I've read lots of the arguments on here saying that it doesn't matter, or that it does matter. I kind of leaned towards the doesn't matter side of the fence after reading it all.
Now I have a new rifle and its got me wondering.
Its a Marlin 81ts (.22 rimfire) and the bore is incredibly dirty. I cleaned it good before shooting it the first time, then shot 5 rounds of CB long through it and pulled the bolt to see what was going on. HUGE amount of fouling.
I ran a few patches through and then fired 5 rounds of CCI mini mag hollow points. Pulled the bolt and almost as much fouling.
Ran a few patches and then decided to see how accuracy was. Shot 50 rounds of the CB's, and I think its shooting OK. Took me awhile to get used to it, and get the iron sights dialed in, but I was holding around an inch free hand from 50ft for 10 shot groups by the end. Not spectacular, but I'm not quite used to it.
Pulled the bolt again, and the bore is filthy.
So the question is, do I just continue shooting and not worry about it? Stick with Jacketed ammo for a few hundred rounds?
Accuracy and reliability seem fine. I've never shot a gun with microgroove rifling, or even a new rifle for that matter so I don't really know what I'm supposed to expect.
Any thoughts?
Oh yeah, fouling seems to start halfway down the barrel. Could it just be powder residue?
Thanks for any advice.
Now I have a new rifle and its got me wondering.
Its a Marlin 81ts (.22 rimfire) and the bore is incredibly dirty. I cleaned it good before shooting it the first time, then shot 5 rounds of CB long through it and pulled the bolt to see what was going on. HUGE amount of fouling.
I ran a few patches through and then fired 5 rounds of CCI mini mag hollow points. Pulled the bolt and almost as much fouling.
Ran a few patches and then decided to see how accuracy was. Shot 50 rounds of the CB's, and I think its shooting OK. Took me awhile to get used to it, and get the iron sights dialed in, but I was holding around an inch free hand from 50ft for 10 shot groups by the end. Not spectacular, but I'm not quite used to it.
Pulled the bolt again, and the bore is filthy.
So the question is, do I just continue shooting and not worry about it? Stick with Jacketed ammo for a few hundred rounds?
Accuracy and reliability seem fine. I've never shot a gun with microgroove rifling, or even a new rifle for that matter so I don't really know what I'm supposed to expect.
Any thoughts?
Oh yeah, fouling seems to start halfway down the barrel. Could it just be powder residue?
Thanks for any advice.