1000 rounds later...

[EPeterson]

I haven't cleaned my barrel yet and I've shot around 1000 rounds through it. Mainly hand loads with cfe. When do guys typically clean your barrels?

Here's the best group today, 3 shots at 100yds:

[Variable]

Whut whut WHAAATTT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Whaddya mean ya' didn't clean it? LOL!



Feels great, doesn't it?

It's pretty liberating knowing you don't have to swab the crap out of your bore every time you turn around. You get to actually enjoy your rifle, and your barrel will last a lot longer since you aren't cleaning it to death.

[Savage Shooter]

If I am at the range, I typically clean my rifles after about 25 rounds, because most of my shooting time is spent in load development, so I want to keep consistency at a maximum. On the rare occasions I get to just practice, I'll typically do a light cleaning after about 50 rounds at the range and then a full cleaning (focusing on copper removal) at home after every range session. I am probably at the end of the spectrum of cleaning too often, though. However, if I regularly got the accuracy you are showing in your picture, I'd probably quit cleaning altogether. Great group you shot!

[EPeterson]

It is great not having to swab it out. I apply some lube to the BCG every once and awhile and call it a day. My other barrels/rifles require more tlc, but not this one.

[EPeterson]

If I am at the range, I typically clean my rifles after about 25 rounds, because most of my shooting time is spent in load development, so I want to keep consistency at a maximum. On the rare occasions I get to just practice, I'll typically do a light cleaning after about 50 rounds at the range and then a full cleaning (focusing on copper removal) at home after every range session. I am probably at the end of the spectrum of cleaning too often, though. However, if I regularly got the accuracy you are showing in your picture, I'd probably quit cleaning altogether. Great group you shot!

Thank you. This group is the exception to the rule, I typically shoot 1moa. I guarantee you that the rifle can out shoot me any day.

[bwaites]

I clean when accuracy goes away, or every spring before Boomershoot, whichever comes first.

[achristian8]

I clean after each range session. Typically every 200 rounds. By clean I mean I run a soaked patch of bore cleaner and a few dry patchs.

[65Whelen]

It is great not having to swab it out. I apply some lube to the BCG every once and awhile and call it a day. My other barrels/rifles require more tlc, but not this one.

EP, I'm with you on this. IMHO cleaning is overrated.

[Kikn]

I don't clean as often as my dad taught me to do. I usually only clean after extended sessions with a suppressor or after using some wolf ammo since it's corrosive. Other than that it shoots consistently enough to nothave to clean and then have to re foul the barrel.

[JASmith]

Our cleaning habits have been hugely influenced by the realities of black powder with continued reinforcement by mercury fulminate in smokeless powders. Some odd batches ammunition in other calibers still have corrosive primers.

Then we have the high velocity freaks who routinely plate their barrels with copper (or lead when abusing cast bullets).

That history, coupled with current reminders for some cartridges, keeps the cleaning habit alive and well. That history, coupled with peer pressure, induces many of us to clean more often than necessary.

I have dropped back to doing a single pass with a bore snake and a bit of solvent after each range session of 30 - 40 rounds. (The TC Contender lets me get lots of range time without burning a lot of shots!)

[SG4247]

The Grendel is really good on the cleaning aspect, compared to other calibers.

The little 6.5 round is very efficient with a small powder charge, and the velocity is slow.

Barrel life is excellent too. All this makes for more fun and less cleaning.

My borecope has me cleaning at 200 rounds, using 8208 powder.

CFE may be better...

[mwilkins]

I used to never worry about cleaning the barrel. Just the bcg to make sure it is nice and smooth but since moving over and shooting suppressed only, cleaning of the chamber and BCG has become more routine. Currently burning 8208 but am considering working up some loads with cfe as well just to see how it does.

[lead chucker]

I cleaned my BHW barrel last night after 65 rounds down in. It took one wet patch of carbon solvent and 4 dry patches to clean it. Shot suppressed also. Rounds shot were 123 gn amax with CFE. That powder burns very clean in my experience.

[sneaky one]

I cleaned my bbl as to the 08' break in period from AA. Took a while, end results were great. Have not cleaned it after last 200 rounds- 2 years ago.
LRRFp52=L52, claims that he rarely cleans the bbl. as copper glides on copper better the onto bbl steel.

Always check your chamber, lug area-bend some q tips to get all the gunk out of that area. You should run a something down the bbl once in a while tho. It seemed like, every time I cleaned the bbl, really clean,, it took 3-8 shots to get it accurate again.

[sneaky one]

Lead chucker, I noticed that too with my only BHW bbl in 5.56 Easy clean, higher speeds too! Minimal rifling contact is the deal.
I'm so happy that AA released the license to a many Great manufactures, to build AA bbls. BHW , was the odd nut on the tree with the polygonal rifling. It works .

[sneaky one]

SG, cfe is so clean- it's worth the vibe down against the tumbler to fit into the case. Stack a 1/4 " drill bit flat side onto the powder column. run it for 2-5 seconds- presto!
Instant reduction in case fills=less compressions + less cleaning !!

[Savage Shooter]

SG, cfe is so clean- it's worth the vibe down against the tumbler to fit into the case. Stack a 1/4 " drill bit flat side onto the powder column. run it for 2-5 seconds- presto!
Instant reduction in case fills=less compressions + less cleaning !!

Sneaky, If I understand your instructions, your method of getting the powder to compact a little better is to put a 1/4 in bit into a drill backwards, (so the blunt/flat end is the "tip"), run the drill a few seconds to get the powder to decrease in volume so when the bullet is seated, the bullet is not doing the powder compaction. Did I understand that right? Or other methods are: using a longer tube drop funnel, or an electric toothbrush placed against the case (I think that was a suggested method here), etc. ?

[lead chucker]

Sneaky, If I understand your instructions, your method of getting the powder to compact a little better is to put a 1/4 in bit into a drill backwards, (so the blunt/flat end is the "tip"), run the drill a few seconds to get the powder to decrease in volume so when the bullet is seated, the bullet is not doing the powder compaction. Did I understand that right? Or other methods are: using a longer tube drop funnel, or an electric toothbrush placed against the case (I think that was a suggested method here), etc. ?

I think what sneaky is saying is to just set a 1\4 bit inside down in the case and hold it against the vibrating tumbler to help compact the powder.

[Savage Shooter]

Thanks. That makes more sense - a little weight to assist the vibration from the tumbler in compacting the powder. I'll give that a try to speed up loading with compressed loads. I hate the "crunching" feel and sound of seating bullets with a compressed load. But even worse is the bullet being slowly pushed back out if I am running light next tension. Then I get variable jump distance to the lands and scratching my head on "stray" shots. The Grendel seems to be a little more forgiving in this area than my Savage 6.5 Creedmoor.

[billy]

I've read from multiple sources that snipers always deploy with a dirty barrel due to accuracy. Of course you can't always trust what you read on the Net, but some of the articles were by snipers giving that at least more credibility than a keyboard sharpshooter. On a side note, barrel break-in seems to be a crock as well - Google for "Gale McMillan Barrel Break-In". Ever since I read on that, I've been just shooting my virgin barrels the same as old stock.