Posted by Rob on Aug 19, 2018; 6:02am
URL: http://oldforum.flyshooter.com.au/Gun-cleaning-tp5710047p5710054.html

Fred I almost follow  Dave's cleaning routine. I do try and get carbon out and after talking with Dave have been dry brushing with a bronze brush as the first part of the clean. Then I work on the copper and do use Metho before finishing the clean. I am using Helmar's bore oil to finish off as this leaves a "dry" lube and I have found that by doing this it is similar to Dave's slight oil coating for the first shot. I have also noticed in two different rifles that if I do this the first "fowler" does not seem to be as far out as it would be if I had not used the bore oil.
As far as frequency is concerned do you need a "clean" bore all the time or do you want to reach the copper "equilibrium" point where your rifle shoots consistently for x number of shots. I tend to use the "equilibrium" approach and only clean when fowling seems to affect accuracy. When the barrel was first new I could go 150 rounds before I worried about cleaning. As the barrel has now had fairly close to 3000 rounds through it I have found that it fowls up much quicker and a minimal carbon clean is required about 30-40 rounds and then a slightly better clean at about 50-60 before completing both classes with the same gun. I have listened to other shooters over the years and do prefer to do a rough clean before leaving the range and let it "soak" so the remaining carbon is not quite so hard after the barrel cools down rather than doing it all at home, but I have on occasions. I also live close to the ocean and after totally ruining a barrel by not cleaning it and found that the bore was ruined because moisture got into it I clean every barrel before storage regardless if  it is a center fire or a rimfire and find it does not take more than a few rounds for the barrel to settle down.
I hope I have not added too much more to the confusion.

Regards Rob Bernard