another (sorry) scope question

B

bailey bud

New member
I sighted in my M70, last weekend - and the guy helping me said "don't clean it...."

Really????

I clean my rifle every time I shoot. It doesn't matter if I shoot 3 or 30 rounds (I shot a dozen, to sight it in).
 
Depends on which M70 you shot and what your plans are.

If it was a Winchester Model 70 and you are not going to shoot it again until you go hunting in a few days, then I would not clean it so you won't change you point of impact. The first shot or two down a clean or oily barrel won't go to the same place as shots in a fouled barrel.

If it was a Yugo M70 and you were shooting corrosive military surplus ammo, then you probably should have cleaned it really well and rinsed out the receiver, barrel and gas system with water then re-oiled it.

If it was something else, choose the option closest to whatever you shot.
 
You would be better off cleaning the barrel and then rechecking your zero. Some rifles show very little difference between cold/clean vs warm/dirty bore shots, and some show a big difference. Checking is the only way to see what your rifle does.
 
Most rifles shoot better after several rounds have been down the barrel. I keep my guns clean, but don't like to mess with the barrel once zeroed unless it gets wet. Many will shoot the 1st few shots from a clean barrel to a different point until the barrel gets fouled. Most will not give you your best accuracy until 40-50 rounds have been through the barrel with no cleaning. Accuracy will start to drop off at some point and it is different with every gun. Could be 100 rounds, could be 300. That is the time to clean the barrel.

I do a lot of load testing and practice during the summer. About a month before hunting season starts I give any gun I plan to hunt with a good cleaning then go back to the range for a couple of trips to get another 20 rounds or so through them. I don't clean the barrel again until after hunting season unless I have to hunt in the rain.
 
Jmr40 is right. Most rifles shoot to a different POI on a dirty barrel as opposed to a clean one. They also group better too. That is why competition shooters will fire fouling shots after cleaning their barrel.

My hunting barrels get cleaned once a year. After cleaning and then wasting a few rounds to re-foul them, I rezero the scope and don't touch the bore again until I start the cycle again before the next hunting season.
 
Cleaning after 30 rds is really not necessary.
I used to clean guns fanaticaly but when I realized its really just a waste I quit doing it..i usually clean the action area out and thats it for a while.

if the gun is gonna be a safe queen or stay in storage, by all means clean and oil it.

If the gun its gonna be used at least twice a month,.. let it be until you get several hundred rounds through it.

of course, lube what needs to be lubed.
 
I run a bore snake down mine after every 10-20 rounds or so. It doesn't change POI like a good scrubbing and polished bore will do but keeps the fouling to a minimum. My rifles are set for the season, which starts tomorrow yeah for me, and won't be cleaned until after the season other than a good wipe down.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top