To clean, or not to clean after sighting in? That is the question...

Legend21 · 09-15-2008, 06:37 AM

I wanted to post this question to the experts here

, since I have heard many differing reports on whether it is recommended that you clean your rifle once again, after sighting it in before you leave for the hunt. I was at the gun range this weekend getting my Rem 760 .30-06 pump sighted in and in the past I have always cleaned it (albeit minor) after the site-in and just before I get it ready to pack for the hunting trip. After I mentioned that to some of the guys working the range at the site-in bench, they recommended NOT cleaning it again until after the season, saying that it may alter the results I've honed it in with at the range.

I was curious if you guys/gals had any experience with that and if you recommend one method over the other regarding that issue.

Thanks in advance for the advice....much appreciated.:lurk:

woodsy188 · 09-15-2008, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legend21

I wanted to post this question to the experts here

, since I have heard many differing reports on whether it is recommended that you clean your rifle once again, after sighting it in before you leave for the hunt. I was at the gun range this weekend getting my Rem 760 .30-06 pump sighted in and in the past I have always cleaned it (albeit minor) after the site-in and just before I get it ready to pack for the hunting trip. After I mentioned that to some of the guys working the range at the site-in bench, they recommended NOT cleaning it again until after the season, saying that it may alter the results I've honed it in with at the range.

I was curious if you guys/gals had any experience with that and if you recommend one method over the other regarding that issue.

Thanks in advance for the advice....much appreciated.:lurk:

(PS - I have the same Rem 760!!

)

Beginners luck · 09-15-2008, 08:29 AM

Each rifle is different. Some may not be affected by the cleaning and some may not shoot until the barrel has been fouled slightly. Ive got a Rem. 7mm Mag that shoots the same before and after cleaning and then a 22-250 that shoots a couple inches off of my point of aim until about 5 rounds have been fired.

ehunter · 09-15-2008, 08:43 AM

The general rule of thumb is that most barrels need a fouling shot. If your good to go wait until after the season. On most of my guns I do see a change on the first shot. If you sighted in I would not clean it until after the season? It won't hurt it at all.

Linejerk · 09-15-2008, 09:47 AM

Don't clean it there is no reason too

Dan360 · 09-15-2008, 10:30 AM

I like to experiment a little bit. I will usually de-grease all of the components because I hunt in a dusty area. With my Winchester M70, I like to put one fouling shot downrange before I pack it up to go hunting. So far with my Remington M700, It doesn't matter clean or fouled, so I'll probably just leave it clean. Either way, I don't put an oily patch down my barrel. I don't like anything to be down the pipe. In rainy or dusty places, I'll put a piece of a electrician's tape on the muzzle to keep stuff out.

Weather or Knot · 09-15-2008, 10:33 AM

My 7mm and my 270 WSM both shoot different on the fouling shot. I dont clean them till the end of season.

Brandon

09-15-2008, 10:43 AM

I do not clean after sight in.

Blowing Smoke · 09-15-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan360

I like to experiment a little bit. I will usually de-grease all of the components because I hunt in a dusty area. With my Winchester M70, I like to put one fouling shot downrange before I pack it up to go hunting. So far with my Remington M700, It doesn't matter clean or fouled, so I'll probably just leave it clean. Either way, I don't put an oily patch down my barrel. I don't like anything to be down the pipe. In rainy or dusty places, I'll put a piece of a electrician's tape on the muzzle to keep stuff out.

100% agree w/Dan360 a person needs to know how there gun shoots from a freshly cleaned bore and 1-2 shot fouled bore, because when you out hunting a person never knows when you accidently fall and get mud, sand, water, etc, etc, in barrel and you will get back to camp or truck and clean it, you will need to know where it will shoots then, however if your short on time getting out to the range, I'd cross your fingers and run with it best wishes........BS

Jedcraft · 09-15-2008, 12:25 PM

Clean vs dirty is REALLY obvious with a muzzleloader. I always shoot one fouling shot prior to loading up the hunting load in the ole coal burner.
I also like to shoot a fouler in my .300 Wby to burn the oil out then just run one loose dry patch thru. No scrubbing till season is done.

Cosmic Lazy Susan · 09-15-2008, 02:31 PM

I was sighting in my .270 this weekend. First round with a clean bore was high and right.

Next four were dead center and you could cover them with a quarter.

I definately need to put one fouling round through that rifle in order for it to shoot straight. First round out of a clean bore has always been off.

adobe wall · 09-15-2008, 03:27 PM

No way would I hunt with a clean bore unless I was woods hunting at short range.

I have yet to own a rifle that shoots to the same point of impact clean bore vs. fouled. Most are off by a couple of inches and it is never consistent due to the fact that you rarely get it exactly the same degree of clean. Traces of any type of lube or solvent in the bore can really cause some flyers but a perfectly clean, dry bore will still shoot differently than a fouled one.

If I'm hunting and have a need to clean the bore, I'll clean it and fire a fouling shot.

The first shot at a game animal is the one that counts and I want to give myself every opportunity for that shot to land exactly where I want it.

regards, aw

Rauly · 09-15-2008, 08:16 PM

Once the rifle is dialed in don't clean the barrel till after season. Wipe the gun down good though.

Hogwild · 09-16-2008, 12:37 AM

Like others have mentioned all barrels are a little different as to what they like accuracy wise. That being said I don't own one single rifle either in factory or custom that does not put the first round out of a clean barrel in a different POI than the following rounds from a dirty barrel. Some of my rifles POI shoot pretty close first shot to last while others are quite a ways off. My vote is to get it sighted where your comfortable and leave it be until season is over.

Legend21 · 09-16-2008, 09:31 AM

Well thank you all very much for the advice and input, I was leaning toward leaving it dirty till after the season anyway after the range guys alluded to it, but will all the great info here in this thread I will definitely leave it as is till after the season. Thanks again and good luck to all of you this season.

Hunt'nFish · 09-16-2008, 09:48 AM

NEVER CLEAN after sighting in. It was dead on the last shot...it'll be bead on the next.
You can clean it AFTER the season.

Ask yourself this.....
If you've been driving your truck all summer and it's running just fine, would/should you change a bunch of stuff to make it more reliable just before a big hunt??

HECK NO. You can give it a tune up, change oil and fix that leaky seal AFTER the hunt. If it ain't broke....don't fix it just before a hunt.
Hunt'nFish