How much fouling removal is enough?

[roysclockgun]

While I realize that on occasion using Butche's Bore Shine is effective. that stuff is quite harsh. Usually I use Hoppes No. 9 to clean the bore.
My wife fired 20 rounds of my hand loads from her Howa 7mm-08 deer rifle to get practice for Oct. deer/pronghorn hunt. I ran one Hoppes soaked patch out the muzzle, then pulled it off the bronze brush that fit tightly into the bore. I then ran three Hoppes soaked patches back and forth five strokes each and allowed the bore to sit, muzzle down overnight. Next day, the first patch came out very green. After four successive days, the first patch still comes out very green. How many times do I need to repeat this until the bore is clean enough?
Steven L. Ashe

 

[Guest]

Steven, I think you're getting copper from both the bore brush and the bore, both. I'll suggest you abandon the Butch's, as it is harsh. Pick up a bottle of BoreTech Eliminator and do the following:

3 soaked patches through the bore
Wait 10min
1 soaked patch through the bore
Wait 10min
1 soaked patch through the bore
Repeat until the soaked patch comes through the bore clean on the first pass.

Then patch it dry and you're done.

I clean my rifles every 30-50rds, no more, no less. I don't need to for many of them, except that I am sensitive to carbon buildup in the throat area causing erosion.

 

[338winmag]

I second "BoreTech Eliminator". Scotty told me about this and I have never looked back.
I clean my rifles every range trip. Sometimes that might mean 15-20 rounds and sometimes it might mean 40 rounds. If I see a extreme tiny bit of faded blue, I run one more time and that is it.

I also use plastic brushes. This takes the guess work out of wondering if the "blue" is from copper fouling or the brush.

338winmag

 

[Guest]

338 brings up a good point that I failed to mention. If you use BTE, get some nickel plated jags or some of BoreTech's "Proof Positive" jags (no copper content) so you don't get false blue on the patch. And scrap the bronze brushes in favor of nylon, if you use brushes at all. After about two cleanings with BTE, you may find your brushes gathering dust for the most part. Mine haven't been used in a couple of years except to clean up a filthy rifle a friend bought second hand. That thing had dust, dirt, grit and grime caked in it so badly, it was a couple bore sizes smaller looking before we cleaned it!

 

[DrMike]

It has been many years since I used copper brushes. Any copper cleaner will attack the copper brush, ensuring that I always have dissolved copper showing.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I usually clean rifles as they need it which could be each range session or about once a week in the summer when I am shooting them often. I do not use a bronze brush unless there is excessive copper in the bore before cleaning. Normally, I put three soak patches through and let them sit for a few minutes and then 5-6 dry patches until the last one comes out pretty clean.

I have not seen groups degrade much for even (50) rounds between cleanings actually. For me the main reason for cleaning is rust prevention because I live 300 yards from the Pacific ocean.

 

[Guy Miner]

Kind of depends on how the accuracy of the rifle is doing - and on how badly the barrel is fouled.

Am with the other guys - I rarely use a bronze brush anymore. Using "Patch Out" with fabric patches on my rifles, and it's working real well.

My .25-06 with the Remington barrel still fouls pretty quickly, and accuracy degrades after 20 - 25 shots. No big deal, it's a hunting rifle and I rarely shoot it more than a few times except to practice. Loads are long since worked up. No need for a lot of shooting with it. My worst fouling rifle barrel, and I'll blame it on a pretty rough interior finish. On the other hand, it's pretty accurate.

The .308 Win/Krieger barrel will go hundreds of rounds with very little fouling and very little change in accuracy. That's good, because that's what I paid for it to do. Handy in matches where there may not be a chance to clean in 80 - 100 rounds, or more, and the longest ranges with the most stringent accuracy demands are shot at the end of the match. Right when the barrel is the most fouled. Diabolical.

So, the .25-06/Remington gets cleaned more often, because it needs to be cleaned more often. That poor ol' .308/Krieger gets ignored and shot some more... Because it can.

