How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

I'm having problems with my 30-06 not shooting like it should. Just wants to jump all over the 8" target. I took it to a gun smith to see if he could check out the rifling in the barrel as I was afraid it would be shot out. He ran a patch through it and said it was really dirty and one of the worst ones he had seen when it comes to copper fouling. He then proceeded to sell me some Wipe Out clearner stuff to clean it with. He told me to stop using a wire brush as they will scratch the barrel and to use this and he thought it would solve my problem.

Would this make it jump around that much or does it sound like I have bigger issues? He told me he thought this was what it was. You can see the rifling but I don't know if theirs a way to check it or not. He didn't check it as he just said it looked really dirty. I had been cleaning it with a wire brush then running a patch or two down it. This stuff he sold me has really removed a lot of stuff. You could see copper inside the barrel as he showed us and you can no longer see it but it's still coming out a little on the patch so I'm going to have to keep on doing it.

Do you guys think this will solve my issues?

Also found out my Leupold scope seemed to be bad but we put my spare Burris on which to my surprise is much clearer looking and I like it a ton better. Anyway, Put it on and it fixed the issue of the scope seeming to self adjust but it seems to still jump around some. I'm hoping this fixes the issues but what do you guys think? Would copper fouling make it jump around that bad?

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

I doubt copper fouling would have that kind of effect on accuracy. I've shot some mighty dirty guns over the years. It might cause your group size to open up a little but I don't think it would cause the gun to pattern rather than group. It sounds like something is loose on the gun. Check your stock screws, scope mounts, etc. Maybe the scope was the problem.By the way, no way a bronze brush will scratch a steel barrel.

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

I say beign dirty is only part of your problem. I think you have something else going on though. Again, pull off your butt plate and check the screws and or bolt on your stock, check your scope mounts. If you have iron sights, shoot the gun with thoes a few times and see how it groups. Also do you have floating barrell on the gun? Have the barell checked out for straightness. Or remove the barrell and check the threads, make sure its seating correctly against the receiving end.

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

This is incorrect. The wire brush is made ofa softer metal than steel, so using it will NOT scratch your barrel (the inside). In fact, this brush should be moved back and forth in the barrel multiple times to loosen all of the copper filings stuck in there.

A clean barrel is essential to accurate shooting. I would do it every 15-20 shots to ensure accuracy. But as mentioned above, always check your scope mounts to make sure they're not loose.

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

Ya kind like they tell you to use a brass hammer to advoid scratching what ever your hitting. Though it might scratch the coating or painting but it ant going to hurt the steel.
Go to another gun smith

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

Also i clean my guns after every time i shoot i clean them real well.
When i had my AR i noticed it would open up after a few hundred rounds. I would check with another gun smith.
When i had my 30 30 i would run a brass brush down it three or four times then run patches till it was clean.

You know we need some kind of rubber rifling brush like a wire brush but something that cleans more then scrapping fouling out

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

.....Wow......

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

Well, I got it clean and something is up becaue it still wouldn't shoot worth a crap. I almost and by almost I mean came very very close to just going and buying a new rifle today. I ended up shooting some of my other ammo I had to see how it did. I tried Remington 165 Grain Core Lokts, Fusion 150 grains, and Winchester Silvertips in 150 grain. Those grouped super tight at 50 yards a month or two ago. At 100 yards the Fusions were grouping about 1 1/2" -2" groups. I'm happy with that but ran out of them and can't find anymore locally except maybe at one gun shop I refuse to deal with. I shot 5 in the group so not sure if the rest would have gone everywhere or not. The Silvertips and the Remingtons seemed to jump around just like the Winchester ballistic tips did. I can't figure it out. I'm not sure what the next batch of Fusions will do.

Anyway, the stock is tight. The front forearm piece is a little loose which I was told was normal for Brownings and I don't think that is affecting the accuracy. The scope rings and mount seem to be tight as in I can't get them to move. Anything else I should check or try with this gun before I just go sell it and buy a new one?

I bought this gun used and this is the prime example of why I hate and I mean HATE used stuff. I've had it for about a year and a half although I have shot it a decent amount. From now on. Well, from the last few months on I will only buy new stuff. It's been working out way better. I never want to spend $550 on a used gun again as that's a lot for a gun that seems to not shoot worth a crap.

So what should I check next? Scope mounts and rings are tight, have tried 2 scopes, stock seems tight other than that forearm piece which I was told is normal on the BARs and shouldn't affect the accuracy? I'm just getting fed up with this gun.

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

One thing I forgot to add. This thing seems to group well at 50 yards but when you step out to 100 it just is like it's shooting where ever it wants to.

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

unsure. LIke you i would have really thought about a new rifle. I hate things that do not work right.

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

Are we talking about a Browning BAR? I would guess 2" accuracy is about normal for this style of gun. You might try shooting with the rest back close to the magazine. What ever you do, rest it the same each time.

Some of the smith advice you have been getting is a bit rough sounding. If you buy it isn't clean,
1) Run a super wet patch down it
1a) Wait 5 min
2) Run a brass brush back and forth completely exiting the barrel on both ends like 10 times
3) Run 1 wet patch, then 2 dry patches, . .alternate until the 2nd dry patch is white or you do this 3 times

Do this first with carbon/powder cleaner like Hoppes #9. Then alternate with a true copper cleaner like Sweets.

After about 3 - 5 cycles, this is as clean as a barrel can get. The run a light coat of bore protectant, CLP in my case.


I would also carefully inspect fired cases with a runout tool. fired cases should have < .001in runout.

I would also inspect the crown with a magnifying glass. Any dings and I would spend the $20 - $50 to recrown and cold blue it.

I would also carefully inspect the bore while cleaning for a rough or extremely loose spot as a sign of a barrel problem.

If there is a good way, it would be worth looking at how the action is locking up. that might be loose somehow.


Bedding, well, I don't think this kind of gun is really bedded per se. The rely on being hand held when shot so bedding matters less. kind of like an old school AR. You might try slipping a hand between your forend and the stock.

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

Have you checked for crown damage?

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

Good question. Take a Q-Tip and rub it around the crown of the barrel as see if it finds any nicks or burrs.

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

I can't tell you anything about that WIPE OUT stuff, as I've never used it. As for a cleaning brush "scratching your bore, that's a crock, UNLESS he specifically meant stainless steel brushes. If you stick to phosphor-bronze (brass) cleaning brushes, these are much softer than steel, and cannot scrtch the bore.

IF you use cotton flannel cloth cleaning patches and a GOOD SOLVENT to clean according to the instructions on the bottle after each session of shooting the rifle, you can keep the bore clean. Yes, a heavily fouled bore can indeed make the gun "shoot all over the place"!!

How often do you clean the bore? How have you been doing it??

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

Well, I had been cleaning it after shooting each day but I wasn't getting it very clean. Just started using this stuff which seems to get it clean and I've been shooting 30 rounds or so through it maybe 40 then cleaning when I get home.

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

The crown of the barrel seems to be okay.

RE: How do you clean your barrels? Does this sound like my issue?
 

OK I would have to say that maybe your problem may be your shooting technique. Like one of the previous post suggest, (and I assume you are shooting off sandbags), put the front rest back on the receiver (magazine) and shoot it that way. You may be applying different pressure on the barrel and changing the harmonics which will affect accuracy.