Did I screw up my rifle?

[Rich]

About a week ago I cleaned my Gamo Shadow barrel with a wire brush. My groups afterwords were terrible.  Previously I've been getting pretty good groups with Beeman hollow points and RWS Superdomes but  now I'm having trouble grouping with the same pellets.  I don't think it's my shooting form.  Did I screw up my barrel?  

I've shot about 60-70 pellets through the gun since the cleaning and it seems to be getting better.  What are your thoughts?

Rich

[shadow]

I was told NEVER USE any sort of metal cleaning brush on airgun barrels, the metal is softer then that of a firearm.Some members dont clean the barrels,me included.It makes for a tighter seal down the barrel. I used to clean my B3 all the time but I noticed afterwards my shot patterns were all over the place and after quite a few rounds it settled down again. I have not cleaned my shadow sport at all ,but will run a Q-TIP through it sometime just to keep my gun happy. Im sure other members will chime in and give some good advice also. I say NO to wire brushes :0 . Ed

[CharlieDaTuna]

Using any kind of wire brush is a no-no. How much damage would depend on how aggressively you cleaned it. Hopefully after you run a couple of hundred pellets through it, the accuracy will return. Only time and pellets will tell. Also, you may need to find another pellet that will work better in your gun because of the changes that may have been made in the bore.

I had a Quest tuned by CDT and he cleaned and recommended cleaning the barrel with Googone and a length of weed whacker line. The barrel on my Quest has a mirror finish and it groups pellet on pellet (if I do my part) all day. He says to make a length of trimmer line a little longer than your barrel and cut a sharp angle on one end that take a lighter and melt the other end to form a ball of sorts slightly smaller that you cal.  Then simply thread a cleaning patch with a squirt of Googone and pull through your barrel. Repeat till clean. Plastic and cotton shouldn't hurt you barrel. An oily patch to finish up and that's it for another 1000.

[Rich]

Thanks everyone.  I shot about 100 rounds today and it appears to be settling down.  I ran out of Beeman hollow points so I bought some Crossman Premier hollow points and it seems to be grouping pretty well again, with an occational flyer.  One interesting observation is the point of impact for different pellets of the same weight seems to be about the same.  I don't recall that happening before I cleaned it.  The gun also does not like Gamo Magnums or Master Points.  They impact all over the place.  It does seem to favor Gamo Match, Gamo Hunter, RWS Superdome, Crossman Copperheads, and Crossman Premier hollow points.

Rich

[Rich]

Oh, one more thing.  I own several firearms, both pistol and rifles, and have shot many big game animals such as deer, bear and elk.  I'm finding out the airgun world is much different than the firearms world.  The airgun world is alot of fun and addicting.  I can shoot alot in my backyard and not have to worry about the neighbors.  I can see myself buying another airgun soon.

Rich

[DanoInTx]

It was almost exactly 1 year ago to the day that I got my very first adult air rifle.  I think my count is up to 11-13 these days. haven't dug around in my closet lately...hehe.  Good luck with that addiction.

Dan

[CharlieDaTuna]

I don't suggest running an oily patch in the barrel though. It doesn't need it as the lead itself in the barrel acts as a lube and initially, it can possibly cause detonation in the barrel. The only time you should run an oily patch through the barrel is if will be stored for a prolonged period of time and then before shooting, it should have patches pulled through it until it is clean and no evidence of oil.

I sometimes go a bit between shooting  and fearful of rust forming in my barrel that's why I would put a little oil in there never even thinking of the detonation aspect of it. Everyone learns something new everyday. Now I will forgo the oily patch also. Don't want to damage my air rifle either. Thanks for looking out CDT.