Counting patches
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 8:57 am
So far I've cleaned the 20ga 18.5" barrel on my new Stevens shotgun three times.
The first clean was new-out-of-box, and it was very dirty. I was surprised at how dirty, but figured there might have been grease there from the manufacturer, too. I don't know how many blackened patches I ran through for that cleaning.
The second clean was after my sight-in range time, shot only 12 rifled slugs. Again, the barrel was extremely dirty and it took a lot of time to get it almost cleaned out. I'd estimate I used +30 patches.
The third clean was last evening. I decided to count the patches I used. After shooting 20 rifled slugs, it took me one hour and forty-five minutes to get that barrel reasonably clean, and I used 22 patches. I also had purchased an Outers Shotgun Clean Tool to use. I first ran the oiled mop through the barrel, then the 36" cleaning rod with full-length nap. It came out almost totally black. Wiped this rod down 3-4 times, re-did the cleaning process again each time. Every time it came out blacker than black. I get the "fun" task of washing that nap out today.
I'm counting patches to see if there might be any change in future cleanings, whether it diminishes, or this is just a "normal dirty" after shooting less than two dozen slugs. I don't know if other folk experience such dirty s/g barrels, so just I'm throwing this cleaning issue out there and hope for any or your comments or helpful tips, which might come my way. Thanks.
Oh yes. I should probably leave this s/g in my gun cabinet (although fun to shoot), and take my Henry SGC out to the range more often. It is such a snap to get that Henry bore really clean & shiny!
Have a great day!
The Cleaning Nut, PT7
The first clean was new-out-of-box, and it was very dirty. I was surprised at how dirty, but figured there might have been grease there from the manufacturer, too. I don't know how many blackened patches I ran through for that cleaning.
The second clean was after my sight-in range time, shot only 12 rifled slugs. Again, the barrel was extremely dirty and it took a lot of time to get it almost cleaned out. I'd estimate I used +30 patches.
The third clean was last evening. I decided to count the patches I used. After shooting 20 rifled slugs, it took me one hour and forty-five minutes to get that barrel reasonably clean, and I used 22 patches. I also had purchased an Outers Shotgun Clean Tool to use. I first ran the oiled mop through the barrel, then the 36" cleaning rod with full-length nap. It came out almost totally black. Wiped this rod down 3-4 times, re-did the cleaning process again each time. Every time it came out blacker than black. I get the "fun" task of washing that nap out today.
I'm counting patches to see if there might be any change in future cleanings, whether it diminishes, or this is just a "normal dirty" after shooting less than two dozen slugs. I don't know if other folk experience such dirty s/g barrels, so just I'm throwing this cleaning issue out there and hope for any or your comments or helpful tips, which might come my way. Thanks.
Oh yes. I should probably leave this s/g in my gun cabinet (although fun to shoot), and take my Henry SGC out to the range more often. It is such a snap to get that Henry bore really clean & shiny!
Have a great day!
The Cleaning Nut, PT7