Pitting vs. build up?

wisconsinteacher · Jan 25, 2015

I have been working on the 35 Whelen for a few days and have a question. How do you tell if a barrel has pitting compared to build up? When I look down the barrel, I can see flaws and spots.

When I use the foam cleaner, the patches come out smurf blue and when I take a brush dipped in #9, the following patches come out black. I then push a few more patches through and then brush again to get a very dirty patch. To me that is a sign of build up and that is what I am seeing when I look down the barrel. So far I have not seen rust. The spots are also not on top of the rifling but in the grooves.

I plan on ordering some JB compound today to tackle the job. I just want to know if it is pitting or build up???

truck driver · Jan 25, 2015

With out a bore scope it is hard to say. If the previous owner loaded and shot lead pistol bullets threw it it could be lead but with out seeing the barrel it is hard to diagnose the problem. But it sounds like that rifle was shot hard and put away dirty quite a few times.

Thebear_78 · Jan 25, 2015

Smear that jb compound on a patch, wrap it around a brush and spend the next 10-15 minutes polishing that bore. You might have to repeat a couple times, then clean it with carb/brake cleaner. That should get you down to virgin metal. You might have to repeat a few times.

A peice of electrical tape wrapped around the jaws of a small vice grip can act as a stop to keep you from pushing the patch out of the barrel.

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wvchevy3 · Jan 25, 2015

JB works wonders, I have used it alot polishing my shotgun barrels. I use it in a mixture with kroil oil on a patch wrapped around a brush.Lee

SJB358 · Jan 25, 2015

wvchevy3":14c8edhr said:
JB works wonders, I have used it alot polishing my shotgun barrels. I use it in a mixture with kroil oil on a patch wrapped around a brush.Lee

I do the same as Lee, I just use Iosso instead of JB's. Either JB's or Iosso will shine it up and get you to bare metal. I'd doubt it's pitting, I am betting on the rifle has never been really cleaned to bare metal since new.

Once you get it down to bare metal you'll be in good shape WT. Even if it is a little pitting I wouldn't bet against it. I very rarely scrub my barrels to bare metal, especially the cut rifled barrels as they seem to take quite a few rounds to settle back in after that treatment.

Ridgerunner665 · Jan 25, 2015

If it were me....I'd try the harsh chemicals before I resorted to abrasives.

Butches Bore Shine and Montana Extreme 50 BMG Copper Killer....you'll need a respirator, don't breathe that stuff, especially the copper killer...don't even let the fumes get in your eyes, keep your eyes well away from the open container.

I'm just not crazy about abrasives in barrels...I know can help sometimes...but for me, its a last resort....I'd almost just as soon rebarrel.