• CLEANING THE BARREL

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Due to progress, we don't have to clean barrels as soon or much as Black powder. This is due to smokeless powder. Use a hard lead bullet and use good alox on bullet, 50-50 mix Bees wax and Alox mix.

Clean the barrel after shooting lead than switching to copper. Use a dry brush than follow up with a clean cloth to clean the barrel.

Always shoot though a dry bore

 

You must use a good cleaning solvent. When you are using a good cleaning solvent, use good ventilation so you don't get poisoned.

Don't dip the brush into the solvent jar or you will contaminate the entire bottle. Use a "jag" and dip the cloth wrapped around the "jag" and then dip it into the solvent.

Use a good bronze bore brush (One top Gunsmith told me never to use any brushes in the barrel, only use solvent, so I try not to use a brush). This next tip is from Frank Higgonson - One good trick I use is, take a shotgun 12 gauge cleaning rod and brush and run it up and down the barrel. Of course you will have the barrel out and laying down on a table. Place your hand on top of the barrel and press down. With the other hand run the brush up and back through the barrel.

Don't use a stainless brush.

The best cleaning rod to use is a stainless steel rod with a Teflon coating.

The second best is to use a Polished one piece steel rod.

An Aluminum is good to use as long as you make sure no oxidation has occurred on the rod as aluminum oxide can form on the rod making it an abrasive.

Don't use fiberglass, plastic or wood rods as contaminates can be stuck to them.

Clean your rod every pass and run the rod straight though the barrel.

You don't want to wear the barrel because of hitting the barrel with a cleaning rod.

Don't let Hoppes soak into a stainless steel barrel as it will eat it up.

Sweets solvent is a good gun cleaner, you must use a good oil after cleaning.

Stay away from flashy gimmicks. The Lewis lead remover and the steel wool pad are good if you want to remove some lead, but you will not be able to clean the lead-copper out of the corners of the lands and groves.

Look for a gray steak in a 22 barrel, this means your barrel needs to be cleaned. 22's should be completely cleaned every 6 months.

Any perfectly clean barrel may throw off your first shot. (Not in the usual group.) if the barrel is completely dry of oil.  Make sure you run dry patches though your barrel after you clean them.

 

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