Grrrr.... What is This, Plastic Fouling?

[Patriot_1776]

My brother has a Moss. 835 Ulti-Mag, and there is something peculiar I noticed when I would clean it.  After a good day of shooting, at least 50+ rds, there is a sort of plastic fouling inside the barrel.  After a while, I got to some really good scrubbng with a proper sized bronze brush.  It still doesen't get it out completely.  After several times of taking the gun out shooting and vigorous cleaning, there is only a small bit left; just a couple of thick areas.  I'm more wondering why does it happen?  It really gets on my nerves when there is all that flakey stuff caking on the brush and sticking on the bore mop.  Whats worse, is when it is flicked all over your shirt, or whatever when that brush comes out of the barrel.  What would be the best way to get it out?  And is it avoidable?  BTW, the cleaner I used is the Butch's Bore Shine.  Thanks.   Patriot

[dave375hh]

The easiest way I've found to remove plastic fouling is to spray the bbl with WD-40 and let it sit overnite. The WD-40 loosens the plastic and it brushes out easily the next day. Kroil, Liquid Wrench, and other penitrating oils will work also but the WD is much cheaper, and smells better. I spray enough in the bbl that it drips out the other end, actually spraying from both ends works best.  Wrapping a brush with 0000 steel wool and spinning it with a drill will also work, but messy. Use the WD-40 to spary your brush clean after use.
   If you reload you can coat/dust your wads with Motor Mica before loading to reduce the fouling but nothing I know of eliminates it, other than not using plastic wads which is not a realistic option anymore. You'd sacrifice performance to eliminate plastic fouling. That's a poor trade off.

[mountainview]

Pat,

As noted that plastic fouling is a part of shooting a shotgun. If you are trap shooting on a regular basis, it can build in the barrel. I used to go borderline insane trying to scrub the barrel after every trap shoot and then skip cleaning the action. Have learned it is better to spend more time cleaning out the action and less on the barrel. I go through at the end of the season to thoroughly scrub the barrel out but spend a more reasonable amount of time during the trap season. I think too that once the barrel has been "broken in", the build up does not seem to be as bad and a bit easier to remove. At least this is what my Rem 870 seems to indicate.

Safe shooting.

[Patriot_1776]

C130E Wrote:

My 870 Wingmaster's bore is mirror polished and I rarely have fouling save the choke tubes.

Well, I don't doubt you wouldn't have any fouling.  Sounds pretty worthwhile...  Is that a custom feature you can have done on any smoothbore barrel?  Is yours a chrome-lined barrel?  Or is it a do-it-yourself using some sort of polish (very mild abrasive)?   Patriot

[mountainview]

I agree that the barrel finish is key but that a liberal number of rounds shot through the tube are the cure. After looking inside my Mossberg, I noted that it has a rougher finish inside and leaves more plastic residue than my 870 did when it was new. I suspect though that after I use the Mossberg for a couple weeks of trap shooting that the problem will alleviate considerably.

Safe shooting.

[Patriot_1776]

mountainview Wrote:

After looking inside my Mossberg, I noted that it has a rougher finish inside...

I heard something about all Moss. having the rougher barrel.  As I have stated, I am looking to get a Browning BPS, so does anybody know how smooth they look inside the barrel?  I also know that there are manufacturers who chrome-line their barrels; can anyone provide a list for me(just for info purposes)?  It does makes sense that to have a mirror finish is most likely from extensive use; I just think Moss. are rougher because of their cost-effective nature in manufacture.  Although, you do get alot of gun for the money I'd have to say.  Patriot

[MLRowland]

A product called Wad OUT is great for getting the plastic wad foutimg out of your barrel.For rough barrel you could have them polished by your self or a professional.All of my Remingtons have chrome lined barrels.I have Renington 870 SPS black with 26" barrel,11-87 SPS-T camo 21" barrel and Model 300 Ideal over and over 28"barrels.I do not know if the Express Remingtons have a chrome lined barrels or not! Some marks in the barrels could be from shooting steel or hevishot!