Cleaning a new .223

[rsj223]

The shop gave me Hoppe's 9 as they had run out of copper cleaner and said it will do but need to leave it in a bit to soak?

Armed with all your information I will be looking at the barrel after 5 shots 10 shots and so on to see if I can notice the change.

I hope to have a friend who has been shooting a bit coming with us and bringing a few of his guns, will be great to compare.

[Vati]

The shop gave me Hoppe's 9 as they had run out of copper cleaner and said it will do but need to leave it in a bit to soak?

They all need a little time to work, none instantly take fouling off with a single clean wipe.

Patch the solvent through, give it a scrub with the nylon brush and leave it for a few minutes before patching it out or using a brass brush. Read the Hoppe's bottle, might recommend how long it thinks is best. Otherwise give 5-10 minutes a try.

[rsj223]

I took it out yesterday, the best I got was 4 shots inside 40mm (4 shot mag) and that was on the ground with sand bags and 55mm on my camp table both at 100mtrs.

This measurement is from outside of each hole at the furthest, is this a good enough way to measure?

So it appears that the table is not very stable and/or me.

Also I found it hard to focus over the 100mtrs as it was hot and fairly hazy.

Came home and gave it a clean inside and out, was happy with how it cleaned up, did not notice any green just black, this week when I pick up the nylon brush I will scrub/clean it again to see if the way I cleaned it last night left much in it.

It looks like I have much more to learn when firing it but happy with the progress so far.

[agentzero]

This measurement is from outside of each hole at the furthest, is this a good enough way to measure?

You want to measure from the centre of the two furthest holes. Not edge to edge.

If you think about about it, if you put two bullets through the same hole the group is 0. If you measure the hole edge to edge though it would measure .223" wide group.

Get what I mean?

[rsj223]

"centre of the two furthest holes"

That would mean mine was about 33mm

[agentzero]

There you go, I just took 7mm off your group for you.

I'm improving your shooting!

[Carter]

Just over an inch group then.

If that's your first shoot in 20 years you're not doing half bad!

[rsj223]

There you go, I just took 7mm off your group for you.

I'm improving your shooting!

Thanks for that, need the help

[rsj223]

Just over an inch group then.

If that's your first shoot in 20 years you're not doing half bad!

Yeah I just can't settle, get comfortable, any tips?

[Tiiger]

How're you shooting - Bench? Prone?

What with - Bipod? Rest? Bags?

[rsj223]

How're you shooting - Bench? Prone?

What with - Bipod? Rest? Bags?

I first tried the Bipod now on bags and found them to be better, putting the bags on the ground made a big difference but my body will take some time to adjust to lying that way.

It seems that I can't keep the cross on the target like I have a twitch in my body if that makes sense.

[Tiiger]

It does.

Twitching's usually (in my experience anyway, others may suggest other reasons) because your holding on to the rifle too tight, really gripping it to try and force it to stay still.... which has the opposite effect usually.

Relax. That's the key.

Rest your palm around the grip rather than 'gripping' it if you know that I mean, just enough to aim. Relax, exhale and squeeze the trigger.

[Lorgar]

This is sort of my version of Tiigers advice above...

When using my target rifle I have an adjustable rest at the front and bag at the rear. Because the rifle is supporter by the rest and bag all I really have on the rifle is my thumb on the back of the grip to support my hand and a finger on the trigger.

Once I'm nestled into the rifle I just do subtle movements with my shoulder to aim from the butt rather than pushing the grip around. I exhale before a shot and hold it so my body goes still, then all I do is pull one finger back on the trigger. There isn't much of me touching the rifle to shake it around.

[rsj223]

Thanks guys, I think a few more times out and probably best to find a range.

I started a new thread on this subject here: Tips to shoot straight

[rsj223]

Just an update, been doing ok but noticed the 223 not going so well so decided to take it to the range.
The worst thing I've done is buy cheap ammo its PMC Bronze FMJ, this stuff groups around 5 inches I thought I stuffed the gun so lucky I brought some other ammo, the S+B Match is still under an inch and Hornady just a bit over.
So the problem is I have cleaned it 2-3 times and I can still see copper colour in the rifling and the Hoppe's 9 just dont seem to remove it.
I have never seen green colour on any patch so I dont think its coming out.
Whats a good solvent?
Most of all is it right to see copper colour in the rifling, and I have used a nylon and brass brushes.

Another thing is I think the Nikko Stirling just ain't up to it so will start looking at new ones.

[huccl]

If you can still see the copper in the rifling still you definitely have too much in there to call it clean.

I use Boretech solvent now and it works.

[SendIt]

So the problem is I have cleaned it 2-3 times and I can still see copper colour in the rifling and the Hoppe's 9 just dont seem to remove it.
I have never seen green colour on any patch so I dont think its coming out.
Whats a good solvent?
Most of all is it right to see copper colour in the rifling, and I have used a nylon and brass brushes.

The green colour is a reaction between the copper and solvent. You won't see it with all so that's nothing to worry about.

If you can see copper still obviously it's not gone. How long are you leaving the solvent in for you?

Do you just patch it through, scrub it and patch it out straight away?

For stubborn fouling try run a wet patch through, give it a scrub with a nylon brush to agitate the solvent and leave it for 15 minutes. Patch it out with a few dry patches and see how it looks. Try a repeat or two until the dry patch comes out basically clean and you should hopefully find the fouling is gone.

The solvent should be doing the majority of the work for you. You're not trying to physically scrape it clean with the brass brush.

[rsj223]

So went to LGS and said the silly new guy thing " this gun is shooting 3 inch groups its no good" he then asked how do you clean it? I said with the Hoppe's 9 he said and?
Anyway I should have used "sweets" to remove the copper, he said your your gun's all chocked up and needs cleaning properly.
I brought the whole package at the one shop, just said give me everything I need to shoot and maintain but something was missing, oh well hope I haven't killed it.
Will start this stuff now and see how it go's.

[rsj223]

Used this product "sweets 7.62" patched it through and ended up with some very blue patches, looked like I used food dye.
So does this sound right it took just a few minutes and I done it twice just to make sure.

[BBJ]

I brought the whole package at the one shop, just said give me everything I need to shoot and maintain but something was missing, oh well hope I haven't killed it.

Relax mate.

All barrels build up fouling. It can potentially degrade accuracy over time temporarily as fouling builds up and depending on the rifle. Clean it out and you're spring fresh ready to go.

Some match shooters actually prefer to never clean their barrels as they find the consistent fouling makes for consistent accuracy instead of transitions from a clean to dirty barrel while shooting. (others will disagree but there are guys doing this getting top results.)

Get it clean and try it out but don't stress, you haven't damaged anything.

[Rocker]

Used this product "sweets 7.62" patched it through and ended up with some very blue patches, looked like I used food dye.
So does this sound right it took just a few minutes and I done it twice just to make sure.

Sounds right

Sweets is a lot stronger solvent than Hoppes.

[rsj223]

Used this product "sweets 7.62" patched it through and ended up with some very blue patches, looked like I used food dye.
So does this sound right it took just a few minutes and I done it twice just to make sure.

Sounds right

Sweets is a lot stronger solvent than Hoppes.

Thanks, cant wait til the weekend to try it out

[rsj223]

So it was just fouled up, its now back around 30mm at 100mtr, slow learning but getting there.

[Herdsman]

Gratz