve with in 1km of the coast. I shoot 1-3 times a week. I light clean and oil my rifle every time I use it. Once a week I fully strip and clean my rifles.
I tried 200 rounds........took days to clean it so now I go with the every time I get done shooting theory. Cold bore clean stacks with the next shot no problem.
I clean after every match or range session. That way i always know my rifle is good. I would like to see you using the drill. I have thought of that before, but i was worried the cleaning rod would hit the bore and possibly damage it. Thanks for the videos!
Let me introduce how Palma champs shooters clean their rifle bore. Unless it’s pre-wrapped premium custom barrel, leave some super thin copper film deposit that fills up microscopic scratches in the bore. It keeps tightening bore as a result. Just clean carbon deposit and never use bore brush as it is. For example. I wrap a really old beat up 223 brush with cotton patch soaked with carbon remover and run it through bore 10 strokes each, until I see a clean cotton. Carbon deposit will invite humidity. For a long term storing, removing carbon is essential.
Piet I would also love to see how you clean your barrel with the drill method. Are you still doing it from the front of the barrel like when you removed your carbon ring? And if so are you not scared that you will damage your crown?
A wet patch..after field use, fired or not..a dry patch before I go into the field...never brush..unless or until copper fouling becomes evident. Bore scopes are cheap and available...look at your bore.
Depends on the barrel. I only hunt, no competition. For a factory hammer forged Tikka barrel: Solvent soaked wet patches with Boretech carbon until white. then bronze brush 2 passes per shots fired, then Solvent soaked wet patches with Boretech Eliminator until white. Then 3 dry patches. Then, a Boretech carbon soaked cut piece of paper towel wrapped around a brush into the chamber neck, hand turn or use a drill. Wet, then dry, then wet then dry. Now I inspect with a borescope. Usually I see carbon fouling still in the first 2-6" of barrel, so I get to work again. I clean to bare metal if the rifle is to be stored for awhile - just my preference. I like clean, no fouling at all when I store it. I'll use the same method on a button rifled barrel such as Hart, Broughton, Lilja, Shilen, Benchmark. Only factory rifles I have are Tikka For my rifles with cut-rifled barrels, Brux, Broughton, Krieger, Benchmark, Bartlein, K&P, I do all the same but with an Iosso nylon brush, except for the chamber neck I'll use bronze brush. All rifles cleaned to bare metal if being stored for awhile When I'm in process of working up loads, like now, and I know I'm going to be taking the rifles out a few weekends in a row, I typically won't clean until I put 50 or so rounds through it. I've never gone more than 50-ish rounds, ever, and it has served me well. Been handloading for 34 years in 25+ custom rifles and at least that many in factory configuration. I know a lot of "experts" talk about over-cleaning. I find a barrel much easier to clean when you stay on top of it. Just a thought but when you put hundreds of rounds down that bore and THEN you want to clean it and clean it thoroughly, that's when the aggressive regimens take place and I think that's where you can possibly damage it. I subscribe to frequent but much easier and faster cleaning regimens. I simply don't like dirty barrels. And if it takes more than 50 rounds to "settle" or "season" or "break-in" a new barrel, to find out if it's a shooter, then it's wasting my time, money, and components. Thankfully I've never experienced it but once. QMM - Quarter Minute Magnums said something on his channel I agree with. You should know if a barrel is a shooter from the first few shots. Guess I've been lucky. I've had only one bad barrel and it is currently being replaced on a 7PRC.
Hope the hand keeps getting better. Gotta see the video on using the cordless. Where do you get a rod without a handle? What products do you use? And most importantly, how do you know when "clean"? I have a borescope but it never seems like it gets to all bare metal.
The right way theoretically is to clean when accuracy starts to suffer. Unless other components start to have issues functioning properly, then you don't need to clean. I would guess anything in-between is fine but to each their own.
I never pull carbon from my barrel and rarely clean my barrel. Maybe every 1200-1500 rounds. I don’t see any accuracy difference and I’m happy as long as it’s.4 moa or better. But I understand from F Class shooters if you really get down to the numbers you will see an accuracy difference by cleaning. I just won’t see a practical accuracy difference shooting steel out to 1,000 yards. It’s basically all about the wind calls for me.
I like the idea of a quick clean with a drill but lose the feel of the barrel while cleaning. Don’t know that it matters as I scope my barrels after cleaning anyway. Old habits die hard. I shoot regularly over the two day weekend. I clean my rifle after each weekend but shoot dirty on the second day. Typically about 25 rounds down the tube each day and haven’t seen any issues with consistency. My velocities and ES is more consist now the I clean regularly. In addition, there are more things to clean and maintain on a rifle than the barrel. How many people break down their bolts regularly and clean the firing pin assembly?
