223 ultra varmint fluted shoots better with a fouled barrel!!

[223dog]

 I went to the range last week and have just cleaned the barrel before going.  The first five shots were About a 2-1/2 inch group.  The next five shots were a little better, about a 1 3/4 inch group.  The rest of the shots that day were consistently under 1 1/2 inches.  The best group was just under a inch.  So I have learned that the rifle shoots better with a fouled barrel.  I know that that was mentioned on this sight, but I had to prove it myself.  In about 4 trips to the range and trying the suggestions here I have made this gun shot good tight groups.     I have been having a few problems with the rifle and so far you guys have been a big help.  I think that I have the forearm figured out.    When should I clean the barrel again?  Should I wait until the groups become bad?  About how many shots can I expect to get before i need to clean the barrel?  Thanks for the help

[cwlongshot]

 This is generally a factory of the "smoothness" or conditions of the barrel. As the barrel breaks in it gets smoother and usually accuracy increases. Wear continues thru out the life of the barrel. A rough barrel will collect fouling faster and need cleaning more often. But initially at least may show a fondness to some fouling. Having said all that, MOST barrels shoot there best groups from a :fouled" bore. By "fouled" bore I mean a few rounds not hundreds of rounds. but every barrel is different.

 Its like a good friendship, it takes time to get to know your firearm.

 When will you need to clean it? Who knows, when accuracy falls off?

Good luck,
 CW

[Default]

 I read the prep. of a rifle by a long range marksman competitor ... Clean it ... Then once at the range would use  (think it was brake cleaner) a oil killer to clean the barrel and noticed much more refined groups ..
 This would save you fouling time to get the minute traces of oil left in the barrel from cleaning your rifles bore ..


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[Badnews Bob]

All of my handies shoot better dirty.

[LaOtto222]

I just got a new barrel on a Stevens action. It is a select match grade barrel that has been hand lapped ( think smooth bore). I got it some what centered after 3 shots, but my groups were poor - over an inch. I was cleaning after every shot for the first 5 shots, then after every five. Poor groups. I then shot a five shot group from a clean barrel, but I did not clean for the next two five shot groups. The first group was about .3 inches with a flier out about 3/4", I know it was my fault. the next group was about the same with one flier out about .4" or so, which again I think was my fault. I am thinking it likes a dirty barrel. How dirty does it get before I have to clean?, I honestly do not know. Every gun I have had shoots better from a dirty barrel including my Handi's with the exception of a .223 with a A&B brrel, it seems to like a clean barrel. I had a 222 Rem in a Remington 700 BDL VS that absolutely hated a clean barrel. When I first got it, it shot horribly. I had traded in a Remington 788 in 222 for it and I was pretty upset about it. The 788 would shoot rings around the new fancy gun. I gave up on it and just started to shoot it. I had over 300 rounds down the tube and it was still shooting under.3 three shot groups all the time. I then felt guilty about it and cleaned it up real good - I could not hit a 1" group to save my self. Needless to say I never cleaned it again and didn't until it needed to be replaced because I finally shot it out. I think every gun is a thing unto itself, you just have to find out what it likes. I would shoot it until accuracy starts to drop off, then clean it. Good Luck and Good Shooting.

[Westbound]

The first thing I do when I take my Buffalo Classic to the range is put a couple of rounds into the berm.
If I don't, the first group will look like buckshot.  After that, it will shoot like a dream all day, although with my handloads, all day might include 20 shots before my shoulder lets me know to switch to the handgun or rimfires.