What's your cleaning regimen?

[timgunner]

I know that smokeless MZs don't require cleaning as often as corrosive BP MZs. So what's the norm out there how often do you guys clean your smokeless MZs? And do you fire a primer after cleaning to dry out the bore? I would think that having any oil or cleaning solvent left in the bore would be detrimental to accuracy at best and cause mis or hang fires at worst...

[rambler]

It's been recommended to me that cleaning after 20 or 30 shots is a good idea. About every other cleaning cycle I use JB non-embedding cleaning compound and in between I use bore tech. Swab with a clean patch and bore tech for storage, crank off a primer when ready to start shooting again. Just follow instructions on product label.

That's just my routine.

[timgunner]

I bought some of the JB bore paste a while back to use on my center fire rifles but haven't used it much. Do you find that it helps a bunch?

[rambler]

It gets my barrel clean that's for sure, don't know if the JB increases any accuracy. But then my barrel is fairly new anyway.

[timgunner]

I bought the stuff initially to clean a barrel that was terribly hard to get clean. But I sold that rifle and have not had a barrel that made me reach for that stuff since then. I'll have to pull it out and give it a try.

[7mmfreak]

I clean an SML more frequently than I do a CF rifle because of the BP. Since I have the BP out I will usually clean the barrel while I'm at it but probably don't need to. I'd say I usually clean every 50 to 100 shots. I have never tested it with an SML but when I tested it with my CF match guns I found I could shoot upwards of 300 rounds without cleaning and maintain good precision and accuracy. I ought to run the same test with my SML but I'm usually short on time.

[BuckDoeHunter]

I clean after approx. 15-25 shots, my range sessions often are 10 shots or less, then the rifle sits for a week or two.

My McGowen barrel could go longer but my main concern is the breach plug and carbide bushing. I have read a few posts about some savage plugs developing pitting/corrosion on the surface, some were left months at a time before cleaning. I fully coat my breech plug surface with breech plug grease, then wrap the threads with pink teflon tape, maybe overkill but I hate corrosion (been there done that with my first smokerpole, still kicking myself).

Jb bore paste is good stuff, usually twice a year on the smoker muzzleloaders and will be used on the McRem.

I don't snap a primer after cleaning cause I just cleaned it

Before shooting again, I do run a dry patch to remove oil from the bore, run an alcohol patch to remove oil, run a dry patch, then snap 3 primers to foul the bore (same routine as our smokers). The McRem shoots the first clean bore shot pretty close to the other shots.

[scalian]

I will usually give mine a cleaning after season is over. Mostly just feels better sticking it in the safe for the spring winter when its good clean. I even will pull the action from the stock as it seems with rain/snow things can get gunky.

[claydawg]

So I just purchased a used 10 ML II. The guns in good shape, but I pulled the BP to clean and change the vent liner. The BP looked like it had never been out. This is a pre-accutrigger, so not one of the later models. The carbon buildup in the BP was beyond explanation. I soaked it in Hoppes 9 for 48 hours and still had to use a drill and 5/32 bit to open back up. I wonder how many shots it took to clog the BP like this. Are 209 primers that much dirtier than large rifle primers?

I ask this question to gauge the group for recommended cleaning intervals. I have yet to fire this gun, but am very familiar with both smokeless and non-smokeless ms's. I have a Tc Pro Hunter and the BP has never clogged like this. I also have a custom .45 on a 700 action that uses magnum rifle primers seated in a brass case. This gun seldom requires cleaning, although I do it anyway because it wasn't cheap and I want to maintain the accuracy. Should I convert my !0 ML breech to use rifle primers? Build up in the BP has to com from the 209 right?

Thoughts and advice appreciated..........

[jims]

Depending on the powder, primer type I have had the flame channel fill up actually pretty quickly. I usually clean before and after the season and do not have that many shots on it and it is surprising how fast the crud builds up. Never really been a problem even that way with ignition however for me.

[10ga]

Well to me there is a difference to "cleaning" and "bore swabbing or bore cleaning". I give my guns a total take down and cleaning including the breech plugs and a check of vent liners when being put up for a long period of time, like 6 months or more. I clean them thoroughly and use preservative and make them ready for next use with only a wipe down and bore swab and no more.

As for bore cleaning that is different.
My blue barrel MLII 50 cal is a dirty girl and only gets bore cleaned when put up for long period of time and it takes several shots to settle the POI when back out of the safe.
My Encore 45-70 conversion gets a serious bore swab every 2 shots if possible, she has a very tight bore. That is 2 wet (hoppes or ed's red) patches and 2 or 3 dry patches and then ready to shoot again.
My SS MLII 50 cal gets a simple 1 wet patch and 2 dry after 3 or 4 shots.
My 2 remmy SS 45s also get the fast barrel swab of 1 wet and 2 dry after 3 or 4 shots.
This regimen duplicates my ability to clean bores in hunting situations.
The bores also get a good swabbing with a copper/brass bristle brush and wet patches if there is a blown sabot incident.
All my SML shooting is saboted at the current time.


When I make my Ed's Red I make two kinds.
One batch with acetone and without lanolin for hard to clean stuff like bore and breechplug and screw in chokes etc... but be careful as it may damage finishes, plastics and paint etc...
Another batch without the acetone and with lanolin for general cleaning and lubrication.

Just my methods, others may differ. 10 ga