Author Topic: looking for a way to a clean a sewer pipe barrel (Read 1242 times)

Racepres · « **on:** April 01, 2005, 04:48:05 PM »

Picked up a barrel that I thought was a "fireplace poker" but since it was the cal (7mm) that I wanted I plugged the end and filled 'er w/ gas/oil (chainsaw premix) and let it sit for a day or so. Dumped it out and danged if there aint some sharp, deep, decent lookin rifling in there!!! Now,, how to get to it. Best recommendation I've heard is a "supply" of brushes and kroil. This is not a job for "normal" procedures I don't think , but I would like to try to save this one if possible. Any and all suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance. Marty

alpini · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2005, 01:47:19 AM »

HI Marty
I think you have the right idea about going at it with brushes and Kroil. If you can scub the crud out to the metal, you should be able to see what condition the bore really is.

From that point, it would be easier to tell if the bore is worth the effort or not.

Racepres · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2005, 04:17:12 AM »

From that point!!! YEOWWW! Of course I was hoping for someones magic "clean it up in a jiffy" secret method.... Kind of thought that was a pipe dream tho... Usually these old "specimins" are devoid of rifling at the muzzle, but, this one seems to even have some there!! Don't have a borescope, so I will have to rely on the old "eyeball" and then the small hassel of screwin' er on, and headspacing, to "shoot-n-see" . With the "eyeball" method can I tell crud from pitting?? Thanks for the reply. Marty

alpini · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2005, 12:13:34 PM »

Good muzzle is a good start. It'll take a good scrubbing to find out if the rifling looks good all the way down the barrel.

Yeah, I think you'll be able to tell severe pitting by eye. I found on a sewer pipe bore that the more you clean it, the worse it looks.

What I ment was go ahead and give it a good scrubbing and then look at it. Mild pitting is shootable in my opinion. Depending on how rough the bore looks would determine if I would want to lap it or not. Some folks would agree a salt and pepper looking bore shoots just fine. I don't know about one with the corrosion worse than that though, maybe someone else can say for sure.

I think in milsurps, shooting is often the real indicator as I have a dark but strong bored T 38 that doesn't look so good. It shoots great. Clean it and see what it looks like. I bet with it having a good muzzle, the bore's in good shape too.

jh45gun · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2005, 12:43:44 PM »

Make one of the 5 dollar electric bore cleaners that work by reverse electroplating and use that following the directions. they are cheap and work good for really neglected bores. Plans can be found on the net. If you got a old flashlight around you can make one for about pennies. The solution is cheap to make too. Jim

Racepres · « **Reply #5 on:** April 03, 2005, 10:32:51 AM »

Thanks again.. Very encouraging alpini, And why didn't I "recall" the electro process jh45gun?? I'm on it and will report on progress. Keep those cards n letters comin'. Marty

Graycg · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2005, 12:00:50 PM »

Try RB-17 on a brush, really cuts out the Rust. Good stuff if you can find it.

regards,
graycg

kombi1976 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2005, 04:03:19 PM »

Racepres, is this a 7x57 Mauser barrel is it?

Racepres · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2005, 04:00:37 AM »

Kombi: sorry I didn't reply sooner..... yes it is in fact a 29" mauser 7x57. And w/ kroil, JB, Hoppes, and 3 brushes (yes i am using a bore guide at the chamber) it seems to be abt ready to shoot.. After all that I now wish that it was a 23"'er. Maybe I will screw it on to "see" anyhow. Marty

kombi1976 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 26, 2005, 08:04:35 PM »

Wow, a 29" 7x57 barrel.
I'd love one.
What's the rifling like after that mamoth cleaning effort?
And which Mauser action is it....large or small ring?

Racepres · « **Reply #10 on:** April 27, 2005, 05:03:37 AM »

Kombi: The rifleing looks pretty good in there, but, as Alpini said it tends to look worse the cleaner I get it. I'm down to simply sending a patch w/ hoppes bench rest, copper solvent, from time to time, (something I did w/ another bbl. I had, and it worked out to be a real shooter) I'm sneaking up on getting the "blue" copper fouling out of er now. BTW, the 29" is NOT my first choice, and in fact I am considering alternatives, but, I feel like I should screw this dude on to see how it really does shoot.. Also The outside of 'er is what I call Hideous.... I feel that the pitting is to severe to dink w/ except to 'cover it up" either w/ "filler" for a sporter, or in a mil. stock. It is not bad enough to alter the structural integrity (the guy I got it from called it "good"!!) Drop me a line if ya like as I am pondering a carbine barrel.. After all that!!! Marty

kombi1976 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 27, 2005, 02:24:20 PM »

The other option of course is to fill the pitting with a metal filling epoxy and have it Parkerized.
It's a pretty industrial look but it's clean and tidy.
I have pitting on my bubba'd K98 barrel and I'm thinking of doing the same thing.
To be honest though if you cut the end off that barrel just cause you thought it was too long it'd be a real pity.
You could screw a bit more velocity out of it and it may improve the accuracy a tad.......unless of course there is pitting near the crown and it would benefit from cutting.
Is it off a 93 or 95 Mauser or of a later 98 or the like?

Racepres · « **Reply #12 on:** April 27, 2005, 04:26:05 PM »

Im hearin' ya' ... I will not be cutting this one as the crown seems very good, and the rifling does seem strong at the muzzle as well. Seems as though the large ring 7x57's are getting hard to come by so I will leave it alone for a restoration effort. (either by me or someone else). Besides I'm gonna go look at a 23" 8x57 this week yet, and if it looks even close to the 98k that I have it will go on this rifle (just a shooter). Still I think that I will screw it on, (gonna just try to let the sights run wild to "see"), I kinda wanna know how she shoots after all that so if the headspace is "close" I will find out... Marty

BTW yes it is a L.R. in fact the sights are alot like a K98k except the rear sight "band" thickness is not as great, more like an earlier cz...

