New barrel cleaning

[lurcher]

I have acquired a new barrel for my M96 mauser via an online auction it is an original M38 barrel in the white.

The barrel is coated inside and out with some kind of white sticky chalky  anti corrosion stuff? I thought I would do the gunbsmith a favour and clean the barrel up for him before he fits it to the action.

What is the best way to get rid of that stuff? soak in solvent, soapy hot water? followed by cleaning/oiling?

Thanks in advance

John

[savageT]

lurcher,
Go down to your local autosupply or Wal-Mart and pick up a couple cans of the cheapest carb or brake spray cleaners you can find.  I'ts important to know that you want to clean the barrel out of doors because it ain't healthy to breathe this stuff!  That should do the trick and then follow up with a couple patches of good basic bore cleaner like Hoppe's #9 or something you can brew yourself like Ed's Red.  Might not hurt to run an oil patch before you give it to the gunsmith.....If he's like mine he may not get to it for 6 months!!!!!
Jim

[gunnut69]

That gunsmith 6 months behind is a real go getter. Right now some stuffs been in the shop nearly a year. Of course its stuff I am doing for friends that won't get charged out at a rate I can afford.  They understand so don't say much. They get it on the cheap but a bit slow.  I made a startling discovery, the Wallyworld carb cleaner is probably not a good idea on polymer frame guns. It seems that a friend used it on a S&W with a polymer frame and the surface of the frame was made a bit sticky..no permanent damage but beware.. The acetone in that stuff is a powerful solvent(even disolves finger nails in time) and the mineral spirits is also pretty potent. Won't be a problem on that barrel but the cans have a warning about possible paint damage..

[savageT]

Hey gunnut 69!
Ya, a year is probably allot more like the real world, I agree.  In fact, he bailed on us and went to work for a local BassPro Shop that just opened nearby and is most likely giving up on smithing altogether!
As far as the spray carb cleaners go, I do agree about your concerns.  I understood he was talking about a new M38 barrel only in the white, no stock involved.  Guess the gunsmith should make the call on whether to clean or not???
Jim

[gunnut69]

No it's not that. I use the carb cleaner all the time, it's great stuff but I thought a caution in order..  On the barrel carb cleaner is the ticket.  I'm really slow, retired don't you know.  Still it's hard for anyone to make a living gunsmithing.  There aer only a few that make really good at it, only room for so many Turnbulls and Jarretts.. The average smith you need to take a brokem firing pin to is in dire financial straights..  I try to avoid these type jobs as the money is so poor.  If I don't make something even a retired guy like me will go broke!  Just a caution on the carb cleaner.  I've used cases of the stuff but never used it on polymer framed weapon.  Might want to test on a hidden place of just use mineral spirit on the polymer frames.