how do i know if i have carbon build up?

[Axis II]

Im shooting a bull barrel savage axis 223rem that's got about 300rds through it. I purchased a hornady OAL tool and it says in the instructions to clean the chamber and make sure all carbon build up is gone or the tool will give inaccurate readings.

how do i know if i have carbon build up and how do i clean it out? where would this be in relation to looking through the barrel?

 

[Reloadron]

Just do a good visual of the chamber and bore. A good bore light helps. Knowing you and your post history I doubt you have any carbon buildup in your rifle(s). When you completely clean your patches come out clean and dry right?

Ron

 

[Axis II]

Just do a good visual of the chamber and bore. A good bore light helps. Knowing you and your post history I doubt you have any carbon buildup in your rifle(s). When you completely clean your patches come out clean and dry right?

Ron

I run a brush with hopps down about 2-3 times just to get the crud out and then run a couple patches until they come out dry and clean, then a patch with hopps on it and let it sit for about 5min or so and then patches until they come out dry and clean. Ive been using hopps benchrest and the first couple patches come out blueish but its only ever the first one. I pulled the bolt and was looking inside with a flashlight and everything looked clean and then i said to myself i don't even know what the heck im looking for. LOL.

 

[Reloadron]

If the chamber is clean and nice and shiny you will do fine using the gauge.

Ron

 

[FL-NC]

The best way to clean a chamber is with a flexible pistol T rod and a nylon pistol bore brush. I use a 45 caliber on a 308 bolt gun. Use solvent then mop out with clean dry patches.

 

[Demi-human]

At about four hundred and fifty rounds I had slightly hard chambering. When I pulled the cartridge out the bullet had short scratches just at the mouth of the case. After some reading I purchased a bottle of Remington fourtyX. Used it by the instructions. Next dummy round slid in easily. Now I do this every three hundred rounds. I belive this condition was caused by my use or Lapua brass. They are much shorter than my chamber. Which I
think creates an eddy, trapping carbon. Just an hypothesis.