How often do you clean your barrels?

[Vince Green]

the question is, how often (if ever) do you clean the barrel of your air rifle.

 

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, Once only from new or second hand, Then you can trial suitable pellets, more so in Springers, I have found PCPs more forgiving on pellet choice, One thing of note, I have been using Pellet lube over 10 years, some say 👎, I say 👍

[Zoli 12 guage]

20 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, Once only from new or second hand, Then you can trial suitable pellets, more so in Springers, I have found PCPs more forgiving on pellet choice, One thing of note, I have been using Pellet lube over 10 years, some say 👎, I say 👍

same here,every new (to me) gun then never again UNLESS it starts misbehaving as that's one of the easiest things to cross off the fault finding list.

same goes for powder burners👍

mine are cleaned EVERY outing even if it's only a bore snake and oil.

[enfieldspares]

Air weapons? Never after first acquiring it as I use quality Bisley pellets. The same would be true with any quality pellets available to us today. If it ever got wetted in a downpour of rain then, yes, I'd clean and oil it as I would a .22 Rimfire if that got wetted. Otherwise internally never bit outside, indeed, with a wipe with an oily cloth every once in a long while or if I've been using it on a damp or misty day.

Edited September 1 by enfieldspares

[clangerman]

would clean the barrel if it became inaccurate otherwise I leave it alone 

[JKD]

5 minutes ago, clangerman said:

would clean the barrel if it became inaccurate otherwise I leave it alone 

This, for the inside,,,, outside with a lightly oiled rag when dry.

[Savhmr]

My new air guns get the barrel cleaned to remove any possibly debris just once, then only ever again if accuracy starts to wobble.

[Mr.C]

When groups open up or I start getting flyers. Maybe 100 pellets maybe 500 it really depends on the barrel / pellet combo. 

[THEINVISIBLESCARECROW]

I've never bothered to clean any of mine. I would if there was a genuine reason to but so far nothing has convinced me it's needed.

[paulantony1960]

As many others have said , once before shooting a new rifle .

However what I do use after using any of my small collection is the "Abbey " silicone cloth, it's great on everything for both removing greasy finger makes and protecting the finish of the metal and wood /laminate.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Welcome to Pigeon Watch.

[paulantony1960]

Thank you , has all forums I'm still working out how everything works and where everything is . 🙃

[Edtwozeronine]

Currently having issues with my HW100 making shotgun patterns, have cleaned the barrel with the usually reliable method of pulling through with Wd40 soaked wetwipes until they come through clean. However, that didn't seem to do the trick this time so I went on to the brass brush on rod method for the first time ever and still no joy. Next I'm getting the chronograph out to see if it's firing at consistent FPS, may also test without the moderator on to see what results that yealds.

[Weihrauch17]

12 hours ago, Edtwozeronine said:

Currently having issues with my HW100 making shotgun patterns, have cleaned the barrel with the usually reliable method of pulling through with Wd40 soaked wetwipes until they come through clean. However, that didn't seem to do the trick this time so I went on to the brass brush on rod method for the first time ever and still no joy. Next I'm getting the chronograph out to see if it's firing at consistent FPS, may also test without the moderator on to see what results that yealds.

Try a different scope on it.

[Edtwozeronine]

17 hours ago, Weihrauch17 said:

Try a different scope on it.

Everything is tight on the current scope mounts wise, although it's one last thing I could check I suppose as I have had it for over a decade.

[Weihrauch17]

1 hour ago, Edtwozeronine said:

Everything is tight on the current scope mounts wise, although it's one last thing I could check I suppose as I have had it for over a decade.

It could have failed.

[Edtwozeronine]

Just been chronographing  in the back garden, doesn't seem particularly inconsistent. Highest FPS 580.8, lowest FPS 542.6, average FPS 559.1 over 21 shots; the calculator on pyramydair.com reckons that is 11.04 ft/lbs. The memories are hazy from the last time I chronographed, I think it was more like 11.4 ft/lbs so it has lost a bit of power since then. I suppose a new scope would do no harm, it can at least be tested against the old one.

[simon6ppc]

I have cleaned air rifle barrels and 100% seen the difference in accuracy but also not seen any difference at all with others but i would still say clean them at least every tin of pellets especially if you are paper punching. 

[flukeyluke]

Would only clean the barrel if the accuracy went off, a wipe over the rifle with a oily rag is done after every use 

[dave2509]

Once after new, then if accuracy falls away.

[Edtwozeronine]

On 17/09/2024 at 21:06, Weihrauch17 said:

Try a different scope on it.

Finally got around to it and with the new scope on it, accuracy has miraculously returned! Hazar!

[Weihrauch17]

19 minutes ago, Edtwozeronine said:

Finally got around to it and with the new scope on it, accuracy has miraculously returned! Hazar!

Good stuff.  I have broken a few going through land drains in a Fourtrack.