Removing the barrel on a hooked breech rifle for cleaning, yes or no??

every time

Most of my time. There are occasions when a clear hose is seated on the nipple with a plug on the end. Alcohol is poured into the barrel full with the rifle propped standing up. After a while the plug is pulled, the Alcohol and slug pouring into a jug and the bore swabbed with wet Alcohol patches. Then rinsed with more alcohol.
For long term storage, though, un hook to thoroughly clean.

Patched said:

I too take my hookers into the shower…but just to knock the bad smell and crust off ‘em…I mess with their details and lotions after they dry off.

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Now THAT is one helluva visual…lol

Dale Allen Raby said:

Wouldn't work for me. I take my barrel into the shower. Stock stays on the kitchen table for the wet work.

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I remember doing this in Boot Camp. Left my brush in the Squad Bay, used my toothbrush , talk
about a bad taste in your mouth the next few days , untill I was able to get a new one. Some
lessons are hard on a guy.
GunnyR

I always take the barrel off to clean and have not had any noticeable problem with a change of POI. I really don't care if i'm removing micro metal. At my age ease is the name of the game. I can also make sure that parts of the barrel under the wood get cleaned and oiled.

That's what the hooked breech is for. To remove for cleaning. Very convenient.

Dale Allen Raby said:

Wouldn't work for me. I take my barrel into the shower. Stock stays on the kitchen table for the wet work.

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dang brother, don't think i would say that in this crowd! said in my best Lewis Grizzard voice!

deerstalkert said:

dang brother, don't think i would say that in this crowd!

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Yeah, I already caught some flak for it, but let the boys have their fun...

Remove it? Yep, absolutely.

Yup, I remove the barrel and the nipple, then clean, lube, properly assemble and put away till next time.
Haven't broken one yet (nor cross threaded a nipple)

Would really like to hear from the long range shooters that shoot in the friendship shoots and other major shooting contests. If it is a hooked breech and I was at a local shoot, shooting a gong, or something like that, sure I would remove it, but what is the general consensus of the winning target shooters who are at major shoots all of the time?

cannonball1 said:

Would really like to hear from the long range shooters that shoot in the friendship shoots and other major shooting contests. If it is a hooked breech and I was at a local shoot, shooting a gong, or something like that, sure I would remove it, but what is the general consensus of the winning target shooters who are at major shoots all of the time?

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I was under the impression that the Gibbs target rifle was removable.

Ron, I read an article way back where some target shooters with a the hooked breech gun don't disturb the barrel when cleaning if they feel the gun is shooting well.

cannonball1 said:

Ron, I read an article way back where some target shooters with a the hooked breech gun don't disturb the barrel when cleaning if they feel the gun is shooting well.

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I can't confirm that. I can't recall ever seeing any info on that.
I've never seen a change shooting out to 300 yards, but 300 yards is nothing compared to 1000.
If a person was sure they were seeing problems I would think bedding the rifle would be the way to go.

I might be wrong, but some of the long range shoots like Friendship will not allow glass bedding on a gun. Some of these serious target shooters could correct or verify what I am saying.

cant believe this went 5 pages. did we figure this out yet???

Nope!

remove it. That's the reason it's made that way. Easier to handle than the whole rifle. And you won't get cleaning solvents into the lock and stock (if you use them)..

one large pop corn please.

cannonball1 said:

Ron, I read an article way back where some target shooters with a the hooked breech gun don't disturb the barrel when cleaning if they feel the gun is shooting well.

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Some British long range match rifles (such as the pictured Gibbs-Metford) were provided in fitted carrying cases where the stock and barrel were separated. These were match rifles and being fired at 1000 yards. I don’t think this would have been done if there was a concern about separating the two affecting accuracy. I’ll happily remove the barrel from mine and clean between a morning and afternoon shoot on the same day and not find any discernible difference in zero.

David