.223 Varmint Rifle, Barrel Fouling and Accuracy

[flyb0y]

Hello, I am looking for any information along the lines of the number of rounds shot before considerable accuracy degradation occurs. In other words, if I am shooting P.dogs all day, would I notice a significant loss in accuracy after say 100 rounds? I am asking because I am having some reloads made for the specific job of hunting Coyotes, not wanting to spoil the hides, and want to be realistic and not clean my barrel every 10 shots, but stay with-in a reasonable amount of fouling that won't cause me grief trying to hit Wile-E-Coyote.

I am using a CZ Varmint Kevlar in .223 with a med. heavy barrel 1:9 twist, bolt action, and I am wanting to practice my long range shooting on varmints (300+ yds) and I would like your experiences.

Thanks in advance!

 

[esheato]

Go shoot...you don't realistically expect to shoot yotes at 300 without practice do you? During those practice sessions, keep track of accuracy...

ie, shoot a group at 100 when you start...and every 50 rounds shoot another group at 100.

I know for me, I can go through 100-200 rounds during a full day of shooting. It's easy enough to track. If nothing else, clean it at the end of the day. I can't imagine you shooting more than 5-10 rounds unless you're having a reallllly good day.

Ed

 

[flyb0y]

Agreed, I have done a lot of practice at the range, but I was just curious what others have experienced, I haven't have tons of opportunity in recent years. I'm just working with the theory that in the field, my barrel will be fouled especially when going for P.dogs, and it wouldn't be unheard of to shoot 200 - 300 rounds in a day. So if I get the ultimate in a lucky spot for both being not to terribly far away, I am just thinking at what point during a day I might want to run the bore snake through. ( and yes, I know this is almost never going to happen, but hey maybe I start the day in a P.dog town and finish calling Coyotes elsewhere I can dream right? )

 

[jpwilly]

Every barrel is different but I've shot 100rnds through my Varmint rifle (AR-15 with 20" Bull BBL) without to much loss in accuracy.

FYI: After 20rnds your barrel is fouled and if you were shooting for group you would be cleaning the copper out.

 

[esheato]

So if I get the ultimate in a lucky spot for both being not to terribly far away, I am just thinking at what point during a day I might want to run the bore snake through.

Lunch of course.

 

[stubbicatt]

I shoot about 150 to 200 rounds through my CZ LUX chambered in 223 when shooting prairie dogs. It seems to shoot the same to me. Pretty much anything to 300 yards is owned, those further away are tougher for me to hit.

For some reason none of my CZ centerfire barrels seems to metal foul. I just clean using Mpro7 and a bronze brush. Oh, I shoot Vmax bullets in the 223.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Shoot it all you want -- but clean it thoroughly and carefully. Get all the fouling out, don't let it build up. As mentioned by others, shoot an occasional group and see if accuracy is falling off. If it is, you can usually restore accuracy by simply seating the bullet a bit farther out.

It takes a lot of shooting -- more than most people will do in a lifetime -- to actually shoot out a barrel.

 

[flyb0y]

Good to know, I have found that the V-max is really good too, the only thing I have really been testing is different bullet weights. Accuracy is paramount, but I also want the best chance of a smallish single entry as not to damage pelts (I will be back in Montana soon where it will be worth selling the hides) I have used a good load with the V-max in 55gr and been able to just about print with even factory (black hills) and better with a couple custom reloads.

Not really worried as much about shooing out the barrel as just accuracy falling off durring a long day of shooting, I have a very limited income atm, (just got 20% disability from the VA, haven't been able to work for about 3 yrs now). I just don't want to waste any of my premium hand loads.

 

[krs]

What'll get you is copper and you'd have a tough time getting copper out of the bore with a boresnake. As far as my opinion goes those things are only good for cleaning out powder residue, and powder residue is the least of your problems.

Every barrel IS different, for sure. It's true that some manufacturers turn out rougher bores than others. Rugers always have and I've been hearing that CZ barrels are quick to metal foul too. But you can get a fouling barrel from any of them - luck of the draw, really.

You want good accuracy to pop those pups because they'll know you're looking for them at any range 150 yds. or less. They've either got good eyes (hard to believe), good noses, or good hearing, (maybe radar?) but them suckers can be pretty darned sneaky unless you luck into one of their big town size jamborees.

Bronze brushes and a good copper solvent are your best friends. When you have time brush your bore with something like Butch's or Shooter's Choice and then start patching it. You'll likely be surprised to see how many patches will turn blue/green a couple minutes after you push them through. That coloring means that you're not done yet - it's what copper looks like. Not powder, not lead, copper. It's the worst thing about shooting jacketed bullets in front of hot loads.

 

[ThomasT]

I have never been lucky enough to go on a prarie dog shoot but I do like to read about it.

John Barsness has written a couple of articles in Rifle/Handloader about powders and fouling. He said that Ramshot Tac and Reloader 15 both have additives to help reduce copper fouling. They were formulated for military use and the additive was one of the requirerments.

He wrote that he had fired up to 500 rounds without cleaning and was still able to shoot sub MOA groups with his rifles. He also stated that they cleaned up with less than 10 patches using Barnes CR-10 copper cleaner.

 

[flyb0y]

Great! thx for the info, I think I will see if I can get some of that copper cleaner tomorrow.

 

[ForneyRider]

One of the reasons I went with Reloder 10x and 15 for my AR loads, because they are supposed to be clean burning.

Reading benchrest primer articles, one article states the .224 barrel gets dirty more quickly than larger barrels, therefore accuracy will degrade more quickly.

Other articles mention cleaning after 10 shot group for best accuracy and use clean powder.

My Dad's .22-250 shoots Varget with 50gr V-Max. Most I've seen him shoot is 20 rounds, and there didn't seem to be any degradation in accuracy.

 

[rangerruck]

take 2 boresnakes, run one wet with cleaner/lube on it, and the other dry. damp each of them off, on a clean cloth after use. run them between each 100 rounds, should be fine.