Cleaning "brand new" handi rifle barrel (Good Grief!!)

[michauxii]

I bought a HB Ultra in .243 a year or so ago. Decided to start working up some loads and scope it. But first, needed to do the initial cleaning.

I have cleaned on this barrel 2X more than I have ever cleaned a new rifle from the factory... and it STILL isn't clean!

No copper fouling, just gunk.

Anyone ever run into this?

BTW:  Does anyone make a good quality bore guide for the handi?

[stimpylu32]

Best stuff that i have found is good old spray can break cleaner that you get at all auto parts stores , stuff does wonders .

[quickdtoo]

I suspect a lot of what we deem dirt and crud from the bore is from the blueing process since it's likely they don't plug the bores when they blue em, the brown patches we get when cleaning the outside of the rifle is from blueing also. See the FAQs and Help sticky links for cleaning and bore guides. You can speed up the break-in and cleaning process by using a fine metal polish or JB bore compound, I do all of mine that way, it works.

Tim

[michauxii]

Thank Ya'll for the replies! I'll try running a little brake cleaner through her..

[Uncle Ji]

Wouldn't hurt to run a patch with FLITZ on it to polish up the bore while you're at it.

[bigjeepman]

Forgive me if I am wrong ... but, did I understand correctly that you have had this .243 Handi for a year and have not shot it? If this is the case, how does one do that? When I get a new firearm, it eats at me until I pull the trigger on the range with it for the first time. I can never wait to start reloading for it so I use factory ammo (the only time I use factory ammo) to help break in a barrel for the first fifty rounds or so.

[Rustyinfla]

  Yea I'll go with that. Heck I've brought guns home and it was too late to go anywhere to shoot 'em so I just fired a round out the back door.

  Rusty <><

[PartsMan]

ditto I shot my 223 in the dark with no sights ASAP

[ccoker]

I like the spray in the barrel foaming bore cleaner
let it soak overnight and then using jags, keep running em until clean
then, a good thorugh working out with JB Bore paste
that stuff is awesome....
I had an old Sako 243 I bought used, did the usual quick cleaning, best groups were around an 1"
using the above method, shots were stacked at a 100 yards and sub 1/2" at two hundred

[michauxii]

I FINALLY go to the point in my life where I have enough guns in the safes that I kinda forget about some of them. Kinda like CHRISTmas when I go digging. And don't get me started on scopes and fishing gear.

I bought a couple Ulra .243's and a HB .223 two years ago. Decided I'd get them prepped and see what they'll do.  Put a 6.5-20X Leupold in a set of Warne detachable rings and will use it on the three for load development.

One of the .243's cleaned right on up. It's twin is the one giving me fits. Never saw such a gunky barrel on a new rifle.

Hoppes. Sweets, Blue Wonder, CR-10 haven't got it all. Think I might try some liquid drano

[Swampman]

I have so many I don't even remember what all I have.  I've owned guns 5 years and sold them without shooting them.  I found 5 knives the other day I had forgotten about.

[michauxii]

Don't you wish you'd had that problem when you were young?
I do!