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dirty bore accuracy? |
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m106 
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Joined: April 23 2023 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 20 |
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 Topic: dirty bore accuracy?Posted: July 22 2023 at 3:04am |
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im a benchrest shooter and clean probably every 10-15 rounds.Have any of you noticed that the enfield shoots better with a dirty bore?
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britrifles
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Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404 |
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Posted: July 25 2023 at 10:27am |
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That depends on the condition of the bore. One that is pitted might do better once a bit of copper fills in the pits. A new barrel will shoot better if kept relatively clean, and will foul less. On my shooter LE's with good barrels, I never see accuracy improve with fouling; I never take "fouling shots". My first shot with a cold clean bore goes right into the same group as the rest of the shots.
I clean the bore with regular powder solvent (like Hoppes 9) after every time I shoot a rifle. About every few hundred rounds, I will remove the copper if it builds up excessively. In my AR service rifle, I use JB about every 200-300 rounds on the first 8 inches of the barrel (from the breech end) to remove carbon buildup (because bullets are seated fairly close to the lands on that rifle and pressures can rise with carbon buildup). I JB the .30 Cal bores about every 500 rounds.
I know benchrest shooters are much more fastidious about cleaning the bore than service rifle shooters are. And, I have no doubt that was learned over many years of highly competitive shooting for the utmost in accuracy. But, the LE will never be a benchrest rifle, no matter how much you clean it. I believe you can actually "over clean" a service rifle barrel and wear it out unless you have very good cleaning equipment that prevents the rod from touching the bore. Benchrest barrels don't typically last very long at peak accuracy, but we expect 8 to 10,000 rounds from a .30 cal service rifle barrel (5-6,000 from a .223 service rifle barrel). My recommendation is to clean after every time you shoot the rifle. Clean from the breech end using a rod guide. Avoid excessive bronze brushing and avoid dragging a brush back into the bore from the muzzle end. I use a parker hale type jag, 3x3 inch patch cut in half, Hoppe's 9 with a bit of Kroil added in to it. Let the bore soak overnight, this will dissolve some of the copper. Wipe clean with dry patch and reapply the Hoppe's and store muzzle down. Wipe bore and chamber with dry patch before shooting. Been working well for me for many years. |
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Shamu
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Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510 |
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Posted: July 25 2023 at 11:52am |
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Once its warmed & fouled it seems remarkably consistent. Not really unexpected for a Main Battle Rifle. I usually start a day with 2 round into the bank & then just shoot till I'm done. I do clean after every range trip. My preferred cleaning is M-Pro 7 bore cleaner & copper remover (2 products). I dry patch out then wet the bore thoroughly with the bore cleaner at the range & let the chemistry do the work. Once home I patch out & use the copper solvent, which I leave in overnight with the muzzle down. the next day patch out with the bore cleaner & lack to the muzzle down cleaning. I repeat as needed. I finish up with a mop & some CLP.
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Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)
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britrifles
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Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404 |
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Posted: July 25 2023 at 2:50pm |
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Yes, pushing a solvent soaked patch thru the bore at the range when the barrel is hot is the best way. How do you know? Just look how black that patch comes out of an hot barrel vs a cold one. But, after a few hours at the range, or after a match, I’m usually “done” and want to pack up and get home, or go socialize with my buds.
Also, I can’t bring myself to waste two rounds into the berm before shooting. Over time, this adds up to a lot of ammo. But, if you find that this gives you better results, I’m all for it. I’ve just never seen a benefit of doing that, YMMV. We also have matches where there are no sighter shots, first shot is for score. So, you would have to show up with a dirty barrel, and I can’t bring myself to leave the barrel fouled for a few weeks, then hope it still shoots good at the match. We all shoot in different situations, so do a bit of experimenting and see what works for you. |
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Goosic
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Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8842 |
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Posted: July 25 2023 at 4:42pm |
I am a Short Range Tactical Shooter
I have a No4Mk1/2 that benefits significantly from a fouled barrel. On the other hand however, I have a No4Mk1 that likes to have a fairly clean barrel when it is shot. The No4Mk1/2 Maltby has a M47C BSA barrel installed and has been cutdown to 22.5". The rifle performs best when the barrel is hot and fouled. The 1944 No4Mk1 Maltby is technically brand new with the barrel not even broken-in yet and if the barrel is not brushed out after 25 shots or so, the groups tend to open up a bit... |
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m106 wrote: