TB5,
I don't worry about copper anymore and follow the school of thought that it is actually good for barrels. It fills all the micro-pores which helps with ongoing accuracy. The F Class crowd I shoot with don't remove copper either, except the 'Old and bolds', who scrub the hell out of their barrels and are all deaf from not wearing ear protection when they were younger.
I used to use Sweets solvent which included the warning to remove it after 15min or it keeps dissolving everything it touches - which is true. I switched to BoreTec without the ammonia, but finally threw it all in the bin. It just was not helping anything. Every time you clean copper it shifts zero, and then you have to start the cycle of filling the pores and settling the zero again.
I only clean carbon now, but only after a big shooting session or when the groups open up, or if the gun has been out and about. I am conscious that shooting suppressed gets everything filthier quicker, and in semi autos their actions need to be be cleaned regardless. Remove the suppressor at the first opportunity or all that soot will absorb moisture and turn into corrosive salts, attacking the suppressor and anything attached. When in the bush I work the action every now and then, even just slightly if there's a round up the spout to make sure it's all moving. Bore snakes work too, but I tend to use them in the field, or prior to shooting, using rods for normal cleaning. Storing dirty guns is not an issue in an armory or safe if the environment is not too humid, or salty (near the ocean). If you leave the barrel dirty Zerust VCI emitting plastic barrel strips help.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]19344[/ATTACH]
For bolt guns, after shooting the barrels are left untouched, stored with a piece of anti-corrosion cord down the barrel. For semi-autos the working parts always get cleaned, and typically the barrel as well due to likely high volume shooting, and being suppressed.
For new barrels I just shoot them. Advice is mixed on this and until there is consensus I am happy to avoid the tedium of seasoning barrels according to a one-size-fits-all dogma. I've never seen any improved longevity of barrels, or accuracy by shooting and cleaning every five shots at the start. If you buy quality barrels and change them as often as we do, you won't notice anything anyway.
I don't worry about copper anymore and follow the school of thought that it is actually good for barrels. It fills all the micro-pores which helps with ongoing accuracy. The F Class crowd I shoot with don't remove copper either, except the 'Old and bolds', who scrub the hell out of their barrels and are all deaf from not wearing ear protection when they were younger.
I used to use Sweets solvent which included the warning to remove it after 15min or it keeps dissolving everything it touches - which is true. I switched to BoreTec without the ammonia, but finally threw it all in the bin. It just was not helping anything. Every time you clean copper it shifts zero, and then you have to start the cycle of filling the pores and settling the zero again.
I only clean carbon now, but only after a big shooting session or when the groups open up, or if the gun has been out and about. I am conscious that shooting suppressed gets everything filthier quicker, and in semi autos their actions need to be be cleaned regardless. Remove the suppressor at the first opportunity or all that soot will absorb moisture and turn into corrosive salts, attacking the suppressor and anything attached. When in the bush I work the action every now and then, even just slightly if there's a round up the spout to make sure it's all moving. Bore snakes work too, but I tend to use them in the field, or prior to shooting, using rods for normal cleaning. Storing dirty guns is not an issue in an armory or safe if the environment is not too humid, or salty (near the ocean). If you leave the barrel dirty Zerust VCI emitting plastic barrel strips help.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]19344[/ATTACH]
For bolt guns, after shooting the barrels are left untouched, stored with a piece of anti-corrosion cord down the barrel. For semi-autos the working parts always get cleaned, and typically the barrel as well due to likely high volume shooting, and being suppressed.
For new barrels I just shoot them. Advice is mixed on this and until there is consensus I am happy to avoid the tedium of seasoning barrels according to a one-size-fits-all dogma. I've never seen any improved longevity of barrels, or accuracy by shooting and cleaning every five shots at the start. If you buy quality barrels and change them as often as we do, you won't notice anything anyway.