How do you clean your barrels for max accuracy?

[brother hal]

Need some advice from those who do a lot of shooting. I plan to try some more factory ammo in my 270 Win to determine the most accurate load at 200 and 300 yards. I usually clean the barrel this way: using solvent and wire brush (several passes thru the barrel) then wait maybe 5 minutes, then solvent again on a clean patch, then run thru numerous clean patches until the barrel is clean. Then I fire one fouling shot, then 3 shots for a group. I let the barrel cool between shots. After I get a group or 2, I repeat entire process for the next brand of ammo. I use a one-piece coated rod with a bore guide. Am I doing too much cleaning? What would you recommend? Thanks.

[USMC PMI]

This is one of those subjects that can be debated forever. I will give you my personal opinion derrived from experience and training. For testing only, it sounds like what you are doing (cleaning between each different load) is reasonable, but for testing loads only. After you have your final load and shoot regularly there is again much discussion on the topic. I personally clean the bore after every 100 shots or so. This seems to sit about in the middle of most opinions. Many folks have posted everything about bore cleaning on here from cleaning after every shot, to never if possible. Some don't clean until the notice accuracy waiver. What is correct? That is like asking a man what pickup truck is the best. I like to keep my bores nice and shiney but also appreciate that every time you run a rod down your bore you shorten the barrel life just a little, over time with excessive cleaning you can wear away significant barrel life. Good luck with this one.

For changing ammo, your doing the right thing. Once you find your load, clean every time you go shooting. Usually, not always, but usually, people don't shooting "hunting" guns like a 270 more than 30 rounds in a day. Maybe .223 shooters do, but thats a different story. If you notice accuacy dropping or notice a large buildup of copper, then break out your rods and start cleaning at the range or field.

For my first 300RUM, you had to clean that barrel every 10 rounds. Horrible copper buildup. But with my smooth 300RUM barrel, I clean when I get it home. Usually don't shoot more than 20 rounds at a sitting. I have also relaxed my cleaning. I take out the carbon, then use wipe out to clean out the bore overnight. There may be some copper left in the morning, but I don't worry about it.

[skeeter 7MM]

My cleaning process is start with shooter choice gun solvent (this will remove powder, dirt, etc), run a saturated patch through and follow up with a second saturated patch this time make short stroke back and forth. Follow that up with a dry patch or two..repeat until clean patch. Then move on to copper removal using a dedicated copper remover such as: Sweets 7.62, Barnes CR 10 or Shooters Choice CR. Pass a saturated patch through wait 1-2 minutes and followup with a second saturated patch with short strokes back and forth, repeat until clean (you'll see blue or green marks which indicates copper fouling). Once clear I run a couple of dry patches through the bore and a well soaked patch with rem oil. Prior to shooting again I run 2 patchs through the bore to remove the excess rem oil so not to cause excessive pressure when firing. Never leave a CR agent in the bore for extended period of time as it can cause damage. If excessive dirt or copper I will use a brush in between the staturated patchs of each process.

[bronko22000]

I clean my guns, rifles, shotguns and handguns after every shooting session. I do this using the steps previously mentioned - brass brush with solvent followed by clean patches to dry, solvent soaked patch, dry patches, etc until clean. I think that letting fouling in the barrel attracts moisture and may cause pitting if left too long.
The only time I don't clean my barrel is shooting prior to a hunting trip (or when I get there and check my zero.)

Bigcountry - do you think it is possible that your 300 RUM is fouling because of tiny burrs on the rifling? You may want to try running some JB compound through the bore and see if it helps.

I did everything I could with that barrel. I cleaned it with JB's every week after shooting. I finally ran Tubbs final finish fire lapping kit thru, which killed my rifling. I had that 300RUM 2 or 3 years ago. Since then, I had one built. Smooth as glass with a Kreiger barrel.