Barrel Cleaning on FAC airguns

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Hi all,

After firing about 3-400 pellets through my newly FAC'd BSA Hornet, I was using it down the club yesterday and to my dismay the groups opened up to about 2" @ 50yrds

Previously after getting it back from John Bowkett it had been doing 1/2" groups ( rested ) at that range, one of our club chaps suggested I try cleaning the barrel, so having my kit with me I did just that... hey presto nice tight groups again. He said that in his FAC gun it fouled up much quicker as the energy imparted on the back of the pellet's skirt causes more lead to be stripped during firing.

I used to find @ 11.5ftlbs it needed cleaning about every 750 - 1000 pellets.

Has anyone else found this ??

Norm

[snock]

I recently changed my barrel on my rapid Norm, so it's too early to tell yet.
But the old barrel didn't seem to cheg up any quicker.

Good to hear it's back on song again.

[Gary C]

Non FAC - never clean except the EV2 at 500 pellets

FAC every tin

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Hi Snock,

Phew, Yes bit of a mild panic for a few minutes there ( although tried not to show it ), to be honest this chaps theory about the increased lead strippage would seem to be right in principle, at the end of the day the blast of air does expand the skirt on a pellet so I suppose in theory a `harder' blast of air would push the pellets further into the rifleing?

Norm

ps welcome back after your `break'

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Gary,

would you say this chaps theory is right or is there another reason ?

Cheers,

Norm

Ps - just seen the other thread - congrats and all that mushy stuff

[snock]

Cheers, Norm.

Yep, that theory certainly seems to be sound, doesn't it.
I think the choke in the barrel must have some bearing on this, though.

For example, the 16'' barrel I used to have on the FAC rapid didn't seem to foul any quicker than when it was doing 12ft lb.
The new 19'' BSA barrel, however, has a lighter choke than the previous barrel, so this may possibly mean that it chegs up even slower?

Of course, the blast affects the pellet whilst still at the breech end, where there's no choke.

Only time will tell....

[Gary C]

Gary,

would you say this chaps theory is right or is there another reason ?

Cheers,

Norm

Ps - just seen the other thread - congrats and all that mushy stuff

thanks :-)

And yes - the increased velocity does cause bits of smeg to be left behind. BSA are unique barrels as well

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Just had an interesting thought, the Hornet ( surprisingly ! ) shot quite good groups with H & N Coppapoints at 11.5ftlbs , in fact only marginly bigger than the AA Fields / JSB Exacts. I wonder if being copper coated the H & N's being `harder' would create less fouling ( if they give good groups of course )

Might be worth a try as I have a tin of them left.....

Norm

[Gary C]

Takes me under a minute to clean the barrel - I'd sooner stick with the best groups

[snock]

Maybe just a different kind of fouling, Norm?

I know the full bore lads need to clean their tubes of copper deposits every now and then.

Just a thought..

[stillair1]

Have to pull mine through ever 75 shots or so, but then premiers are probably the worst for fouling.

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Gary / Snock,

Hmmm , on reflection you're right, not worth the possible agro, works well with the JSB's, ergo stick with them and clean every tin ( 250 )

Cheers,

Norm

[Mr.Fixit-Norm]

Have to pull mine through ever 75 shots or so, but then premiers are probably the worst for fouling.

Blimey Stillair, and I thought I had problems

You must need to buy cleaning kits in bulk

Norm

[stillair1]

A couple of pull throughs with napier cloth and wd40, job done.

[verminhunter]

A couple of pull throughs with napier cloth and wd40, job done.

Right you are stillair,same here on the fac .25 career,every 70-100 shots it needs a clean,but also certain pellets have more lead content which is good for accuracy but foul's the barrel up.