the clean patch, real or urban myth?

[richrd]

We,ve all read the directions for cleaning a barrel.

Push one wet patch followed by a dry patch. Repeat the dry patches until the patch comes out clean. Stubborn fouling may require a pass with a brush.

Ok, I've got tight brushes, worn brushes, fancy brushes and brushes wrapped with copper Chore Boy. I've got Hoppes and I've got JB's (which seems to be way milder than I remember it from back in the '70s).

The other day I got in a fight with a bad barrel that lasted two days. I did every trick known to the www. Even after the barrel looked perfect, and a patch came out "almost" clean, a couple passes with a dry brush would kick up more dirt, carbon, or whatever on the next patch.

This got me thinking, I don't think I ever seen the "clean patch"

Have you?

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I think a lot depends on the ammunition fired…lead or jacketed bullet…type of propellant used, etc. I’ve seen some that took little effort to clean and some lead projectiles or really dirty powder that defies effective cleaning. Some cleaning solutions make a difference as well.

I also think there’s a point of diminishing returns when cleaning a gun and you run the risk of damaging the bore to excessive brushing or muzzle crown damage.

 

[flgolfer29]

Anymore, I don't fret the small amount of residual fowling leftover after cleaning like you described.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

 

[STCM(SW)]

Anymore, I don't fret the small amount of residual fowling leftover after cleaning like you described.

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

So do I.....

 

[Rpg]

You’ll find that the barrel that produces a pristine patch performs no better than a lightly fouled barrel.

Target shooters will tell you that they don’t shoot for score until they’ve fired some fouling shots through that clean barrel.

As a practical matter it’s quite unusual for a barrel to become so dirty that it makes a noticeable difference in performance.

 

[StrawHat]

When I competed in PPC, most of the winners did not even clean their revolvers until the got hard to shoot!

Kevin

 

[nicky4968]

I had the same problem until I figured out that I was cleaning the brush by depositing dirt in the barrel and then removing the dirt with a dry patch. Try a new brush.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

WHY? Worry about it.........If the barrel is clean. Put it away.

 

[lkabug]

I have had clean patches, only to find after I use a patch to lightly oil barrel that the oil extracts a bit more "stuff" on the patch.

 

[toad67]

I'm in the camp that a barrel should have some amount of fowling in it to fill the voids and imperfections in it. One other thing that I find amusing, and amusing because I did it for some time, is the chasing of copper fowling in rifle barrels using brass brushes and brass jags..
As you get older, certain things become really clear huh, doh!
I always refer to this article on barrel fowling from a 22lr bench rest shooter when I start questioning how far I need to go cleaning my barrels. Sure, rimfires are not the same as centerfires, but the thought process is the same. It's a good read IMO, hope you enjoy it.
A Guide to .22LR Barrel Care for the Precision Rimfire Shooter - The Truth About Guns

 

[M29since14]

Thanks for the link. Seems like good info.

 

[chief38]

I've never ever seen any gun barrel that if a clean solvent soaked patch were to be passed through a week after your initial cleaning, wouldn't still remove some more residue - albeit, a minor and insignificant amount. So in answer to the original question, a "clean patch" is and should really be called a reasonably or mostly clean patch. There will always be a slight hint of gray or green from lead & copper that comes out a week later - been there, done that! If you try and get the gun's bore so clean that nothing at all comes out - you will be there a week, use hundreds of patches and do more damage to your gun's bore than to have a tiny bit of residue left. Lead and Copper will do no harm to a steel barrel. Unless gobs of bullet residue are left in the bore, no accuracy loss will occur.

If anyone doubts this..... simply pass a Hoppes soaked patch through any gun you have cleaned a week later - see what comes out - lol. If your bore and cylinders are 97+% clean, that should be more than adequate!

BTW, I personally do not use foaming bore cleaners as they can also cause bore harm and get into gas mechanisms. I know some like them, but if a firearm is cleaned on a regular basis I don't feel the need to risk bore, gas cylinder or piston damage. About the strongest I will use is Hoppes and/or the Lewis Lead Remover on a leaded barrel.

 

[raljr1]

Geez, I thought I was the only guy in the world who never got to the point where a clean patch wouldn't show at least some tinge of color. I'm so relieved.....

 

[Racer X]

when it comes to rimfires, I am far more concerned for a carbon ring than I am from anything minute in the bore. Same, but to a lesser extent in a centire fire.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

I'm in the good enough camp. I clean thoroughly but don't worry about getting it so clean patch comes out pristine.

 

[rwsmith]

I don't mind...

I rarely get a totally 'clean' patch. A little grey residue doesn't hurt anything. I think it's a waste of time if you use clean ammo.

 

[kwill1911]

I sometimes have the same problem with my rear barrel, if you know what I mean.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I don't even do the dry patch thing most of the time. I run patches with solvent on them through the barrel and chambers until I can hold the gun up to the light and see that the barrel and cylinder appear clean. I hardly ever have to use brushes either unless I am dealing with lead deposits. I shoot mostly plated bullets or jacketed in my 9mm's these days. I leave a little CLP in the barrel and chamber or cylinder. When I used to shoot more cast bullets in .357, .44mag etc. I had to do some more work like using a lead remover and brushes before using patches.

 

[Claymore33]

This may come as big shock to many on this thread but my SEAL SNIPER friends do not clean their rifle barrels while on deployment(6 months). They say that an extremely clean barrel will shoot high. Once you are sighted in for 1,000+yard shots , they want no variation. On the other hand my Army friends are all about Butch's Bore Shine after every long range match.

 

[BSA1]

I usually clean my guns once a year whether they need it or not. The typical exception being when breaking in a new gun or doing a gun project. I clean and oil a new gun for it’s first 500 rounds to help get rid of any debris left in it when it was manufactured and help the moving parts settled in.

Otherwise I clean them during the winter. I also do most of my reloading for the upcoming year during the winter.