Never clean your rifle barrel, questions.

[Groucho_]

On the issue of the gas system needing cleaned--do you folks mean just on AR models or on all rifles in general? For instance when a person finds an SKS in a shop, one of the first thing they do is inspect the gas system for signs of fouling from crud being left in there. Another example would be the Mini or similar designs--I have heard even from fans of the Mini-14/30 that if you don't periodically clean the gas system, the rifle tends to have functional issues.

Anyways don't open up the firing squad on me, just an innocent question.

 

[brentn]

Gas systems with a piston are meant to be checked, but direct gas systems are not recommended to be cleaned, as in the gas tube and port that is attached to the barrel.

 

[thebaldguy]

I have seen rust/pits near the muzzle from barrels that were not cleaned. Condensation left in a barrel after the cold weather fall hunting season can cause some problems. You don't have to scrub the rifling out, but spend a few minutes to carefully clean and lube the firearm.

 

[Walkalong]

Carbon/Copper fouling is a double barreled ***** to get out if you wait a long time to clean and let it build up layer upon layer. I think that is the biggest problem. I know people say more barrels are worn out by cleaning than shooting, but I believe that is from excessive cleaning. Clean your barrel often, but don't scrub it to death or try to get every last tiny bit of fouling out, just keep it reasonably clean all the time.

 

[Z71]

You will eventually have issues either with reliability or accuracy, get pissed and sell the gun. Next guy will cuss you for an idget while trying for hours to get the copper out of the bore, then be just fine with a clean rifle!

Copper will plate the bore, which is normal. Then eventually will develope into patches of thicker plating which will degrade accuracy to some extent. A tight bored rifle may suffer worse than one thats a little large. Also rifling tye and bore smoothness would play a part in how many shots until accuracy degrades. Also bullet jacket material could play into the deal, with some copper alloys maybe more likely to foul the bore.

Think of it like a blackpowder muzzleloading rifle. Only get so many shots before it fouls up and accuracy suffers.

 

[RSVP2RIP]

I had gotten a 721 in 270 that I thought was "clean". Ran a patch through to get out the surface crud and shot a 2" group at 100yards. Took it home and spent 2 hrs with a bottle of CR-10 and JB bore compound to get all the copper and crap out of the bore. Next week I shot a 1/2" clover leaf with factory ammo. I'd say that cleaning your bore is conndusive to accuracy but I don't think there is a saftey issue here with smokeless powder. Reliability might suffer depending on the platform. When I go hunting I sight in before I go and DO NOT clean the bore so that the cold shot I'm gonna take at an animal is going to go where it is supposed to go. After the hunt i do clean it though.

 

[Pat_Rogers]

Like Zak, i almost never clean my carbine barrels. Almost, because sometime the guns are run throgh mud, serious blowing sand and the like.
In that case, i'll run wet patches through them, let it sit for a while, and then dry patch it out.
I'll scrub the chamber when i clean the bolt- every 2-3000 rounds or so.
They are lubed heavily.
The accuracy remains within standards. The reliability is excellent.
I don't buy mediocre aftermarket guns. I buy/ use only what i know, based on my experience what i know is dependable
Dean Caputo teaches this in his diagnostic classes.
MEAL
Magazines
Extractor
Ammunition
Lubrication

Good mags, good ammo, good extractor/ springs, generous lube..

That is what works.

For precision rifles, i clean the barrel. Rarely use a brush.