Guy

 

[.300winmag]

In my opinion, plastic or nylon brushes don't do anywhere near as well at getting carbon out as bronze brushes. I like bronze brushes personally. I've found slip 2000's Carbon Killer does the best job at removing powder residue and the you can't beat Sweet's 7.62 for copper. Sweets is very harsh but if you clean in a well ventilated room, open the garage car door, or do it outside it's not too bad. I have Hart and Krieger's on all of my rifles and copper fouling isn't bad but every rifle barrel will get fouling, no matter how smooth it is. These chemicals are just what I've found work best after a lot of personal tests, and everyone can use whatever chemicals they want on their rifles.

Cheers.

 

[RiverRider]

You CAN get all the metal fouling out of a barrel using Hoppe's No.9, but life is just too danged short! I've done it but it took several days.

I've adopted the practice of using Bore Tech Eliminator to get the carbon and some metal out, then I switch over to Sweet's and a nylon brush to get the rest of the metal fouling out, and then I finish up with Hoppe's No.9 to make sure all the ammonia is removed from the bore and to help preserve it. Since adopting this method, I've found I can get my rifles completely fouling-free in about 45 minutes.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Using Hoppes #9...you could go on like that for a week or 2 (discolored in the morning)

I use Hoppes Benchrest solvent (see link below)...it is a bit stronger than #9, but not so strong that is harmful to the barrel if left overnight.

Its too slow for competition use but for the "shadetree shooter" there is nothing better in my opinion.

If you decide to try it...just follow the instructions on the bottle...I apply it with a loose patch, and remove it with a brush wrapped in cloth. I use Otis cleaning kits (cables instead of rods).

http://www.cabelas.com/solvents-lubes-b ... nt-1.shtml

http://www.hoppes.com/products/bench_rest9.html

Plain #9 isn't really meant to be a copper solvent...its geared more towards lead and powder fouling.

"Benchrest" solvent is a copper remover...not near as aggressive as some, but it works with no chance of damaging the barrel from too many harsh chemicals.

 

[usmc 89]

i use butches boreshine and sweets 7.62 in all my rifles. the 6.5x47 will see 70 rounds at a match in between cleanings i think it will go more based on the fact it still hits the longer targets at the later stations. i will also put over a hundred rounds through the 223 before it starts to get snotty. using the butches first then the sweets get the barrels clean rather quickly. you will want to use both of them outside.

 

[SJB358]

I am a pretty big believer in BTE for fouling and copper and then using IOSSO with some Kroil to really get at my barrels. All of my tubes are factory barrels and after a couple of good treatments of IOSSO, they have seemed to smooth out alot and really get at the carbon fouling. I still look for other solutions, but so far, this is the best I have found to date.

I am liking the Eezox though as a lube, very glad Dave turned me onto this stuff. Seems to be less sticky and less apt to pick up dirt. Still another month of "testing" to do with it, but it seems to be very good so far. I am looking forward to seeing how it does with my own rifles.

 

[roysclockgun]

Thanks for all the great intel.
Since I first posted the begining of this thread, I turned 70 on Friday. On Sunday, I was at a 1/2 mile dirt track motorcycle race and a gentleman came around, collecting for "Wounded Warriors". We chatted and I found that he was a Navy WWII and Korean War Vet! Wow, did he make me feel good! He was spry and alert at age 85! There IS hope for at least 15 more years of reloading, riding motorcycles, boating and hunting!

 

[Guy Miner]

Indeed there is!

In September, Dad and I are going to Alaska again, fly fishing the silver salmon run on a remote river. Fly-in only. He's 85 now, and going strong!

Guy

 

[SJB358]

This old boy still seems to get it done.. Turned 94 this past year.

Veteran of Bouganville, Iwo Jima, 2X Purple Heart recipient.. I hope to be as in good of health as my Great Uncle Frank! He still has no issues taking his limit of deer/turkey!

 

[usmc 89]

Happy birthday roysclockgun how did you do in the half mile? Doesn't matter, if your seventy and still banging around on a motorcycle you have my respect. my dad turned 82 In February still spry mean and healthy .

 

[roysclockgun]

God bless Guy's Dad and Great Uncle Frank.
Amen