Cleaning The Bore

[jdwolf]

How often should I clean the bore of my .223? After every use?

[dracphelan]

I clean it after every use. But, that is what I was taught to do with all firearms.

[quickdtoo]

If I'm gonna hunt with mine after a range trip, I don't clean it until after the season unless it gets wet while hunting, otherwise I clean em after each range visit with few exceptions, most Handis shoot best fouled, my .17 Sportster rimfires shoot best fouled and don't get cleaned until they quit shooting good, it takes a few rounds thru them to start shooting their best, so they don't get cleaned much at all.

Tim

[Dillohide]

While I was typing Quick beat me to it but what the heck 
It depends on what you are using your rifle for and how it shoots clean verses fouled. Some of mine I clean after every 5 rounds at the range because they shoot better clean. Some don't start shooting tight groups until I've fired at least 5 rounds. These, if they will be used for hunting, do not get cleaned again until the hunting season is over. You may also find that your rifle likes a dry patch through it occasionally instead of a thorough cleaning. All rifle bores eventually need a good cleaning and even bore paste run through it or it will start slinging bullets. How often is up to the rifle because they are all different. Many sporting rifles including most of the Handi rifles I own shoot better fouled.
 

[jdwolf]

If I'm gonna hunt with mine after a range trip, I don't clean it until after the season unless it gets wet while hunting, otherwise I clean em after each range visit with few exceptions, most Handis shoot best fouled, my .17 Sportster rimfires shoot best fouled and don't get cleaned until they quit shooting good, it takes a few rounds thru them to start shooting their best, so they don't get cleaned much at all.

Tim

I knew rimfires shot better fouled for the most part but I wasn't sure about centerfires. Thanks!

[saltydog]

I have at least two cleaning concerns when it comes to cleaning my centerfire handi rifle barrel - copper fouling and powder / primer residue fouling. Methods are similar but different cleaning agents depending on the focus of the cleaning. I clean my higher velocity 3000 fps plus rifles more often than the lower cartridges because of concern regarding copper fouling - the exception being my 17 HMR which I clean after every use. My Hornet shoots more consistently fouled and the first round POI changes considerably from first to second shot so I usually let it go to around 100 rounds. The nice thing is the handi's are the easy rifles to clean when compared to a semi auto or bolt actions. I generally clean a semi auto after every use - except during a day of ground squirrel shooting I may clean the barrel several times with an Otis kit and Breakfree. I hardly ever clean barrel of 22 LR's after a through annual cleaning. I lubricate the semi auto action and clean bolt face of CZ- an occasional Otis brush and patch or two unless they get wet during the season. 

[coyotejoe]

As a part time gunsmith and full time gun buff I examine a lot of used guns and see a lot of pitted bores, not so much on local rifles but of those from the east more are pitted than not. Here in Colorado we are blessed with a dry climate, well our guns are blessed, farmers don't find it such a blessing. We can get away with being pretty lazy about gun care but you folks in the east and south have enough humidity that your guns don't have to actually "get wet" to rust. However often you clean them I wish it were more frequently.