What do you all use for bore cleaners for your rifles. I have been using Hoppes #9 solvent for powder residue and use either CR10 or Shooters Choice Coppers remover. They have worked well, but in my search to have a faster copper remover I bought some Montana Xtreme Copper Killer and the Solvent. I also only use Tipton rods and Jags for the most part. If there is something stubborn, I may break out a brush, but for the most part I just run with jags and patches. Wondering what you all use for your cleaning regime. Scotty
Bore Cleaners
- Thread starter SJB358
- Start date
I use butchs for most everything. If I'm not in a hurry, I'll use wipe out. If I have a gun that has been shot alot and not cleaned for a long time (75-100 rounds) I'll break out a brush or some JB paste. I also use JB paste when I'm breaking in a barrel. Use it three of four times in the first 100 rounds just to try to help smooth things out.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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Scotty,
For all the customer's guns, I use Butch's Bore Shine. I like the Tipton rods, but there is nothing wrong with Dewey or Pro-Tec. I like the pierce type jags, but I have several of the Parker-Hale stype jags, and they work well. I push a wet cloth through the bore and let it set for a minute or so. This is followed by two dry patches, and then a wet patch. This is followed by a nylon brush soaked in Butch's Bore Shine, giving about ten to fifteen strokes, wetting the brush if needed. Then two dry patches. To check for how clean it is, I follow with a wet patch and two dry patches. With proper break-in, this should be enough.
For my own rifles, I use Hoppe's No. Nine to remove powder residue, followed either by Sweet's 7.62 or G-96 Copper Remover (anything over 33 calibre). I use a similar regimen to that described previously. The components you are using will work just fine. The only reason I stick with Butch's for the customer's guns is that it introduces a simpler regimen which they are more likely to use when they clean. If they choose to use Wipe-Out, that will work also. I simply don't use it because I am cleaning at the range and don't have time to wait. Also, I'm probably a type-A personality who just can't wait, doing nothing.
For all the customer's guns, I use Butch's Bore Shine. I like the Tipton rods, but there is nothing wrong with Dewey or Pro-Tec. I like the pierce type jags, but I have several of the Parker-Hale stype jags, and they work well. I push a wet cloth through the bore and let it set for a minute or so. This is followed by two dry patches, and then a wet patch. This is followed by a nylon brush soaked in Butch's Bore Shine, giving about ten to fifteen strokes, wetting the brush if needed. Then two dry patches. To check for how clean it is, I follow with a wet patch and two dry patches. With proper break-in, this should be enough.
For my own rifles, I use Hoppe's No. Nine to remove powder residue, followed either by Sweet's 7.62 or G-96 Copper Remover (anything over 33 calibre). I use a similar regimen to that described previously. The components you are using will work just fine. The only reason I stick with Butch's for the customer's guns is that it introduces a simpler regimen which they are more likely to use when they clean. If they choose to use Wipe-Out, that will work also. I simply don't use it because I am cleaning at the range and don't have time to wait. Also, I'm probably a type-A personality who just can't wait, doing nothing.
- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks Mike. Have you ever heard of this stuff. It comes pretty highly recommended by a buddy of mine. Never used it, but he swears by it and it is all natural. Plus, it is from Michigan, so it can't be all bad, right? Scotty
http://www.topduckproducts.com/products ... t=Gunzilla
http://www.topduckproducts.com/products ... t=Gunzilla
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,418
- 845
One thing that I've learned over the years is that no single method works for all rifles and/or conditions. I believe that the average shooter is best served by varying the method used. Regular solvents are fine to a point but the occasion use of strong ammonia solvents (CR10 and such), abrasive cleaners (JB compound,etc), and good ol" bore brushing all have their place and a switch from one method to another is a good idea because none of the methods will reliably remove all types of fouling that tend to build up over time.
Just my 2 cents.
Just my 2 cents.
- Thread starter
- #7
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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Scotty,
I've read of the Gunzilla, but I've never used it. I tend to believe that almost any of the copper removers on the market work, if they are used. Ditto with solvents designed to remove powder residue and/or lead.
I've read of the Gunzilla, but I've never used it. I tend to believe that almost any of the copper removers on the market work, if they are used. Ditto with solvents designed to remove powder residue and/or lead.
cloverleaf
Handloader
- Sep 10, 2006
- 4,381
- 1,012
Hoppe's #9 cause I like the way it smelled when dad used it years ago.
