Thread: Rifle cleaning 101 - school me!

The same way different guns like different ammo, so too do different guns like different cleaning regimes, what one person swears by because it works for him, may not work for you.

The two main things that will compromise accuracy in an uncleaned bore are fouling and rust.
One can be redeemed the other not.

Some barrels go better with a certain amount of fouling, they might reach peak accuracy at 40 something rounds after cleaning and start dropping accuracy after 60 something at which point they need a clean and 40 or so rounds fired through.
Basically the fouling will help the barrel grip the projectile, but if the fouling builds up too much it is weighted to the chamber end of the barrel and will swage the projectile which then rattles through the front half of the barrel unable to grip the sides as effectively as the projectile that went through 10 or 15 shots before it.

So the main things to remember are:

Don’t let your bore rust.
Don’t let it get too fouled
Find out through trial and error if your rifle needs a fouling shot or three after cleaning.