Reloading Tips According To Dicehorn #22

[dicehorn 38]

The Bore

 

Whilst technically nothing to do with reloading - what is the point of making superb ammo if you are sticking it in the chamber of a dirty rifle? Answer - no point!!

 

I read about people who regularly have to put the first shot on a cleaned barrel into the hedge before they set off foxing - WTF is that all about, then the guy who never cleans it so he does not have to fire at a hedge! I have on many occasions stressed my opinion re bore snakes as only being good enough to keep your trousers up. You buy dies, presses, vernier gauges powder and bullets - all very expensive - so why scrimp on stuff to clean your rifle.

 

I will tell you now, I make good ammo but even my ammo will not perform in some of the rifle bores I have seen for the first time.

Get yourself a good rod - Dewry etc, Patches (Not Tetra - they don't absorb cleaning fluids) like Pro Shot, Nylon or phosphor brushes and any cleaning product meant for rifles. Be always aware that most problems with bores are concerned with a build up of carbon in the throat (about the first 4" in front of the rifling) Copper removers take too long to dissolve this - you need a carbon remover.

 

The Chamber - wrap a 2-3" strip of kitchen towel onto your nylon/phosphor brush clock wise and run it up into the chamber turning it clockwise - if you have never done this you will be gobsmacked by how much debris lurks in your chamber. If yours is dirty repeat with new towel + some bore cleaner and twist it into the chamber with pumping actions - when clean put clean towel in to dry the chamber.

 

Clean your crown every time you clean the bore - if your crown goes - that's your accuracy gone. NO MODS LEFT ON THE RIFLE - the acids leeching out of the mod will rapidly eat out the crown, To re crown a rifle costs >£130 + proof.

 

If you adopt a rigid cleaning regime, you will never need a fouling shot. Two of my rifles will always put the 2nd shot where the 1st went, my 22.250 actually does not, after cleaning, it puts the 1st shot at 9 o'clock of the bull by 1/4" - I am still working on it but in the mean time after cleaning I give the scope 1click right. The following target was shot when I forgot to do the one click right - would have been fairly good at 158 yds otherwise.