Barrel cleaning

[tvc15]

     I know this is a broad subject, but what do you use to clean you barrel? I have been using Butches bore shine on my stainless barel and it seems like a lot of work. I'm just about out and would like switch. any suggestions?   TVC15

[cwlongshot]

I have recently become a SUPER fan of the GEL style solvents. I think because of thoer nature the stay in contact with the crud longer. Allowing them to work better.

I have tried a couple brands, but my current favorite is BLUE WONDER. For copper SWEETS 7.62 hands down...

CW

[Questor]

tv15:

Expect to spend about an hour and a half thouroughly cleaning a copper fouled barrel that is not heavily fouled. Some solvent like Hoppes to remove the powder fouling, then it will take a few applications of Sweets 7.62, with the attendant wait times to allow each application to work. I like to use some JB Bore Paste between applications of Sweets. Then dry patches and solvent to clean out the Sweets. Then a bit of oil followed by dry patches. I do this when I want my bore to be truly clean.

Most people don't do this much. Most enthusiasts shortcut the process by using an application of Sweets followed by oil and dry patches. A quickie cleaning like this can take about ten minutes.  This will work fine. You probably only need to do the thorough cleaning once or twice a year if you shoot regularly.

There's no rule that says that each cleaning needs to be thorough.  Just keep it reasonably clean.

[ricciardelli]

For a thorough cleaning I use Hoppe's, then Sweet's, then Shooter's Choice, then Hoppe's once again.  But this is done only to new barrels and around once every 5 or 10 years.

Generally I just use Hoppe's for minor cleaning...

[quickdtoo]

Here's a related thread for your reading pleasure!!

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,97144.0.html

[Grumulkin]

My routine is for a major cleaning:

1.  A few swipes with Shooter's Choice; perhaps with a bore snake.
2.  Then to remove more copper fouling faster, I go to Barnes CR-10.
3.  Some more Shooter's Choice.
4.  When patches with both Barnes CR-10 and Shooter's Choice come out unblemished then I go to number 5.
5.  An application of gun oil in barrels with less than 100 rounds through them.  For the barrels with more than 100 rounds through them, my last thing applied is Microlon Gun Juice.

I think it's unrealistic to think that one product will do everything perfectly.  In a heavily fouled barrel, the above technique takes about 45 minutes.  If leading were a problem, I would add Krano Kroil to the routine.

[Reloader]

Butch's seems to work as well as anything I've tried and I've tried several.  Hoppe's 9 is my solvent of choice except for the once or twice a year I give them a complete scub job with the Butch's.
I've also had good luck with Remington bore cleaner though some here say its bad to go with any type of abrasive.  Whatever I use, I rinse last with the Hoppe's and then apply a light coat of oil if anything other than Hoppe's has been in the barrel.  I generally clean after 20 shots which means some of my rifles don't get cleaned more than once a year.  All of my rifles are off the shelf hunting rifles used in hunting applications so a bench rester might be a bit more stringent with the cleaning.

[Davemuzz]

TVC,

I have bunches of stainless barrels and all I use on 'em is Butche's. I like the product and don't find it any kind of chore to clean the barrel.

I run a wet patch down the barrel, let it soak for 5 minutes, then dip the bronze brush in it and scrub it a dozen times, dip again and repete. Run a few dry patches until nuthin comes out. Then run a CLP patch...wait a few....then a dry one.

If I look down it and I see copper, well, then it gets more complicated. Then I break out the foam stuff.

Dave.

[Don Fischer]

Been using Hoppe's #9 for along time, maybe 45 yrs. Used outers nitro solvent befor that but Hoppes smells better! I have no complaints and my rifles shoot better than I do! They probally smell better too!!!

[quickdtoo]

For those that use foaming bore cleaners like Wipe-Out, Outers, or Gunslick, this was posted on another forum, the topic was Forrest Bore Foam...

by Jim Manion
Here's some interesting infomation.

I e-mailed Forrest and asked them where I could get it in the US.

In addition to Lock Stock and Barrel, their GM said that their foam is being sold under both the Gunslick and Outers names!

I've used the Outers, and it is great.

[cwlongshot]

I USED to be just like you guys...Hoppes or Outers Nitro solvent...Thats what Dad tought me...to this day I open a can of nitro solvent and I soar back 30sumthing years to my first shots with a 22 with my dad and the cleaning afterwards!!

 Any way, do yourselves a favor, TRY some of the gel/foam products. They REALLY do do a better job cleaning. Like I said before, I think its just because they stay in contact with the crud in the barrel longer. Like most of you, I coat a brush or patch wioth solvent and run it thru the barrel and wait........ Followed by more alternating brush and solvent patch. Untill I am clean then its oil patch time. Using blue Wonder I was able to get an adsolutely clean patch thru the barrel, somehting that I was never able to do before. With out it there always semed to be something left on the patch....not any more!!

 If you where asking about Butches in perticular, i agree it is a fine product, I just like Blue Wonder better.

 CW