To bronze or not to bronze is the question

[SuperV]

Ok the question now is open. To bronze brush or to not bronze brush.

I'm about to start shooting in a new barrel. Should as I've always done clean with a bronze brush or is there another way.

[Brad Y]

I say if you have been cleaning a certain way in the past and its worked for you and you are comfortable with it- dont change. Particularly on a new match barrel. Keep your old ones for experiementing with if you want to.

[AlanF]

Just keep using the bronze brush and solvent Ben, but not with an abrasive. I must say in all this, I found it odd that an abrasive was recommended with a nylon brush let alone bronze. It just doesn't seem an efficient way of getting the job done. A tight patch on the right size jag gets well into the grooves if your handle spins properly, and if in some barrels it leaves a thin dark line in one corner, is it going to tear your bullet jacket off? I doubt it.

[KHGS]

Just keep using the bronze brush and solvent Ben, but not with an abrasive. I must say in all this, I found it odd that an abrasive was recommended with a nylon brush let alone bronze. It just doesn't seem an efficient way of getting the job done. A tight patch on the right size jag gets well into the grooves if your handle spins properly, and if in some barrels it leaves a thin dark line in one corner, is it going to tear your bullet jacket off? I doubt it.

Proven methods of cleaning have already been described by experienced shooters & professionals in other threads on this board. It would be good if it were possible to put all this information in one place for easy reference, is that possible Alan?
Keith H.

[AlanF]

...Proven methods of cleaning have already been described by experienced shooters & professionals in other threads on this board. It would be good if it were possible to put all this information in one place for easy reference, is that possible Alan?
Keith H.

Keith,

I've always said that high scope magnification is one of the most over-rated requirements for success in F-Class. And also that correct barrel cleaning is one of the most under-rated. So I'm with you on the value of this knowledge for new shooters (and a good number of old shooters too ).

I'll tell you what it needs Keith. For someone who has seen many hundreds of barrels, many which have been damaged or which under-perform because of incorrect cleaning methods, to write an article, based mostly on his own experience, but with some reference to what other experienced and successful shooters do, on how to (and how not to) clean a target rifle barrel. It will need to recognise that individual barrels have personalities, and may require different methods, which will also be detailed. The article I would suggest could go on Craig McGowan's 7mm.com website, which specialises in the publication of interesting articles. Can you think of someone who would fit the bill to write such an article? I can Keith.

So if you or anyone else is prepared to do this, I can go through the forums and make a list of links to relevant posts.

Alan

[KHGS]

...Proven methods of cleaning have already been described by experienced shooters & professionals in other threads on this board. It would be good if it were possible to put all this information in one place for easy reference, is that possible Alan?
Keith H.

Keith,

I've always said that high scope magnification is one of the most over-rated requirements for success in F-Class. And also that correct barrel cleaning is one of the most under-rated. So I'm with you on the value of this knowledge for new shooters (and a good number of old shooters too ).

I'll tell you what it needs Keith. For someone who has seen many hundreds of barrels, many which have been damaged or which under-perform because of incorrect cleaning methods, to write an article, based mostly on his own experience, but with some reference to what other experienced and successful shooters do, on how to (and how not to) clean a target rifle barrel. It will need to recognise that individual barrels have personalities, and may require different methods, which will also be detailed. The article I would suggest could go on Craig McGowan's 7mm.com website, which specialises in the publication of interesting articles. Can you think of someone who would fit the bill to write such an article? I can Keith.

So if you or anyone else is prepared to do this, I can go through the forums and make a list of links to relevant posts.

Alan

Hmmm....sounds like you need a writer! I was never much of a writer, I can answer a technical question, or put a technical point of view, but write an article, I don't know about that.
Keith H.
P.S. I will think on it while I am in Brisbane & while I am doing that someone much smarter than I might jump in

[jasmay]

There was a lengthy article published a few years back on accurate shooter. It was a culmination of several of the worlds top bench and Fclass shooters, they all had there own methods.

I don't think any one method is the answer to every barrel, I think knowing what tools/chemicals are about and being able to quickly adapt and understand what is going on with your barrel is the key.

[SuperV]

How important are bore scopes

[ned kelly]

G'day all,
I've used a borescope for most of my working life so I think I can say I'm reasonably qualified to comment on borescopes.
Bore scopes are critical to check if your cleaning method is working.
Only recently I looked down a pair of barrels, 6BR and 223 and the carbon and copper residue was quiet obvious.
This shooter tried a different solvent and it wasn't working, but importantly his technique had not changed. The barrels were not match ready and the main point is he had no way of knowing they were not clean!
A borescope allows you to clean only just enough, this helps to limit the amount of cleaning rod time in the bore thus reducing potential damage.
Without the feed back of "seeing" how your cleaning process is going you simply cannot assess the effectiveness of your method and the types of solvent you use. If you clean longer than you need to you are risking barrel damage and not forgetting the wastage of patches, brushes, and solvent.
You don't drive your car with you eyes shut, so you shouldn't clean without the ability to see the results of your efforts.
Its that simple.
Also borescopes allow you to assess obvious damage to your bore but the only way to measure that damage is by the shooting ability of the barrel, there is no way to accurately measure anything with them. So even crappy looking barrels can still be competitive.
Food for thought
Cheerio Ned

[DaveMc]

...Proven methods of cleaning have already been described by experienced shooters & professionals in other threads on this board. It would be good if it were possible to put all this information in one place for easy reference, is that possible Alan?
Keith H.

Keith,

I've always said that high scope magnification is one of the most over-rated requirements for success in F-Class. And also that correct barrel cleaning is one of the most under-rated. So I'm with you on the value of this knowledge for new shooters (and a good number of old shooters too ).

I'll tell you what it needs Keith. For someone who has seen many hundreds of barrels, many which have been damaged or which under-perform because of incorrect cleaning methods, to write an article, based mostly on his own experience, but with some reference to what other experienced and successful shooters do, on how to (and how not to) clean a target rifle barrel. It will need to recognise that individual barrels have personalities, and may require different methods, which will also be detailed. The article I would suggest could go on Craig McGowan's 7mm.com website, which specialises in the publication of interesting articles. Can you think of someone who would fit the bill to write such an article? I can Keith.

So if you or anyone else is prepared to do this, I can go through the forums and make a list of links to relevant posts.

Alan

Alan/Keith,
As we know there are as many cleaning regimes as there are shooters and more than one would be acceptable (not easy to determine which is the best). Perhaps it is not the topic that should be written by one person but maybe a sticky thread and some of the top (experienced) shooters and gunsmiths could simply put their own system/recommendations as posts. The readers can then look at a variety and make their own calls.

we can collectively certainly put up comments on what to be careful of.