Cleaning too much?

R

Redhook

New member
I've got a Rem 700PSS in .308 and I'm wondering if I'm cleaning it too much. Or is there such a thing?

I went through a slightly modified break-in (10rds/single, 15rds./every third, 25rds./every fifth). Used Hoppe's #9 and sweets each time. Used Rem bore or J.B.'s once in a while.

My standard now is #9 and Sweets every 20rds max. with a coat of J.B. or Rem Bore every 100rds. I've got a little over 200rds though the gun. Does this sound right to you guys?

Thanks!
-Red-
 
Doesn't sound too bad except all you should need is the Hoppe's and Sweets. I wouldn't use to much of the JB. The break in sounds fine and depending on how rough the barrel was you shouldn't get much copper fouling after that. Just keep up with the Sweets every 20 rounds and you should be fine. Make sure to clean all the Hoppes out of the barrel before introducing the Sweets though because sometimes Sweets doesn't play well with others and can mess up your barrel. And also make sure all the Sweets is out after cleaning also. Good luck with the 700. It should be a good shooter.

Also I forgot to add that you can clean too much and it can do more damage than good sometimes. Make sure to use a good coated rod like a Dewey and a brass jag. With the Sweets and Hoppes you might not even need to use a brush but if you do use a bronze brush with a looped brass center for the Hoppes and a nylon brush for the Sweets. Never use a bronze brush with Sweets. Also make sure to use a bore guide and only clean from the breech to the muzzle. Patches only go one way which is down the barrel from breech to muzzle but brushes can go back and forth. This is so the patches don't drag fouling back down the barrel. Sounds liek alot but it's fairly easy once you get a system and all the gear.
 
cleaning and breakin

Recommend a search of Master Gale McMillans posts regarding this topic. In short more barrels have been worn out/ruined by cleaning brushes/solvents than by shooting.
I personally avoid Sweets and use only nylon brushes and q-tips.
I have a friend who keeps his bores clean but hand rubs his stocks by the hour as he watches TV.
mac
 
Worn out / Damaged bores....cleaning

RH, sounds good, I'll go with Rob01 on this one....
Problem is,,,,Mr. McMillan....was right..in ONE very important sense.

Using the INCORRECT tools for the job, will definitley shorten barrel life.

Not using good tight fitting guides, with Dewey coated rods, and ROUND Pro Shot type jags...( NOT , the long straight ones).

Exiting bores with your rod, and / or brush........
Allowing them to touch the crown area......all will contribute to accelerated barrel damage, and wear.

Get a Sinclairs guide, a 2 piece affair....part stays on the cleaning rod, the other stays in the chamber end.

These are a few tips, to KEEP from ruining, and damaging a bore....using a Dewey bore guide, or one similar..does nada...to keep your bore safe...at best, they keep solvents out of the action area..and bedding.
 
A question for Tshoes...

Tshoes, you commeted that exiting bores with your rod, and / or brush........
Allowing them to touch the crown area......all will contribute to accelerated barrel damage, and wear.

Considering that you are not supposed to reverse the brush in the bore, how can one adhere to your guideline of not allowing the brush to exit the bore? How do I push a patch clear through if the jag doesn't exit the bore or touch it when I draw the rod back through?
 
As far as your barrel crown, every five hundred or so rounds, drop the rifle off with your favorite smith, and have him chuck it in the lathe and take about a hundredth off the muzzle end. It'll cost you a few bucks, but it's a brand new crown...

If your gunsmith doesn't use a lathe, find another gunsmith.
 
As long as you're careful and don't smash it around the crown a brass jag or the brush won't do much damage at all. And both need to come out the end fully especially the brush which can go back and forth even though the patches should only go one way. If you're worried do like I do and get a bunch of small o-rings and put them on your jag and rod so thats what touches the muzzle. Also like said before a good gunsmith would be able to clean up your muzzle and even without cutting. But If you have the right tools you shouldn't have any problems. I also read and article in the past, I believe in Tactical Shooter, about a guy who did a test with a rifle different cleaning procedures. Some were really harsh like 700 passes with a stainless brush. And you know what, all his groups were pretty close in size with no major differences. I personally think that alot of emphisis is put on being too careful in cleaning. I still do it because I have OCD about my weapons LOL but I think it takes alot more than some think to ruin a barrel. This is one of those very personal areas between shooters and if you ask 100 people you'll get 100 different responses but I think if you do some of the basics and are careful everything will be fine.
 
BullsEYE

You can exit the bore, without coming OUT all the way, with your brush.
Leave about a 1/4" in the bore/crown area, and then pull back through.
USe the same procedure with your patch.......bring it out far enough to drop off the patch, and remove the jag, carefully draw it back through, and install another patch...this applies only to the first 2-3 patches, to remove powder fouling only.
After this, leave the patch on your jag, and replace at the chamber end.
A lot of folks think barrel steel is hard, it's not.....it usually rates @ around 19-21 on the Rockwell hardness scale..at least on 416R SS bbls.
It is very easy to ding them, and or scratch them with even brass jags, and brushes..used improperly.
As far as reversing your brush, you are correct.....don't try it anywhere except at the very end......
 
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