First round after cleaning its a bit off. Then it gets onto where it should be. That's my reason for not cleaning. My friend shoots hole in holes with no cleaning.
It’s due to super thin copper film deposit that fills up microscopic scratches in the bore and tightens bore as a result. Just clean carbon deposit and never use bore brush as it is. For example. I wrap a really old beat up 223 brush with cotton patch soaked with carbon remover and run it through 308 bore 10 strokes each, until I see a clean cotton. Carbon deposit will invite humidity. For a long term storing, removing carbon is essential.
@@ooines oh.. I just added “beat up 223 brush for 308 bore” on my previous comment. So patches are not rubbing the bore hard, just smoothly sliding through the bore. Just Smooth enough for the rod spin, following riflings. AS fas as what I experienced , the most of cold shots did, then following shots came back to zero. (10-15mm deviation) I normally don’t use any chemical that removes copper until I can feel copper fowling. I clean copper deposit in not so aggressive manner once after 200 rounds-ish cycle. I have leaned this cleaning method from a former F-class champ shooter and we are talking about one hole shooting precision barrels and best quality match ammo or hand loads only. Also keeping the barrel in the optimum temperature or same shooting form in the same condition is another crucial condition to be taken into consideration, I guess.
You should clean your firearm after every use if you want it to last a lifetime. If not used at least once per year. My most used rifle is a 1925 Model 54 in 270, has had thousands of rounds thru it. Barrel still looks new. No corrosion, rust etc.
I clean every time. Accuracy is all about consistency, since you can’t control how dirty your barrel is but you can control how clean it is, I clean every time. Just my thoughts.
I don’t clean my rifles when I am going to shoot it. Once I get off the range, it gets cleaned. If it has been standing for a long time, I will do a light clean before I shoot it again. I think that maintenance should be part of the shooting process. Clean it lightly, shoot, clean the rifle and put it in the safe. It means the rifle is always well maintained and ready to go. You never know when a gap opens to go shoot.
I clean mine after every use. My rifles come with sub MOA guarantee so to me when test fired for the first time the barrel is clean. So Ive kept them clean and still have same results target after target. mainly using bore tech cleaner and baths bore shine
Love these videos! Let’s see a hunting video with an actual hunting rifle! Like a 6 pound gun! Don’t matter what you do it’s always freaking great! Thanks man!
Target shooting: Wet patch, dry, wet before putting away. Dry, wet, dry before shooting. Hunting: see above, but only once a year. Everything in the cabinet: once a year. Consistency rocks!
As a south african my self we are taught to clean your rifles every time you shoot it. But i am not going to clean it just for one shot. I am not a superstitious person but when it come to my guns. I am very superstitious there is a lot of shit ill do like cleaning it for half an hour just to be sure its clean and the way i store it in my safe. For me its all about accuracy. Ja make for us a video on how you go by cleanings your gons. Alway nice to learn new was
I clean my shotgun way more than my rifles. But I mostly shoot clay so I put way more through it. In a year I've maybe put 600rd through my rifle. In the same year I've put over 5000 in 12 gauge. I mainly just clean it because if not it just makes it that much harder when I do the next time. And each clay shooting weekend is easily 250rd if not more
Piet, I have a .260ai that loves to be clean, great carbon steel barrel polished bore.. Then I have my trusty 6.5-06, hates to be clean, shoots like crap, after cleaning. Thats my dirty baby, stainless barrel, shoots stupidly lekker and stupidly accurate without cleaning.. So it probably depends how its been used from the start.
I could swear you had a vid about how you clean with the drill, maybe you just spoke about it and didn’t show the process. I would like to see it 👍 I am buying my 1st precision rifle in the next month or 2 and get so confused on what the best method would be. MilitaryArms channel say only use a bore snake, which kinda sounds good considering his explanation… but honestly I don’t know. So far I really like your method the best Piet, so seeing it would be greatly appreciated. Ek het deur jou precision rifle school kurses gegaan laas jaar en het baie geleer. Ek beplan om die ander ook te doen. Ek het niemand wat my leer nie, so waardeer jou training. Ek is nut tot PRS en het nog baie om te leer.
Yes, i concur completely. Clean, season/foul barrel, predictable. The unknown drop in accuracy is uncomfortable. Gun powder is said to be highly corrosive. Carbon sticks to carbon. Good video.
"I use a drill" Annnndddd we're done here. Please don't do this. A solvent patch then dry patches is ALL you need. Maybe some light oil if the interior barrel surface is subject to rusting (material). Cleaning your barrel so much actually reduces the life of the barrel, and potentially, accuracy. Copper buildup in the barrel is good. PLEASE Clean your action and any moving parts, keep these clean and lubed. But for the barrel, let it do it's magic.
