What are your favorite cleaning products for your big bore rifles?

[deewayne2003]

Tipton carbon fiber rod, Balistol for blueing and wood.

 

[Red Leg]

A fiber cleaning rod, Ballistol, and those little square cotton things. Nothing else. I should add the same three also work brilliantly on anything with a smaller bore.

 

[farmer_john]

Anyone ever use a boiling funnel?

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Anyone ever use a boiling funnel?

Yes…..would I recommend it for anything aside from nostalgia….no.
I "had" one for a smle 303 that belonged to my grandfather, who was a WW1 veteran and competition shooter, and I used it a couple of times on my No.4 , but my shit for brains father threw away my rifle (literally put it in the rubbish bin) and scrapped the brass funnel. They were really only useful for the holy black and cordite loads with mercury primers
Gumpy

 

[45-70guy]

Just use Bore Tech eliminator and maybe their brushes and forget about the rest.
Takes it to bare metal and doesn’t smell

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

Just use Bore Tech eliminator and maybe their brushes and forget about the rest.
Takes it to bare metal and doesn’t smell

Do you leave it in the barrel over night? Heard some folks do.

 

[steve white]

Anyone ever use a boiling funnel?

All black powder shooters, I would think. And some of our tribe shoot black powder expresses.

 

[Andrew NOLA]

Lucas bore guides are the one that’s speedy recommends

I like Possum Hollow because Tim at Possum Hollow will build custombore guides for whatever caliber you want

I used Bautsch eliminator and Vortech, copper and carbon

I used tipton nickel jags so I don’t get false readings. I use nylon brushes.

 

[Tex .416]

….but my shit for brains father threw away my rifle (literally put it in the rubbish bin)…
Gumpy

Damn, that is as sad as it is shocking.
Really sorry for you.

 

[AJ Peacock]

Dewey rods/jags for all.
Montana nylon brushes for cleaning (wrap smaller than caliber with patch).
CLP for almost all cleaning, I don't worry about copper build up very much. I use whatever I have handy on the rare occasion I have an issue.

I've found that a good well cared for barrel (especially after a light lapping) has very little issue with copper fouling. I have heard some bullets have a tendency to build up worse than others, I haven't found that (but I use mass produced bullets, no specialty stuff). For normal hunting accuracy that is all I do.

I had a large wildcat 338 that I used 300gr SMK's at 3300fps for longer than normal hunting (1000yds type stuff) and I was more OCD about that and would keep all the fouling out. But with a barrel life of approx 600-800 rounds, fouling shots and initial brass forming makes you re-think the cleaning/fouling cycle.

AJ

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Damn, that is as sad as it is shocking.
Really sorry for you.

And completely illegal over here, even back then, he then went off at me when I told him that if it was used in a crime it would be his fault. Trying to explain to the police why I didn’t have it anymore was not fun, especially for a 16-17 year old.
Gumpy

 

[skydiver386]

Depends on what bullet and powder.

All copper bullets seem easier to clean with an aggressive cleaner like Sweets or Butch's, a brass jag and a Dewey's or other coated rod and COTTON patches. My .458's and up I use a shotgun rod.

I despise BLC-2 powder because in my experience it's erosive and dirty. H4350 and IMR4350 are more and more my go to powders from 25 calibers through the big bores. Consistent velocity, accuracy and easy cleanup.

After cleaning I lube the bolt especially behind the locking lugs with Shooters Choice grease. Wipe with a silicone cloth and job done.