Inch High

[slipper 116]

After cleaning my 223 shoots 1 inch high at 100 yards and then the second shot its back in bull, why does it do this? Tempted not to clean it as I like it cock on from first shot any ideas

[Coypu Hunter 486]

It's normal. When you zeroed your rifle, there was lead "fouling" in your barrel, specifically in the grooves of your rifling. Your first shot after cleaning is what's known as a "fouling round", because it "fouls" your barrel again with lead. This restores the barrel to the condition it was in when you zeroed it.

 

After cleaning, you're shooting the first round out of a squeaky-clean barrel, which will affect the bullet's flight. Normally it comes out at a slightly higher velocity, because there's less drag from the rifling, since there's no lead there (until the first round has passed through). So you'll shoot a little high.

 

Just take a shot at a target with a safe backstop before you start hunting, after that you should be bang on until the next cleaning.

[slipper 116]

Thanks for that mate thats all I needed to know cheers

[hutchey 147]

Copper or lead equilibrium I think it's called

[charlie caller 3,654]

Just clean it every 100 shots or so, it will be fine, I have a mate with a .222 he has never cleaned it in the 15 or so years he has had it and it is a tackdriver

[Rake aboot 4,935]

Cleaning,, whassat then?

[slipper 116]

So the bits of copper and powder residues won't bugger up my rifling?

[charlie caller 3,654]

Nope, not for the next 30 years anyway, remember steel is a lot harder than lead and copper, just clean every 100 or so, or 50 if you are really worried

[craig barton 18]

should allways keep your rifle barrel clean an inch high aint much just aim an inch low for your first shot problem solved

[Coypu Hunter 486]

I clean my 22LR when chunks of carbon start to be ejected with the empty cartridge cases. That's usually after 200-250 dirty 22LR rounds.

 

Lead, copper and powder residue in the rifling won't do any damage, it's normal. However, after a while, you will get a ring of carbon deposited at the end of the chamber just beyond the end of the cartridge (particularly with 22LR). This can cause cartridges to refuse to eject, or refuse to feed and seat properly, so it's a good idea to clean out the crap there regularly.

[slipper 116]

Thanks for the replies folks

[rimmer 33]

god some people talk rubbish dont they!!!

[Coypu Hunter 486]

Many people do, but I don't see any rubbish in this thread -- just a bloke asking for advice and getting it.

[rimmer 33]

crap advice

[Coypu Hunter 486]

Care to enlighten us mere mortals, Obi-Wan?

Edited January 27, 2014 by Coypu Hunter