I clean my rifles action when needed, I very rarely do anything with the barrel, the only barrels I've ever noticed a decrease in accuracy with have been on 17 caliber rifles, for some reason their accuracy will completely fall apart, you clean the barrel and 10 or 20 fouling shots later its a tack driver again. I've never seen a degradation in accuracy with any other caliber, I still will clean the barrels about every other year or so, depending on how much that rifle has been shot. Cleaning and break in procedures are far overrated when it comes to rifle barrels and I believe the argument can be made that you stand a better chance of hurting your accuracy than improving it with constant cleaning, not to mention every time you clean, the barrel must be fouled again to get accuracy.
Someone else in the comments mentioned it but to aggregate all the information from the top guys and to dispell the myths out there. Erik Cortina: " I can make a barrel consistently clean, I can't make it consistently dirty." Frank Green's (Bartlein Barrels) comment about probably doing damage by cleaning too often: CONTEXT, hes specifically referring to benchrest shooters using ABRASIVES not solvents. He even goes on to say cleaning your barrel is like changing oil in your car, can you get away with going 10,000 miles without changing your oil? Probably, but would you do that to your race car? Dont let the barrel get away from you. Cortina again: "waiting until your accuracy falls off is silly, its not a light switch" your barrel isn't waiting for the 400th round before suddenly opening up, you just aren't noticing until about that point. Clean your barrels, dont be aggressive, but don't be lazy.
I don't shoot enough that i feel the need to clean religiously. I don't think I've even run a patch down the barrel of my AR in probably over 600rds; my bolt actions maybe 300-400rds.
What are you shooting? How many rounds? What type of ammo? How long do you want your gun to last? Everybody has an opinion just use your better jugdment,
Would love to see the drill method you mentioned. I need to make more of a routine of cleaning because it is at random right now. 😬
Same
Me too!
Just put the cleaning rod into the chuck and spin the bronze brush in the barrel. Both ways. Run wet patches in between to get the stuff out that you break free.
Same here I don't even own a cleaning rod :P
Same
My grandpa taught me to clean your gun after every use; i.e. only put away clean. That way it is always ready. This has worked well with me for 60 years.
Same.
Take care of your rifle, and your rifle will take care of you. That's what the USMC taught me.
Sure, but they also teach you to over clean it to keep you busy. A polished barrel is better than an arrested marine.
Mariens lead the way hooraa
I clean when I get home from the range. I guess it is habit from my military service. And bluing and wood on a classic rifle always looks good
Same for the same reason.
I was taught to clean a rifle barrel after each outing, so I just kept doing this when I bought my own rifles. I have never owned a precision rifle like the one shown in this video. My favourite hunting rifle was an old .303 Jungle Carbine which was no long distance champion(no surprise there, with a history of military surplus ammo and a healthy dose of neglect from the original owner). The furthest shot I ever took on an animal was 330m. Once I had the barrel properly cleaned, with all the corrosion damage and metal fouling removed, I kept it spotless(cleaned every time I used it, without fail), purely out of respect for that beloved rifle. The problem I encountered was that the first shot from a clean barrel(the most important one that had to put the animal down) shot to a different point of impact from the following shots. I eventually got familiar enough with my own hand loads to know where that first shot would go, and made the slight adjustment accordingly. I believe that a barrel deserves to be cleaned after each use, whether it's been fired or not, because dust and other stuff can find it's way into where it does not belong. Just my 2c worth... :)
Thanks for the video. It's interesting to read the comments that come from subscribers. 👍
I clean after a range trip. The only time I did not clean was right after checking zero for hunting season. I figured I got the gun zero'd when it was dirty.
But really, cold bore is not so much a thing as cold shooter.
So, I really like the clean is the only factor that is reproducible.
For cleaning, I will pull the snake through few times. The brass brush a few times.
Then Hoppe's #9 on patches until clean.
Then dry a few patches and then gun oil a few patches. I also do this to the chamber and action. On bolt action, I just clean the bolt as it is and then I put grease on the bolt and cycle a few times. I store the rifle muzzle down.
I think Eric Cortina said “I can reproduce clean”.
They said the same on the Hornady podcast - the only reproducible state is a clean rifle, everything else is just arbitrary fouling.
I believe he said “I can keep my rifle consistently clean. I cannot keep it consistently fouled”. Same same
cordless drill cleaning will have the purists up in arms. Would love to see a vid on that procedure Pete.
