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If a rifle is shooting adequately accurately should it ever be cleaned?

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  • HKShooter65

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    Just thinking philosophically tonight.
    Naive question perhaps.

    If a rifle is shooting accurate enough for my purpose is there ever a reason to clean the bore?
    I always clean and oil the outside surfaces. Always.

    .................

    Two illustrative examples.

    I have a great plinker. A Ruger American bolt action cold hammer forged heavy target barrel 17HMR that shoots CCI 17 grain .75 to 1.25 MOA all day long with the ancient fixed 12x Luepold bench rest scope.
    I don't EVEN own a .17 cleaning rod.

    I have a superb quality 6.5 Creedmoor Christensen MPR. I love the carbon fiber build and light weight. I have a 5-25 Nightforce on it and it's one of my prized possessions.
    I run a patch through it every 2-3 outings. I shoot mostly my buddy's superlative handloads and it's sometimes shot 5 rounds through one 1/3 inch hole.

    ca-mpr-overview.jpg


    ................

    Modern rifles.
    Modern powers.
    Ancient wisdom.

    I somewhere read that overcleaning rifles does more damage than leaving dirty.
    But then, I believe nothing I read.


    Thoughts?
     

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    no2gates

    These are not the droids you're looking for.
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    Maybe if you average 1 round a week, keep it in a humidity controlled environment, then you could probably never clean it. If you are like most people, I'd say clean it at a minimum after every few outings.
     

    SQLGeek

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    Richmond
    I know when I was really into milsurp rifles, I heard many of the old timers talk about how those surplus steel sectional rods ruined many a barrel from improper and over cleaning.
     

    HKShooter65

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    Nope just let the carbon and lead buildup, you don't need your body parts.

    Are you suggesting that carbon and/or lead accumulation might, somehow, create a dangerous situation.
    That assertion would be new to me.

    My gas direct impingement ARs, when shot suppressed, seem to fill up with detritus from the blow back but the bores don't appear particularly dirty. Suppressed piston semi guns stay generally squeaky clean.

    I'm wondering about cleaning the bore?
    Anybody have an evidence-based opinion?
     

    Dawico

    Uncoiled
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    Bore snake once every outing with a little Hoppe's on it is all I do. If that.

    Once accuracy falls off then I actually clean it. That takes a lot of rounds though. 20 or more rounds to get it shooting well again after cleaning.

    Consistency is the key to accuracy.

    Store them in a humidity controlled climate though. Fouling attracts moisture and therefore rust.
     

    Hoji

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    Depends on what gun.

    My .22s do not get cleaned until they malfunction regularly or the accuracy drops.

    Hunting rifles get cleaned after I am done killing things with them for the year( when I was paid to kill deer and pigs by y’all , my DPMS LR308 would not get cleaned for hundreds of deer)

    Carry guns get cleaned every time they are shot.
     
    Every Day Man
    Tyrant

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