Copper Fouling - Help!

[35Rem]

What's the best thing to use for a badly fouled barrel?

picked up a used rifle (308 cal) that has lots of copper in it.  What to do??

thanks Handiholics!

[Mac11700]

There's several different products that will clean out copper fouling...I use GunSlick foaming bore cleaner..and Barnes CR-10 ...I use the foaming bore cleaner first...then follow up with the CR-10..then more foam...for badly fouled barrels..Follow all of the products directions.

Mac

[quickdtoo]

Wipe Out or any of the foaming bore cleaners if you don't want to do any brushing, Walmart carries Outers for $6.88, works almost as good as Wipe Out, either will git er done!! Foam the bore, leave it alone overnight, I just lay the rifle on one side for a few hours, then turn it over on the other side the rest of the cycle, this helps the cleaner to clean both sides of the bore, it tends to settle in one side after a while and doesn't clean the opposite side as well resulting in needing more applications. A heavily fouled bore will probably take more than one application, normal cleanings take just one application.

It states on the can that it won't work on lead, but it does work on any alloys in the lead and will makes removing it very easy in comparison to other lead removers.

If you like working a rod in the bore, use JB non-embedding bore compound.

Tim

http://www.sharpshootr.com/wipeout.htm

http://www.exploreproducts.com/gunslick-foaming-gunborecleaner.htm

[Norseman112]

I use "Outers Foam" and follow it with "Butches bore shine", if its real bad the JB treatment may be in order.

John

[BloomGrad]

I'v not tried any of the foaming bore cleaners.

I alternate Sweets 7.62 and CR10 bottles for my cleaning copper with a rod and brush.

My Rem 700 .35 Whelen and Nosler 225gr are a combination born for copper fouling.  The Whelen is bad on it's own.  Too bad it loves the Noslers so much.  The worst cleaning chore I've ever had.  It was REALLY bad before this process.  But this is what it took. to make the bore sparkle. 

First Phase - CR10 or Sweets 7.62 for several patches.  Then dry patches till dry.

Second Phase - JB BORE PASTE on tight patch or brush for a few passes.  Then dry patches to remove excess till dry.

Third Phase - Outers Foul Out electronic cleaner with solution marked for copper.  Let sit until light on unit says 'clean'. 

Fourth Phase - run one or two patches of Hoppe's #9 to lift out particles left from Foul Out.

Fifth Phase - repeat Second Phase.

Sixth Phase - repeat First Phase

Seventh Phase - oil bore with a QUALITY GUN OIL. Nothing meant for household or autos.

I know what you guys are thinking.  So I'll say it big.  THE BORE WAS STANDARD CLEANED AFTER EACH RANGE TRIP.  THIS COPPER BUILT UP CONSTANTLY.  IT WAS NOT IGNORED.  I MUST HAVE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL BIG BAGS OF PATCHES JUST STANDARD CLEANING THIS GUN.  IT IS A ROUGH BORE BUT SHOOTS REAL NICE.  A CLEANER SOAKED PATCH OR TWO IS ALSO RUN DOWN IT AT THE RANGE.

Now that the gun got back to clean the cleaning starts with J-B Paste and and goes to CR10 then oiled.  But every couple of years, or when group sizes open up,  the above cleaning phases are REQUIRED on this particular gun.

Hope this helps your thoughts on your coppered up rifle.

[35Rem]

Thanks guys.  I picked up some foaming cleaner.  Will try that tonnight.  I used Shooters Choice first, as directed.  It got a lot out, but it was still in there.  Went to the Hoppe's Bench Rest Copper solvent stuff, got out a lot more.  However, it looks like all I did was polish the copper on the lands.

I will try the foam for a couple hours, then overnight tonight.  See where we are, then lather rinse, repeat.  I know it's not a fast or easy process, but I think this may be part of the accuracy problem with this gun.

BTW, It is a Model 77 Mk I Ruger International (Tang Safety), so it has a pretty thin barrel, that heats up pretty quick.  But it just wasn't shooting worth a darn last weekend.  I know part of it was me, but the other guns I shot weren't that bad.

When I get it good and clean I am going to try a couple different weight bullets, see what it will do.

Thanks again

Larry

[Mac11700]

You might want to have a look at this ...http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,96417.0.html

This product works really good at making an otherwise stubborn to clean barrel a lot easier to keep clean...

Mac

[35Rem]

Might have to try some CR-10, it looks pretty good.

Question???  The rifle heated up pretty quickly, w/ factory stuff.  Could this be from a really fouled barrel as well? 

[safetysheriff]

However, it looks like all I did was polish the copper on the lands.

I know it's not a fast or easy process, but I think this may be part of the accuracy problem with this gun.

I know part of it was me, but the other guns I shot weren't that bad.

When I get it good and clean I am going to try a couple different weight bullets, see what it will do.

Thanks again

Larry

i recently posted on the topic of 'frusterated' by another member that i did a very thorough job of cleaning a Handi' standard-barrel in .223.....put in some reloads that i carefully assembled....and was rewarded with a 3-shot group in one of those various loadings that was under 7/16" outside spread at 50 yds' when i sighted in.   the rifle had been giving me a headache!   i said in the earlier post that a center-to-center spread of approx' .213 inches does not make me a sniper....but it does talk about maintaining a rifle properly.

the question becomes:  why would you question the fouling, which fills in the rifling/grooves, being a major contributor to your problem?    my rifle needed powder fouling removed......with almost no copper coming out of it.   i'd expect metal fouling to be much harder on accuracy!

give yourself some credit.   you may shoot well; but you still need a 'proper' (clean) condition in your barrel to bring back the accuracy.

good luck to you,

ss'   

[quickdtoo]

Found this on another forum.

Tim

http://www.6mmbr.com/borecleaning.html