The best thing to happen to my bore cleaning process was getting a borescope. Seeing exactly what is going on inside your barrel is invaluable. The first thing I learned from it is that a clean bore produces dirty patches and i was thus over brushing and couldn’t tell when the bore was actually clean. With the borescope i can tell if there is carbon or copper or both and where. I can also evaluate how effective various solvents or abrasives and procedures are at cleaning the bore.
To everyone else here’s my advice: Clean however and how frequent you like… but… get a borescope. No matter what your process is, it will get better if you can see whats going on in there and you will evolve towards a process with full confidence in what is working best for you.
If I go to the range for practice, I clean when I get home. If I go to a multiple-day competition where I shoot 50-100 rounds per day, I clean after each day of shooting. I start with a traditional bore solvent and run patches until they come out clean, then I run a few strokes with a bronze brush, then back to the solvent until clean patches come out again, then I run a copper removing solvent until no more blue shows on the patches, and after a couple patches of alcohol (to remove any trace solvents) I will run a patch through with a tiny bit of oil on it if I'm storing the rifle for any period of time (if I'll be shooting it again very soon then I skip the oil patch).
I clean every time and inspect with a borescope. I believe that's just ingrained in me from spending half of my life in the military. How people maintain their firearms is up to them I just know how I prefer to maintain mine.
I do the same. I used to clean at random and not track my rounds down the tube. Now I keep a journal for each of my rifles and found that my results are more consistent.
On the topic of that wooden stock rifle. Would love to see a build with a howa(any cal) barreled action, laminated stock, shusher can and quick load build up with tips in the cost range under R1k per 50. Bed the action, accuracy test, simple bipod, a proper "accurate hunting" rifle. Shoot out to 300m with staggered random ranges. I honestly think many will gravitate to that real budget build of components we get get easily and within a 20k budget ready for the field. Yes you have sponsors, we understand that, but a scope like zerotech 3-9x40 on that rifle will do wonders for the simple Joe. You have the knowledge, the skills and we appreciate all your content. I have a 25-06 built just that way, with my own loads, i don't hesitate on any headshot opportunities out to 200m with that zerotech. sub half moa at 100m. I would love to see someone with your skills take it further and possibly even just as good or close to a fully built Ali chassis rifle.
I think to keep your rifle clean is good, but the biggest problem in the shooting world, the people became to tactical and to impress each other and that took the fun out of shooting, I say, use the method that works for you as person and take all the advise that you can get and keep what works for you. But to keep your rifle clean is very good as your rifle is your second right arm and you must be proud of what you have does not matter if you have an R100 rifle or a R1000000000000 rifle, enjoy the sport and the time you spend with fellow shooters. Pete thank you for your channel it showed me the small things that we all forget and thank you for keeping us busy and alert!!!
Yes, a cordless cleaning video would be good. I thought you just used it for the carbon ring. Quick recovery, makes me want to look into that for my wrist. Fractured Alna gives me problems, broken wrist no problems. Ya im a bit F-ed up. Torn rotator cuff surgery too. 😪
Would like to see the drill method and also do you use a borescope for every cleaning session?
Check out my training programs - bit.ly/rifletraining
All my centerfire guns get cleaned after every range day.I usually shoot shoot between 25 to 50 rounds per gun.
I really like your reasoning behind this. It's a job I hate as I'm not convinced I'm doing a good job and would love to see the process you use along with the tools and products.
Would you make a video on your cleaning process? All I'm familiar with is a two-by-four down the barrel of a .303 Lee Enfield. I would love to see the modernised version of that.
Would definitely like to see a video where you break down step by step on your cleaning mate, and products used 👌🏽 mines very random and something I’ve often wondered should be more routine
I have been shooting rifles for over 60 years. After every shooting session I run a patch with solvent on it, run it thru the bore a few times and then clean patches until they come out clean and dry, then a slightly oiled patch down the barrel and call it good. Once a year I dismount the action and thoroughly clean everything, letting solvent sit in the bore for about 20 minutes then clean dry and then an oil patch. This has worked for me for over 60 years and my rifles never suffered rifling damage or loss of accuracy. Each to their own, what works for you and you are happy with results.
I’m a long range shooter but not a match shooter; I use 6.5 RPM OR 6mm-06 with high BC bullets.
The main problem with over bore cartridges is getting the carbon out.
SO that necessitates cleaning after 15-20 rounds.
So cold bore is a real thing but it doesn't have to impact the shot nearly as much if you leave the copper in the barrel. I clean out the powder but leave the copper (fills in all the micro cracks, etc.) It also allows the bullet to go down the barrel smoother and it's sort of self regulating so long as I'm not swapping out different kinds of bullets. The copper for the surface of the barrel is a little like using brass from your rifle to reload: it makes a more perfect fit (slightly) and, so long as the bullets are fairly close in composition (match vs. soft point vs. ballistic tip: they all travel through the barrel slightly differently due to different densities, pressures and speeds), the barrel picture the bullet sees is relatively consistent. It's actually more consistent than what it would see if you strip out all the copper. If you do that, cold bore shot isn't quite as far off from your warm shots.
