You're Cleaning The Wrong Way

Published on September 16, 2021
Duration: 31:29

This guide details a deep cleaning process for precision rifle barrels, as demonstrated by world-renowned shooter Erik Cortina. It emphasizes that a clean patch doesn't always mean a clean barrel and advocates for regular borescope use to monitor fouling. The process involves extended solvent soaks, agitation with brushes, and specialized removers to ensure optimal accuracy for competitive shooting.

Quick Summary

Expert rifle shooter Erik Cortina explains that a clean patch doesn't guarantee a clean barrel. Hard carbon and copper fouling can remain, affecting accuracy. He recommends using a borescope to verify barrel condition and advocates for more frequent cleaning (every 100-170 rounds for F-Class) than commonly practiced to ensure peak performance.

Chapters

  1. 00:00The Myth of the Clean Patch
  2. 01:13Cleaning Intervals: PRS vs. F-Class
  3. 04:01The Oil Change Analogy
  4. 07:46The Role of the Borescope
  5. 09:41Eliminating Variables
  6. 11:31Deep Cleaning Process

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main mistake shooters make when cleaning their rifle barrels?

Many shooters stop cleaning when a patch comes out looking clean, but this is a mistake. Hard carbon and copper fouling can remain lodged in the rifling, affecting accuracy. Expert shooters use tools like borescopes to verify the barrel's true condition, not just the patch appearance.

How often should a precision rifle barrel be cleaned for competitive shooting?

For F-Class competition, barrels are often cleaned every match, approximately every 100-170 rounds. Precision Rifle Series (PRS) shooters might wait longer, around 400 rounds, but experts like Erik Cortina argue that waiting for accuracy degradation means you've already waited too long.

What tools are essential for proper rifle barrel cleaning according to experts?

Essential tools include a quality cleaning rod, patches, bore solvent, carbon and copper removers, a bronze bore brush, and critically, a borescope. The borescope allows for visual inspection of the rifling to confirm cleanliness and identify fouling.

Why is it important to eliminate barrel fouling in precision shooting?

Eliminating barrel fouling ensures a consistent point of impact. In long-range shooting, misses are often blamed on wind, but a dirty barrel can cause flyers that mimic wind shifts. A clean barrel removes equipment inconsistency as a variable.

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