Barrel cleaning after cast bullets....

[meles meles]

Well oomans, having being lured over to the Dark Side by Dromia and Dodgy, we're wondering on what's the best cleaning regime after firing cast boolits. ('efty 240 grain gas checked .310" boolits over 8.8 grains of Ramshot Zip since you ask, nice and accurate too). We only clean our .22 rimfires that shoot lead bullets once in a blue moon, mainly to remove any build up of wax in the receiver, so does the same apply to centrefire lead bullets too ? Or should we clean as normal ? A scientific and higly tekkernickel peek up the barrel doesn't show any overt signs of fouling....

[dromia]

I never clean my cast bullet guns barrels.

If they were to be stored where there be dampness then they would get one pass with a damp, not wet, Ed's Red patch just to lift of any powder/primer fouling that may be lying in the barrel. A loose dry patch before shooting again is all that is needed, with cast bullets you don't get that nasty, cumulative metallic fouling that the copper condoms leave, so what is there to clean?

[dodgyrog]

I never clean after shooting cast - maybe a drop of Fastex down the barrel to protect it.

[Dark Skies]

I found that my Marlin .44 is more accurate for NOT cleaning the barrel (we can only shoot lead bullets in our gallery range).
Same with my Winchester .357
Gets a patch down the barrel every now and then.

[Alpha1]

I don't normally clean them if I do I use edds red.

[andrew375]

About the only time I clean mine is before I shoot jacketed (about 3 times a year) and after I shoot jacketed. The best thing I've found is just one of the silicon spray lubes like WD40, I use whatever is on offer at the supermarket. it is the solvent the lubricant is carried in that does the job of lifting the bullet lube. Give the barrel a good dose and a scrub with a wire brush. Two patches will get most of it out. Don't go for 100%, it is virtually impossible and unnecessary.