I do not shoot competitively at all. Ill just throw my 2 cents in for what I have learned being around guns basically my whole life. My grandfather was one of the guys that if a round went down the barrel, it got cleaned. This is going back to before the finishes we have now were different, and the guns would sit in safes and would start to rust. He would always tell me to oil it and do not touch any metal before putting it in the safe. Since finishes have changed a lot since the 90's and early 2000's, I am still run patches through till there is no more carbon on them, plus I enjoy it! I like inspecting and just taking the time to come one with my toys. Maybe this will help, maybe not! Like the video regardless!
Prs rifle after every match. Hunting after season is over. Pistol every time I shot. I have never heard someone say oh man my gun is to clean to shot, I have heard it needs to be cleaned that's why it's jamming.
Would love to see the drill method of cleaning, not gonna say I will adopt it but I'm always open to new ideas and ways of doing things.
On my current .284 barrel I can shoot sub .2 MOA once it is fouled up a bit. The problem is that cleaning it immediatly takes me out of my current node with drastic increase in SD that settles back to 4-7ft/sec after a about 15 rounds. It also changes the POI high and right about 4cm and it slowly creeps back to natural zero. I HATE cleaning tbh. I only do it to avoid carbon ring issues. Some guns don't get carbon ring issues and others do. I have a .308 with 6000+ rounds and I have never cleaned it. It still shoots sub .5 MOA. If I could find a method that just takes care of the stupid carbon ring on my .284win without changing the condition in the bore and my zero with it, that would be great.
Can be a Case neck length issue. Keep them longer, maximum for your chamber. Keep inner chamfering to a minimum too. I’m sure you know this…
Good luck!
@@glennllewellyn7369 thank you. I do trim to the recommended trim length each time so that could contribute to it. Explain the chamfering bit to me? I make sure I properly debur the case mouth to ensure I dont scuff the bullet when seating and also to avoid burs determining how the case lines up when chambered.
I clean my rifles after every 2nd hunt
As for me I basically just clean my gun randomly and compulsively 😂
Sometimes I’ll use ammo that might be corrosive. So I do a light clean after every time I use it. Helps with any dirt that could have made it’s way in there. Also I spend time in the bush and all sorts of random stuff makes it’s way into the barrel. So a clean makes sense.
I found my hunting rifle which is suppressed, accuracy reduced in as few as 50 rounds. 3 wet patches with Boretech Eliminator followed with a nylon brush produces a barrel clean enough so follow up patches go through clean. The rifle shoots well on a clean barrel so it is worth doing regularly.
i would love to see your drill cleaning method.
Depends on the rifle caliber. My 257 wby magnum gets cleaned after every 20 rounds burning 71.5g of powder and using all copper bullets it requires a lot more maintenance higher performance means higher maintenance. Now my 6.5 creedmore I’ll shoot close to 150 rounds then clean I have shot close to 700 rounds without cleaning and still getting sub moa groups. My gas guns I clean after I’m done shooting them just because they get much more dirty and I want to keep it reliable.
Indeed, I'm very curious about this drill method. I've done it in the military, but we weren't aiming for rapidity or constistency those times 😅
Will definitely be nice to see how you clean the rifle with a drill
I don’t have a set amount of time or rounds between cleanings. But I usually don’t thoroughly clean it, typically just swab the barrel a couple times with clp. More often I’ll just clean the bolt and chamber when it gets too much dirt in it(windy high desert)
Hi Pete thank you again for sharing your experience much appreciated with Respect Bill W.
Copper is not your enemy, it's the burned powder. I use bore rope, and cleaning rod, when the accuracy is not in the normal level. Carbonring is PITA, and makes the issues in the rifle, once you have one.
The best time to clean my rifle barrel is while watching a new Impact Shooting video :)
I have also started using the drill method and will be honest is much quicker and I also think it cleans better. Put a little JB Bore paste on a nylon brush. 10 passes and then patches until clean. Then small amount of oil on a patch. Maybe my imagination but since I have started this method I feel accuracy has improved.
Piete, Your cordless drill cleaning method could ware your barrel out quicker that shooting projectiles through it. Just think what the rod is doing inside your barrel when it's spinning around. Could it be like a hole reamer machining away the metal ?
Do you clean or not, and how often? I think one important definition in a discussion like this is what we mean by cleaning. It ranges from pulling a bore snake through to check that all copper/carbon is gone using a boresnake.
