How do you properly evaluate ammo?

[CR2008]

Do you just go through box by box without cleaning in between different brands, or do you clean before going to the next brand?

Also, how often do you clean your barrel if you lubed your pellets? Some people claimed they don' clean their barrels but won't the chamber get fouled enough to affect accuracy?

 

[dankillough]

"Do you just go through box by box without cleaning in between different brands, or do you clean before going to the next brand?"

Every person on this board will have a different opinion, so I will tell you what I do. I clean between different brands. Each brand has their own lube and I personally believe you want only that brands lube in your barrel.

"

Also, how often do you clean your barrel if you lubed your pellets? Some people claimed they don' clean their barrels but won't the chamber get fouled enough to affect accuracy?"

I clean after every 50 rounds or there abouts. Different disciplines of shooting have different cleaning regimens, but most bench rest shooters clean after every 50-300 rounds. It just depends on the shooter. You just need to shoot your gun and see how long you can go before accuracy drops off.

 

[cadman1275]

Also, how often do you clean your barrel if you lubed your pellets?

Not sure if you missed typed question or not, but just so you know, most benchrest programs do not allow you to lube your bullets. I would suggest looking at the rules of whatever organization is near you.

Bill

 

[bullzeye]

re cleaning

i know someone who coached people who shot olympic style standing and he
told me he cleaned the barrel only once a year or once every case which is
5000 rounds. what he also told me when he needed to find a new ammo he
would clean the barrel after testing each brand.

each manufacturer uses their own lube formula and for even different loads.
he also said you have to foul the barrel with each brand of bullet before you
will find the right one. you could easily fire 50 rounds on each brand.

lastly he said once you have found the right ammo buy as much of that same lot number you can afford. lot number is on end flap of box.

this could be expensive but look at all the fun you'll have!

hope this helps.

 

[chillippr]

You might want to look at Harry Deneen's thoughts from a while back. Search for posts by "harrydeneen" There aren't many people, if any, with a better knowledge of ammo testing or a better competitive record.

 

[tim]

I think maybe it was Gene Davis, who builds a pretty fair gun that commented about how you can repeat clean but you cannot exactly repeat dirty.
If you have a decent cleaning routine which is actually pretty easy, you have a consistant bore every time you run something new. A good properly cleaned barrel should start laying them in there after no more than 5-10 rounds.

 

[Doug]

Tim gave you a good thought. If your rifle will not shoot clean then it probably will never shoot dirty! If it takes more than 5 or 10 rounds to start to settle down then start trying to find out why.
One other generally accepted rule is that if you shoot Lapua scrub the heck out of your barrel before switching to another match grade ammo.
In general you will not have a problem if you shoot Eley and then try Lapua.
Another is when testing a lot of different lots scrub the lead every few lots. Once you see a lot that has promise scrub your barrel and test again. When I am testing ammo I will note some 'Not Bad' to tell me to go back with a clean barrel and shoot it under match conditions.
Just My thoughts.