Longcruise · « **Reply #13 on:** April 30, 2005, 04:46:45 AM »

The elctro cleaner jh45 suggested is on www.surplusrifle.com You will have to do a search through their articles. You can skip the flashlight and use a $1.29 D cell holder from radio shack and multi twist rubber bands around the metal rod to serve as insulators. Be sure to use the suggested formula of H20, vinegar and ammonia! I've tried straight ammonia as is often suggested ad it does not work very well at all.

A real rough milsurp barrel might take several one hour treatments but it will do the job. Use a standard cleaning method when done. You will have to replenish the liquid every now and then cause it bubbles and expands running out the bore. Wrap a rag around the muzzle area to keep the liquid from running down the bore. [edited: didn't mean down the bore, meant down the outside of the barrel :-) ]

I've treated several MN's, two enfields and several mausers this way, all with great success.

jh45gun · « **Reply #14 on:** May 01, 2005, 10:25:10 AM »

Long Cruise I bought a short section of plastic tubing the would fit over the end of the barrel to catch the excess fluid and I even add a little more so I know the whole barrel gets the treatment. The hardware store also sells rubber corks which work good for sealing the chamber. Jim

Longcruise · « **Reply #15 on:** May 02, 2005, 07:32:53 AM »

The cork in chamber has been my method too. Anything to cut down the cost!

Plastic tube? :?

Do you mean something that fits over the outside diameter of the barrel adn works kinda like an extension?

Racepres · « **Reply #16 on:** May 02, 2005, 04:26:28 PM »

Well after gettin the lawn mower all spruced up n ready to go it actually snowed today!!! Sooooo I screwed the ole "sewer pipe" on an shot 'er.... BTW w/ the electro cleaning I used an automotive (vacume line) plug that just fit in the chamber end and the cup shape "holds" and isolates that end of the rod. Back to shootin.... it was a bit late by time I got 'er on and checked the headspace, (could be a bit tighter but plenty good).. Used some 130 gr (Lee) cast GC bullets behind 14 gr of unique. took most of 'em to get on paper (I gotta get a bore sighter!!!) But before it got too late I found that it is showing promise. (It may be a coincidence, but the last two at 50 yards were touching) After I got it in the "gun room" I passed a patch w/ shooters choice through and so far it is staying clean even if it does look kind of "pocked" inside. Hmmm... I'll keep ya all posted if interrested .... Marty

kombi1976 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 02, 2005, 04:44:30 PM »

Fascinating.... :grin:
Do keep up the news.
And if you feel like getting rid of it let me know....and I mean it. :wink:

jh45gun · « **Reply #18 on:** May 02, 2005, 05:21:29 PM »

Quote from: Longcruise

The cork in chamber has been my method too. Anything to cut down the cost!

Plastic tube? :?

Do you mean something that fits over the outside diameter of the barrel adn works kinda like an extension?

Thats exactly what I mean Longcruise. you can get plastic hose the clear stuff that fits over the barrel and I put on a 4 inch piece so that you have at least 3 inches out past the barrel to catch the excess and or to add a bit to keep the barrel full. Jim

Longcruise · « **Reply #19 on:** May 03, 2005, 04:17:45 AM »

Quote

Thats exactly what I mean Longcruise. you can get plastic hose the clear stuff that fits over the barrel and I put on a 4 inch piece so that you have at least 3 inches out past the barrel to catch the excess and or to add a bit to keep the

That's a great solution to the problem and I'll be using that trick in the future.

Thanks for the tip.

Racepres · « **Reply #20 on:** May 03, 2005, 05:53:55 AM »

Excellent idea (the hose) definitely in the "now why didn't I think of that" catagory!!!
Kombi , I am actively looking for a Kar98k type barrel for this piece as we speak... but I gotta know if all this really was worth it before I make any real claims abt this bbl... Then I will let ya know....(first dibbs OK) Right now it appears as though I fibbed.... after an overnite soaking in shooters choice there is some more "crud" coming out, (I have heard that shooting them makes some hidden fouling loosen) so I am not done yet..... Marty
(PS since you said something I will not be trying to tighten the headspace)

kombi1976 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 04, 2005, 02:15:54 PM »

Shouldn't be too hard to find a half decent Kar98k barrel. There are plenty floating around.
I've already got a bubba'd Kar98k with an excellent barrel and matching numbers in 8x57 but I've lusted after a 7x57 for a long while.
How much has the barrel cost you so far?

Racepres · « **Reply #22 on:** May 04, 2005, 05:22:16 PM »

Kombi: I have sent you a PM ... No this is not a "Rare Treasure" just building a "shooter" Keeping ya posted .... Marty

jh45gun · « **Reply #23 on:** May 04, 2005, 07:02:24 PM »

SOG has them in their new flyer ( 8MM barrels for K98) for the whopping sum of $7.50 yep Seven Dollars and 50 Cents. Not sure what shape they are in but you can call for free and ask. 800 944 4867 considering it is a barrel only any one should be able to purchase it also. Jim

Racepres · « **Reply #24 on:** May 05, 2005, 02:50:17 AM »

Holy Patoot batman!! 7.50!!! Thanks Jim,, I gotta go call now.... Marty

Got one comin'.. May as well see if I clean up another one!! Will let ya know how she looks. Later Marty