How often do you clean your rifle bore (poll)?

[N7XW]

Opinions vary widely on this.  Some guys say they only clean the bore after 600 - 800 rounds and never notice a change in accuracy.  Others say clean after every few shots.  What say you?

[kselkhunter]

I voted after every range session.  But I do run a bore snake through the barrel after every 10 or so shots.   No cleaning solution, just one of those cloth bore snakes with the metal brush sewed in.   

[Antlershed]

Opinions vary widely on this.  Some guys say they only clean the bore after 600 - 800 rounds and never notice a change in accuracy.  Others say clean after every few shots.  What say you?

Interested to see the results of this poll. I, too, have heard of guys that say they never clean it and it has no effect on accuracy.

I tend to clean it after each range session, or if I’ve been out hunting in wet weather. I may try and see how long I can go this year before accuracy starts going downhill

[jrebel]

I try and do it after every range session or quite often durring the range session.  I take my cleaning stuff to the range.....   With that being said, If I don't get to cleaning right away, I don't freak out and will do it when I have time. 

[7mmfan]

I'm somewhere in the middle. Usually every 25-30 shots. I like going into the woods with a fouled barrel, so I usually shoot a few rounds before the opener and don't clean it until I'm done for the season.

[257 Wby Mag]

When the accuracy starts to go

[chiwawadan]

I try to make a habit of cleaning after ever session of shooting.

[N7XW]

I'm doing a little experiment with my Savage right now.  Didn't clean it for about 60 rounds or so shot over multiple sessions.  Took it to the range dirty again and shot groups at 100 yds.  Then cleaned it (MPro7 cleaner on patches - Mpro7 cleaner on bronze brush - Mpro7 on patches again - dry patches) and shot two foulers.  Shot another group and it was definitely tighter.  Now I'm leaving it dirty and going to see if groups open up even more over time.  That will tell me how fouling affects accuracy in that particular rifle.

[SkookumHntr]

I run a bore snake through after about 10 shots, I do a deep clean taking it all apart after the season usually.

[Magnum_Willys]

I'm somewhere in the middle. Usually every 25-30 shots. I like going into the woods with a fouled barrel, so I usually shoot a few rounds before the opener and don't clean it until I'm done for the season.

Mine shoots well clean and after a couple foulers but after 35-40 rounds accuracy drops off.   It shoots better clean than dirty but I use carbon remover not copper cleaner.   I have used copper cleaner (boretech) in the past and it didnt seem to effect anything but I think my es is slightly better if I leave the copper in. 

[Karl Blanchard]

I don't touch it till accuracy drops.  That's about 500rnds in my main rig.  A bore snake or anything else abrasive will never touch my barrel.  Patches only.

[jrebel]

I don't touch it till accuracy drops.  That's about 500rnds in my main rig.  A bore snake or anything else abrasive will never touch my barrel.  Patches only.

Out of curiosisty....why not a bore brush?  Any science behind it or just personal preference? 

[Henrydog]

25-30 years ago the NRA published a test in American Rifleman that there was no fall off on accuracy with modern rifling being dirty (1000 rounds dirty vs right after cleaning) as I recall.  They did note fall up do to copper fowling

[baker5150]

25-30 years ago the NRA published a test in American Rifleman that there was no fall off on accuracy with modern rifling being dirty (1000 rounds dirty vs right after cleaning) as I recall.  They did note fall up do to copper fowling

I recently read about water in a barrel effecting accuracy, simply form rain getting in, it was a test done by a writer for Outside magazine IIRC.  I wonder how the 2 would differ.

[Hilltop123]

I don't touch it till accuracy drops.  That's about 500rnds in my main rig.  A bore snake or anything else abrasive will never touch my barrel.  Patches only.

This is my routine, it works for me. The pic is a 500 yrd. group with a sporter barrel on a slightly molested 700 CLD.