Bore Cleaners

[DrMike]

I clean all my rifles at the range just because I don't enjoy sitting in my study with the aroma of ammonia wafting throughout the house. It is a strong argument in favor of Wipe Out, and Butch's Bore Shine has a lower concentration of ammonia. I'll see if I can find out how to get it into the country.

 

[SJB358]

I would think because it isn't hazardous, you should be able to get some. I know Canada is tricky though. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

The border is very real, and though we have a Free Trade Agreement, some items simply don't transit easily.

 

[RiverRider]

Here are a few thoughts based on a few decades of shooting and cleaning...

1. Hoppe's No.9 will attack jacket fouling but it takes a long time for it to get all the metal fouling out of a bore.

2. Carbon and metal fouling build up in alternating layers in a bore, so alternating special-purpose solvents is a good idea. When you think all the carbon fouling's out, then go after the metal fouling. Once you think the metal fouling's out, go looking for more carbon fouling. On and on it goes. Eventually you really will get to bare metal.

3. I've tried a relatively new product called KG-12. It seems to obliterate metal fouling very quickly, but I am not quite sold on it yet. Gotta keep playing with it before I reach any conclusion about it.

4. I never oil a bore. The last solvent to ever go into a bore of mine is Hoppe's No.9, and it has preservative qualities. Two dry patches will not remove the the thin film of it from the bore. And I have never had a spot of rust in a bore or any other such problem.

 

[SJB358]

RiverRider, that was a great write up and makes alot of sense. I seem to see the same thing you mention about alternating fouling buildup. I do use a solvent as a cleaner to get any left behind copper juice off the metal and then dry it, and then a light oiled patch. Seems to work okay. Don't really have to shoot more than one or two rounds to get the rifles back to shooting good groups. Scotty

 

[big rifle man]

Nothing has been said about mixing the different chemicals in your barrel. Be very careful when you are cleaning as some products do not get along well with other products. I've heard some bad stories about mixing different products, (not together, but in the barrel) I normally use shooters choice to get a good handle on the carbon. I then dry the barrel with alcohol. I then use Boretech CU+2 copper remover which works great. You can leave the Boretech in the barrel after cleaning. Seems to protect everything quite well.

 

[RiverRider]

I have wondered about that from time to time. Never had a bad experience, but if anyone has I'd like to know about it.

 

[DrMike]

Some solutions exhibit thixotropy upon being mixed. Consequently, they become difficult to remove from the bore. It is generally a good idea to avoid mixing solutions, or even using solutions from two manufacturers without cleaning between applying the separate solutions. The suggestion of swabbing the bore with isopropyl alcohol between differing solutions is one way of avoiding trouble. A wet patch run through the bore followed by two dry patches is usually sufficient to permit changing solutions.

 

[SJB358]

That is all I do. Just a few patches to dry it out, then push on with the next solution. Scotty