Wipe out as needed. Clp for protection. CL
Wipe out as needed. Clp for protection. CL
3006savage
Beginner
- Jul 3, 2009
- 85
- 0
I have tried Sweets, butches bore shine, shooter choice and Hoppies with good results and sweets and butches bore shine work well on copper and the shooters choice works best on carbon.
Recently I tried "bore tech eliminator" with great results. It is the best copper remover of the three I have tried and it gets carbon out as well as the shooters choice or hoppies. It have very little odor and is very safe on the bore and can actually be left in bore unlike most copper solvents. Here is a link.
http://www.boretech.com/products/eliminator.shtml
Recently I tried "bore tech eliminator" with great results. It is the best copper remover of the three I have tried and it gets carbon out as well as the shooters choice or hoppies. It have very little odor and is very safe on the bore and can actually be left in bore unlike most copper solvents. Here is a link.
http://www.boretech.com/products/eliminator.shtml
Scott Spencer
Handloader
- Mar 27, 2008
- 525
- 0
I have pretty much switched to BoreTech. I still use Sweet's and Wipe Out if I get too heavy copper fouling but I also clean my rifle after every range session.
- Thread starter
- #12
Charlie-NY
Handloader
- Mar 11, 2005
- 1,418
- 845
Scott Spencer":2wykh82y said:
I've been using BoreTech Eliminator too but it can be a pain in the a__ because the patches always turn light blue even when the barrel is squeeky clean. That stuff will work on your brass jags in seconds and produce blue patches which makes it look like bore fouling is the cause.
They do have some chrome looking jags out now which are needed to deal with this problem,
- Thread starter
- #14
Scotty, When I got into BR back in the 80's the guys I shot with use GM Top Engine Cleaner and Sweet's for copper.
I still use GM but mix in appr 20% Koil and still use Sweet's. I use Bore Tech rods with bore brush and Dewey's with a Sinclair Jag so that means I have two rod and I keep them in a Sincalir double rod holder. I also have a pretty good collection of bore guides Lucas are my favorite.
I found out years ago trying to change brushes/jag for the different calibers I may take to the range or varmit shooting etc got to be a pain. So I invested in rods for each caliber.
I started getting the Bore Tech rods about 16yrs ago the ball bearing they use seem to hold up better than the Deweys with a brush.
I clean my rifle but won't wear the barrel out cleaning. One thing I've always done after using a bore brush I carry a small can of carb cleaner I'll spray the brush get that old crub off so next time I use that brush it's clean. On a new barrel I push the brush out the end of the muzzle take the brush off then run a patch I do that maybe first 5/10 rd and I spray the brush clean each time. I'll Sweet the barrel maybe 15 or 20 shot might see alittle copper.
I still use GM but mix in appr 20% Koil and still use Sweet's. I use Bore Tech rods with bore brush and Dewey's with a Sinclair Jag so that means I have two rod and I keep them in a Sincalir double rod holder. I also have a pretty good collection of bore guides Lucas are my favorite.
I found out years ago trying to change brushes/jag for the different calibers I may take to the range or varmit shooting etc got to be a pain. So I invested in rods for each caliber.
I started getting the Bore Tech rods about 16yrs ago the ball bearing they use seem to hold up better than the Deweys with a brush.
I clean my rifle but won't wear the barrel out cleaning. One thing I've always done after using a bore brush I carry a small can of carb cleaner I'll spray the brush get that old crub off so next time I use that brush it's clean. On a new barrel I push the brush out the end of the muzzle take the brush off then run a patch I do that maybe first 5/10 rd and I spray the brush clean each time. I'll Sweet the barrel maybe 15 or 20 shot might see alittle copper.
- Thread starter
- #16
Thanks for the heads up on the GM Top Engine cleaner. I have used it before for other stuff, never thought of it for rifle cleaning. I have two rods so far, and kind of acquire them as needed. I will have to check out the Bore Tech ones. I have a Hoppes' one piece and a Tipton and I really like the Tiptons quite a bit. Scotty
I use a Dewey rod and a plastic MTM bore guide.
Solvent is Shooters Choice mixed 50/50 with Kroil.
I mix it in small mouthwash bottles about the size of the old Hoppe's bottles so I can tip it over to soak a patch.
Run the patch through the barrel wet and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
Couple of strokes after that with a bronze brush.
Let it set for a minute or so and then dry patch it with a jag a couple of times,knocks most of the big junk out.
If I see copper I use Sweet's and a nylon brush.
