I'm new to the forum so I searched the topic of cleaning but didn't come up with anything conclusive. Also, on this subject, opinions are all over from clean frequently to only when there is a problem to never. My question is this. If you are shooting for the best groups you can print, how often do you clean? I'm thinking a couple, three dry patches every 100 rounds, and then cleaning with some fluid every 500 rounds?
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Cleaning
- Thread starter 28gauge
- Start date
many use the approach, if it ain't broke don't fix it
and the gun and your pellet has all to do with
I don't believe there is a firm answer but there are many opinions
and the gun and your pellet has all to do with
I don't believe there is a firm answer but there are many opinions
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If by opinions you mean anecdotes then yes there are. As for a definitive answer then clean when expected accuracy denigrates. Otherwise shoot on.
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I was at the Gran Prix match in San Luis Obispo last weekend.
One of the shooters, (we’ll call him Jim) arguably one of the finest all around air gunners in Northern California, was shooting his practice shots when the match director advised we would begin the safety meeting and start the match.
”Jim” immediately cleaned his barrel and stated he needed to shoot 10 more shots before the match.
He does this before every match.
He doesn’t always win in first but never lower than 2nd...In my experience watching him shoot..
One of the shooters, (we’ll call him Jim) arguably one of the finest all around air gunners in Northern California, was shooting his practice shots when the match director advised we would begin the safety meeting and start the match.
”Jim” immediately cleaned his barrel and stated he needed to shoot 10 more shots before the match.
He does this before every match.
He doesn’t always win in first but never lower than 2nd...In my experience watching him shoot..
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The practice of not cleaning until accuracy begins to deteriorate is common, both with air guns and rimfire. In fact, I tend to do it myself. But, you asked about a cleaning regimen for "the best groups". I used to shoot rimfire benchrest, and have done a lot of air rifle tinkering in recent years. I am convinced that, with very rare exception, an air rifle shoots better with a clean barrel. Not necessarily squeaky clean, but clean, same with rimfire. We have all heard stories of air rifles losing their accuracy after cleaning, and taking many rounds to regain it. I can't say that is never true, but I've messed with a lot of air rifles and rimfire rifles, and two things have been consistently true in my experience. First, they shoot better clean, and two, I've never had a barrel that took more than a few shots to regain its accuracy after cleaning. With air rifles, we don't have the powder, primer, and lube contributing to the fouling, so cleaning is generally needed less often, is easier to achieve, and seasoning it after cleaning is quicker, all assuming a good barrel. Your experience will determine what is right for you, so take my comments as worth what you're paying.
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