I clean my barrel after every session, but some wouldnt define my barrel clean.
My method is to run a cleaning agent through the barrel after a session, let it soak on the way home and then remove until the patch isnt to dirty. Then I run an oiled patch through.
My though/goal is to remove potential corrosive substances that might hurt the barrel in the long run. I dont spend too much time doing my procedure.
I want you to do a video on your whole reloading room setup and why you have it your way !!?? Also where you get the stuff to set it up !!! Thanks!
Let's see that drill cleaning method!
Excellent thought process, can you please do the drill cleaning video please and thanks.
I’d be keen to see your cordless drill cleaning method
Context I leve with in 1km of the coast. I shoot 1-3 times a week.
I light clean and oil my rifle every time I use it.
Once a week I fully strip and clean my rifles.
I tried 200 rounds........took days to clean it so now I go with the every time I get done shooting theory. Cold bore clean stacks with the next shot no problem.
Yes I would like to see your rifle cleaning method using your drill! Thank you for your outstanding videos!
I clean after every match or range session. That way i always know my rifle is good. I would like to see you using the drill. I have thought of that before, but i was worried the cleaning rod would hit the bore and possibly damage it. Thanks for the videos!
I would highly advise against using a drill. You have a better chance of damaging the bore. Why risk it? I keep my stuff simple. Wet and dry patches.
Let me introduce how Palma champs shooters clean their rifle bore.
Unless it’s pre-wrapped premium custom barrel, leave some super thin copper film deposit that fills up microscopic scratches in the bore. It keeps tightening bore as a result. Just clean carbon deposit and never use bore brush as it is.
For example. I wrap a really old beat up 223 brush with cotton patch soaked with carbon remover and run it through bore 10 strokes each, until I see a clean cotton.
Carbon deposit will invite humidity. For a long term storing, removing carbon is essential.
Piet I would also love to see how you clean your barrel with the drill method. Are you still doing it from the front of the barrel like when you removed your carbon ring? And if so are you not scared that you will damage your crown?
A wet patch..after field use, fired or not..a dry patch before I go into the field...never brush..unless or until copper fouling becomes evident. Bore scopes are cheap and available...look at your bore.
Definitely would like to see the cordless drill method 👍🏻
Depends on the barrel. I only hunt, no competition. For a factory hammer forged Tikka barrel: Solvent soaked wet patches with Boretech carbon until white. then bronze brush 2 passes per shots fired, then Solvent soaked wet patches with Boretech Eliminator until white. Then 3 dry patches. Then, a Boretech carbon soaked cut piece of paper towel wrapped around a brush into the chamber neck, hand turn or use a drill. Wet, then dry, then wet then dry. Now I inspect with a borescope. Usually I see carbon fouling still in the first 2-6" of barrel, so I get to work again. I clean to bare metal if the rifle is to be stored for awhile - just my preference. I like clean, no fouling at all when I store it. I'll use the same method on a button rifled barrel such as Hart, Broughton, Lilja, Shilen, Benchmark. Only factory rifles I have are Tikka
For my rifles with cut-rifled barrels, Brux, Broughton, Krieger, Benchmark, Bartlein, K&P, I do all the same but with an Iosso nylon brush, except for the chamber neck I'll use bronze brush. All rifles cleaned to bare metal if being stored for awhile
When I'm in process of working up loads, like now, and I know I'm going to be taking the rifles out a few weekends in a row, I typically won't clean until I put 50 or so rounds through it. I've never gone more than 50-ish rounds, ever, and it has served me well. Been handloading for 34 years in 25+ custom rifles and at least that many in factory configuration. I know a lot of "experts" talk about over-cleaning. I find a barrel much easier to clean when you stay on top of it. Just a thought but when you put hundreds of rounds down that bore and THEN you want to clean it and clean it thoroughly, that's when the aggressive regimens take place and I think that's where you can possibly damage it. I subscribe to frequent but much easier and faster cleaning regimens. I simply don't like dirty barrels. And if it takes more than 50 rounds to "settle" or "season" or "break-in" a new barrel, to find out if it's a shooter, then it's wasting my time, money, and components. Thankfully I've never experienced it but once.
QMM - Quarter Minute Magnums said something on his channel I agree with. You should know if a barrel is a shooter from the first few shots. Guess I've been lucky. I've had only one bad barrel and it is currently being replaced on a 7PRC.
Hope the hand keeps getting better. Gotta see the video on using the cordless. Where do you get a rod without a handle? What products do you use? And most importantly, how do you know when "clean"? I have a borescope but it never seems like it gets to all bare metal.
