Okay, I know this subject has been covered a thousand times but bear with me.
I have a Savage Model 10 Target with an HS Precision stock--a package deal. It shoots much better than I do--I once shot a 5 shot 0.254" group (pic attached---everybody says it didn't happen with no pictures). Too bad that was with factory Hornady Match instead of my own handloads. I now probably have a thousand rounds down the barrel, and I have yet to determine where the "clean me now" point is.
it seems to me that the only true way of determining this is to shoot only one ammo on multiple trips without cleaning, and noting when groups start opening up....canceling out as many other factors as possible. Eyesight is now for me an issue...being near 50 I have found that focus becomes much more difficult after about 40 shots. I've now learned to keep test load set sizes limited for that very reason. Of course weather factors are part of the equation.
Last few outings have been in the 50-60 range. Start with a clean cold barrel, shoot about 10-15 to warm up and dirty the barrel, then begin load test protocols (I shoot round-robin style, one from each test load set before moving on to second shot of each charge weight). I have noted a preponderance of "second" and "third" shots impacting to the right of the "first" shot, indicating that the barrel hadn't become sufficiently fouled. I do carefully meter out time between shots to keep the barrel at a relatively constant temperature.
So I think I know how to find what I'm looking for... but it's frustrating! All barrels are different. I read of folks who go hundreds of rounds before cleaning their bore, and others who clean much more frequently. I'm not a competitor, but I enjoy trying to dial up ideal loads for this gun, but I really need to take the initiative to stop what i'm doing and learn my barrel before I continue on.
I'm sure the precision shooters on this board can school me on this.
I have a Savage Model 10 Target with an HS Precision stock--a package deal. It shoots much better than I do--I once shot a 5 shot 0.254" group (pic attached---everybody says it didn't happen with no pictures). Too bad that was with factory Hornady Match instead of my own handloads. I now probably have a thousand rounds down the barrel, and I have yet to determine where the "clean me now" point is.
it seems to me that the only true way of determining this is to shoot only one ammo on multiple trips without cleaning, and noting when groups start opening up....canceling out as many other factors as possible. Eyesight is now for me an issue...being near 50 I have found that focus becomes much more difficult after about 40 shots. I've now learned to keep test load set sizes limited for that very reason. Of course weather factors are part of the equation.
Last few outings have been in the 50-60 range. Start with a clean cold barrel, shoot about 10-15 to warm up and dirty the barrel, then begin load test protocols (I shoot round-robin style, one from each test load set before moving on to second shot of each charge weight). I have noted a preponderance of "second" and "third" shots impacting to the right of the "first" shot, indicating that the barrel hadn't become sufficiently fouled. I do carefully meter out time between shots to keep the barrel at a relatively constant temperature.
So I think I know how to find what I'm looking for... but it's frustrating! All barrels are different. I read of folks who go hundreds of rounds before cleaning their bore, and others who clean much more frequently. I'm not a competitor, but I enjoy trying to dial up ideal loads for this gun, but I really need to take the initiative to stop what i'm doing and learn my barrel before I continue on.
I'm sure the precision shooters on this board can school me on this.