Accuracy and fouling

W

Willkk

Inactive
I have a predicament. I have been working up hand loads for my 30-06 and as of Sunday I have a winner. The issue, I put 30 rounds through it and just got a hunting opportunity fall in my lap for day after tomorrow. I have never really noticed a dramatic poi change on a clean barrel with this rifle but I have never let it go 30 deep between cleaning. My question.... Clean the rifle and take it out to the field or leave it fouled? How many shots down range will cause a problem. My groups were 2.5 inches at 200 on a windy day as of casing the rifle. This is a hunting gun pure and simple so that's good enough but I'm a little uneasy taking my gun out without the usual cleaning and refouling ritual I normally undertake.
 
30 rounds is nothing. Pull the bolt shine a light down the barrel if it looks good then then my only consideration would be how cold is it outside. If it is cold I might clean the bolt and use dry lube.
 
Cleaning after each shooting session is highly overrated
If the barrel looks really bad, run a wet patch, followed by a few dry patches

Otherwise, save the intense scrubbing for the off season, or when accuracy starts to change
 
Clean it when you notice accuracy is worse; good enough for most hunting rifles.

That said, barrels have a longer accuracy life if properly cleaned every few dozen shots.
 
I clean my hunting rifles barrels once or twice per year whether they need it or not. I need 5-10 shots after cleaning before accuracy really settles back in and go at least 100-200 before it starts to fall off.
 
^^+1

You know where it was at the last time you shot it, run with that. Clean your rifle after the hunt.

Good luck!
 
Willkk --- Within that short of time frame --- going huntin an all --- I'd favor a 30 shot fouled bore over a squeaky-clean bore --- though my 223 target rifle starts to slightly fall off in accuracy at the 17-20 round count.
 
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I never hunt with a clean barrel, especially one that has been oiled. The first shot may be on the mark, or way out in la-la land. I do however tape the end of the barrel with electrical tape to keep out rain, snow, dirt, etc.
 
Commercial factory and arsenal barrels usually need a few to several fouling shots starting out with a squeaky clean bore before good, repeatable accuracy shows up. How long accuracy stays good varies quite a bit across them, but some are better than others. I think Savage barrels are one of the best.

The best aftermarket match barrels need no fouling shots to shoot to within 1/4 MOA of point of aim starting with a squeaky clean barrel. Centerfire ones, that is. Rimfire ones typically need a few fouling shots then are good for 50 shots or a few more.
 
I'd leave it until after the hunt - I would much more trust where I knew it shot last than where it might shoot when it's clean and cold.
 
After cleaning, I like a little Break Free CLP in the bore for months of storage, but usually run a dry patch through before going to the range. (I realize there are other protectants that aren't oily, but this has worked for me.)
 
If I read your post right, A clean bore didn't change your POI that much. I would clean the rifle the way your doing before a range trip or a hunt. Never liked starting out with a fouled barrel.
 
My rifles might make the hunt, therefore they all go to range a week or two prior, to make sure zeroes are cool and bores are fouled.
Also I follow Bart's comment as to factory barrels vs aftermarket barrels being within a quarter moa.
 
When I hunt I clean the barrel before the hunt and use (1) one fouling shot and then I'm ready to hunt! I've done that for as long as I can remember.. William
 
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