The right way theoretically is to clean when accuracy starts to suffer. Unless other components start to have issues functioning properly, then you don't need to clean.
I would guess anything in-between is fine but to each their own.
I never pull carbon from my barrel and rarely clean my barrel. Maybe every 1200-1500 rounds. I don’t see any accuracy difference and I’m happy as long as it’s.4 moa or better. But I understand from F Class shooters if you really get down to the numbers you will see an accuracy difference by cleaning. I just won’t see a practical accuracy difference shooting steel out to 1,000 yards. It’s basically all about the wind calls for me.
I like the idea of a quick clean with a drill but lose the feel of the barrel while cleaning. Don’t know that it matters as I scope my barrels after cleaning anyway. Old habits die hard. I shoot regularly over the two day weekend. I clean my rifle after each weekend but shoot dirty on the second day. Typically about 25 rounds down the tube each day and haven’t seen any issues with consistency. My velocities and ES is more consist now the I clean regularly. In addition, there are more things to clean and maintain on a rifle than the barrel. How many people break down their bolts regularly and clean the firing pin assembly?
First round after cleaning its a bit off. Then it gets onto where it should be. That's my reason for not cleaning. My friend shoots hole in holes with no cleaning.
It’s due to super thin copper film deposit that fills up microscopic scratches in the bore and tightens bore as a result. Just clean carbon deposit and never use bore brush as it is.
For example. I wrap a really old beat up 223 brush with cotton patch soaked with carbon remover and run it through 308 bore 10 strokes each, until I see a clean cotton.
Carbon deposit will invite humidity. For a long term storing, removing carbon is essential.
@@7mmallthewaydo you experience any slight movement of impact after this treatment..? We did.. takes a couple of shots before going back to zerozero
@@ooines oh.. I just added “beat up 223 brush for 308 bore” on my previous comment.
So patches are not rubbing the bore hard, just smoothly sliding through the bore. Just Smooth enough for the rod spin, following riflings.
AS fas as what I experienced , the most of cold shots did, then following shots came back to zero. (10-15mm deviation) I normally don’t use any chemical that removes copper until I can feel copper fowling. I clean copper deposit in not so aggressive manner once after 200 rounds-ish cycle.
I have leaned this cleaning method from a former F-class champ shooter and we are talking about one hole shooting precision barrels and best quality match ammo or hand loads only. Also keeping the barrel in the optimum temperature or same shooting form in the same condition is another crucial condition to be taken into consideration, I guess.
Please show the drill cleaning method? I need I method to really speed up the process! Are you still using ThorroClean products?
I make sure the barrel is clean before I use the weapon and I clean the pistols when they stop working as they should.
You should clean your firearm after every use if you want it to last a lifetime. If not used at least once per year. My most used rifle is a 1925 Model 54 in 270, has had thousands of rounds thru it. Barrel still looks new. No corrosion, rust etc.
You bet your bottom South Aftican dollar we want that cordless drill cleaning video!!!
I clean every time. Accuracy is all about consistency, since you can’t control how dirty your barrel is but you can control how clean it is, I clean every time. Just my thoughts.
Yes Please show us a drill cleaning method
Welcome back! Heal up quick my friend…
Please show us the cleaning method with the cordless drill!
Coming soon!
I don’t clean my rifles when I am going to shoot it. Once I get off the range, it gets cleaned. If it has been standing for a long time, I will do a light clean before I shoot it again. I think that maintenance should be part of the shooting process. Clean it lightly, shoot, clean the rifle and put it in the safe. It means the rifle is always well maintained and ready to go. You never know when a gap opens to go shoot.
I clean mine after every use. My rifles come with sub MOA guarantee so to me when test fired for the first time the barrel is clean. So Ive kept them clean and still have same results target after target. mainly using bore tech cleaner and baths bore shine
I like this routine. I’m gonna copy it!
Love these videos! Let’s see a hunting video with an actual hunting rifle! Like a 6 pound gun! Don’t matter what you do it’s always freaking great! Thanks man!
Could you do a detailed “doping your hunting rifle” video with no chrono??
Target shooting:
Wet patch, dry, wet before putting away.
Dry, wet, dry before shooting.
Hunting: see above, but only once a year.
Everything in the cabinet: once a year.
Consistency rocks!
Clean every time I shoot. Keep the gun clean and free of moisture
Cold bore is very different from a clean, fouled bore... Temp dont matter.
As a south african my self we are taught to clean your rifles every time you shoot it. But i am not going to clean it just for one shot.
I am not a superstitious person but when it come to my guns. I am very superstitious there is a lot of shit ill do like cleaning it for half an hour just to be sure its clean and the way i store it in my safe. For me its all about accuracy.