Next comes a patch soaked in hydrogen peroxide to remove the Sweet's.
After that it's patches with Hoppe's to make sure the barrel is clean and the whole house smells good!
In fact I have a room upstairs where all the reloading equiptment is set up.On the top shelf of my loading bench is a small bottle of Hoppe's that has a tiny hole drilled in the top and a candle wick sticking though the hole into the bottle...............
Mom used to accuse me and Dad of wearing Hoppe's for cologne.
Solvent is Shooters Choice mixed 50/50 with Kroil.
I mix it in small mouthwash bottles about the size of the old Hoppe's bottles so I can tip it over to soak a patch.
Run the patch through the barrel wet and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
Couple of strokes after that with a bronze brush.
Let it set for a minute or so and then dry patch it with a jag a couple of times,knocks most of the big junk out.
If I see copper I use Sweet's and a nylon brush.
Next comes a patch soaked in hydrogen peroxide to remove the Sweet's.
After that it's patches with Hoppe's to make sure the barrel is clean and the whole house smells good!
In fact I have a room upstairs where all the reloading equiptment is set up.On the top shelf of my loading bench is a small bottle of Hoppe's that has a tiny hole drilled in the top and a candle wick sticking though the hole into the bottle...............
Mom used to accuse me and Dad of wearing Hoppe's for cologne.
- Thread starter
- #18
Well, I got some of the Gunzilla stuff, and if you guys want to try something new, that would be it. I am not saying it is "better" than any of the others, but it is all natural and doesn't smell. I used it while field stripping and deep cleaning an M1 Carbine my grandpa brought back from WWII. It was given to me when he passed away, I haven't shot it in 15+ years and I know it wasn't cleaned or shot since then. It was excellent at bore cleaning, very few patches were required to have the bore shining bright. It also works as a metal protectant. I didn't realize it when I purchased the Gunzilla, but there is also a Copperzilla, which is really what I was looking for in the 1st place. I will order some of it in the future, but I suspect, being all natural it should be decent, and not be obnoxious to use indoors. Scotty
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,314
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Man, if bore cleaner doesn't make your eyes water and assault the nose, is it really bore cleaner? Where are we going when we can clean our rifles in the house and our wife doesn't kick us out, throwing our solvents out with us? :shock:
Seriously, sounds like something worth trying, Scotty. I have to admit that I've become quite sensitive to the presence of ammonia. After many years, it does take a toll. I'll have to see if I can get some Copperzilla and/or Gunzilla up to Canada, or maybe pick some up the next time I'm in the USA.
Seriously, sounds like something worth trying, Scotty. I have to admit that I've become quite sensitive to the presence of ammonia. After many years, it does take a toll. I'll have to see if I can get some Copperzilla and/or Gunzilla up to Canada, or maybe pick some up the next time I'm in the USA.
- Thread starter
- #20
I would check it out Mike. My buddy from Northern Michigan really swears by the stuff. Since it is all natural with no petroleum he uses it in his custom muzzeloader and just about every other firearm.
What sold him on the gunzilla stuff was an old Krag service rifle with a horrible bore. I guess he scrubbed and scrubbed with various solvents and other products and wasn't getting it clean. He developed decent shooting loads with the rifle and shot it for awhile, with decent success. He was referred to give the Gunzilla a shot and after cleaning the rifle, he was able to get it down to bare steel and actually had to redevelop his loads for the rifle. He has used a bunch of stuff in the past and this stuff was good to him, and since trying it, I have to agree with the ability to clean in my gun room without getting dizzy. The Copperzilla is supposed to be virtually odor free also with no ammonia? Not sure, I don't have it yet, but once I do, I will post up the results. I hate copper cleaning because of that. Scotty
What sold him on the gunzilla stuff was an old Krag service rifle with a horrible bore. I guess he scrubbed and scrubbed with various solvents and other products and wasn't getting it clean. He developed decent shooting loads with the rifle and shot it for awhile, with decent success. He was referred to give the Gunzilla a shot and after cleaning the rifle, he was able to get it down to bare steel and actually had to redevelop his loads for the rifle. He has used a bunch of stuff in the past and this stuff was good to him, and since trying it, I have to agree with the ability to clean in my gun room without getting dizzy. The Copperzilla is supposed to be virtually odor free also with no ammonia? Not sure, I don't have it yet, but once I do, I will post up the results. I hate copper cleaning because of that. Scotty