Ja make for us a video on how you go by cleanings your gons. Alway nice to learn new was
I clean my shotgun way more than my rifles. But I mostly shoot clay so I put way more through it. In a year I've maybe put 600rd through my rifle. In the same year I've put over 5000 in 12 gauge.
I mainly just clean it because if not it just makes it that much harder when I do the next time. And each clay shooting weekend is easily 250rd if not more
I curious about the cordless drill method. I used to clean every 300 rounds. Trying the clean every time method now.
Piet, I have a .260ai that loves to be clean, great carbon steel barrel polished bore.. Then I have my trusty 6.5-06, hates to be clean, shoots like crap, after cleaning. Thats my dirty baby, stainless barrel, shoots stupidly lekker and stupidly accurate without cleaning.. So it probably depends how its been used from the start.
Cheers from the USA. Yes please show us your method!
Ditto on the cordless method
Lekker Piet, upload that cleaning method please!
Soon!
I could swear you had a vid about how you clean with the drill, maybe you just spoke about it and didn’t show the process. I would like to see it 👍 I am buying my 1st precision rifle in the next month or 2 and get so confused on what the best method would be. MilitaryArms channel say only use a bore snake, which kinda sounds good considering his explanation… but honestly I don’t know. So far I really like your method the best Piet, so seeing it would be greatly appreciated.
Ek het deur jou precision rifle school kurses gegaan laas jaar en het baie geleer. Ek beplan om die ander ook te doen. Ek het niemand wat my leer nie, so waardeer jou training. Ek is nut tot PRS en het nog baie om te leer.
Yes he did do the drill vid to remove fouling
yes drill method please.
For speed to get the carbon out either SeaClean 2 / CLR 5-7 wet patches and it completely out, then it’s just the copper to deal with.
Agree with the thought process, i do basically the same, just a question, when you clean do you remove the copper or only normal powder gunk ?
I've got to watch the drill method.
I cleaned my Police Sniper Rifle after every day of shooting and not an issue up to retirement. Hoppes solvent followed by Sweets 762.
Piet what's the ibi app named? And is it on android?
@Forumrida38621 IBI Shotcounter App. It doesn’t seem available to US App Store customers.
Yes, i concur completely. Clean, season/foul barrel, predictable. The unknown drop in accuracy is uncomfortable. Gun powder is said to be highly corrosive. Carbon sticks to carbon. Good video.
Yeah please Piet do a drill method cleaning video.🤗
"I use a drill" Annnndddd we're done here. Please don't do this. A solvent patch then dry patches is ALL you need. Maybe some light oil if the interior barrel surface is subject to rusting (material). Cleaning your barrel so much actually reduces the life of the barrel, and potentially, accuracy. Copper buildup in the barrel is good. PLEASE Clean your action and any moving parts, keep these clean and lubed. But for the barrel, let it do it's magic.
Yes! Video please, and products we can find in SA that you use.
I clean my rifles action when needed, I very rarely do anything with the barrel, the only barrels I've ever noticed a decrease in accuracy with have been on 17 caliber rifles, for some reason their accuracy will completely fall apart, you clean the barrel and 10 or 20 fouling shots later its a tack driver again. I've never seen a degradation in accuracy with any other caliber, I still will clean the barrels about every other year or so, depending on how much that rifle has been shot. Cleaning and break in procedures are far overrated when it comes to rifle barrels and I believe the argument can be made that you stand a better chance of hurting your accuracy than improving it with constant cleaning, not to mention every time you clean, the barrel must be fouled again to get accuracy.
Someone else in the comments mentioned it but to aggregate all the information from the top guys and to dispell the myths out there.
Erik Cortina: " I can make a barrel consistently clean, I can't make it consistently dirty."
Frank Green's (Bartlein Barrels) comment about probably doing damage by cleaning too often: CONTEXT, hes specifically referring to benchrest shooters using ABRASIVES not solvents. He even goes on to say cleaning your barrel is like changing oil in your car, can you get away with going 10,000 miles without changing your oil? Probably, but would you do that to your race car? Dont let the barrel get away from you.
Cortina again: "waiting until your accuracy falls off is silly, its not a light switch" your barrel isn't waiting for the 400th round before suddenly opening up, you just aren't noticing until about that point.
Clean your barrels, dont be aggressive, but don't be lazy.
Would love to see the cordless drill method!
I don't shoot enough that i feel the need to clean religiously. I don't think I've even run a patch down the barrel of my AR in probably over 600rds; my bolt actions maybe 300-400rds.
What are you shooting? How many rounds? What type of ammo? How long do you want your gun to last?
Everybody has an opinion just use your better jugdment,
I clean pretty much after every range trip.