How do I get the powder, copper and carbon fouling out of my stainless steel barrel-without spending 3 hours?

Question

I have this Shilen Select Match Stainless barrel that I have put 81 rounds through. I used 60 round to break in the barrel. I have meticulously cleaned the rifle basically after every fired shot. I use a cyclone type rolled style brush for cleaning the bore and Butch's Bore Shine for the solvent. After shooting 8 rounds lst Saturday, I started cleaning the bore. I have been cleaning the bore for over an hour now. I'll run two saturated patches down the bore, then I'll run the saturated brush down the bore with at least 20 strokes. After that, I'll run two more saturated patches down the bore. Every time, the first patch comes out a medium black color, no hint of blue or green, just a medium black. This is either powder fouling or carbon fouling. I have used 3 moly coated bullets in this barrel, the rest have been copper plated. Do you guys have any suggestions for me? Any credible information would be helpful.

Answer 1

As a Competitive Shooter and a Gunsmith/Gunshop Owner.I highly recommend a bore solvent "Shooter's Choice" It was developed especially for guns like yours and has the best cleaning, residue, carbon, and copper removal qualities I have ever seen. I have tried them ALL. I found it quite by accident at the Camp Perry Rifle Matches three years ago and all of the top ranked shooters were using this. Between Perry and the Palma Matches I see this being used about 8-1 against all other commercial solvents. I have long range custom rifles with Shilen Stainless steel barrels myself. Run a soaked tornado brush with solvent down your barrel first, Then follow up with 2-3 soaked patches.You'll be amazed how much residue (green (copper) & black (Gunpowder residue) will come out. I finish up with a clean patch to finish.
You will see then what I'm talking about. Shooter's choice is a little more expoensive but well worth the difference in price!

Answer 2

Don't know if this will help but heres my routine.
1. I use a bronze wound brush for scrubing the barrel after saturating it with hoppes no 9 benchrest and run the brush through the bore for at least 20 strokes followed by a least 3 patches.
2. Next I use a nylon brush soaked with Sweets 762 and let stand for at least 10 minutes but no longer than 15.
3. Next run a wet patch using hoppesor what ever you favorite is until the sweet is gone and then run a patch until dry. If your still getting a dirty patch after this start at step 1 again.

I have used this since breaking in the barrel on my H-S Precision over 900 rounds ago

Answer 3

run a soaked patch, then a soaked brush to get things loose then run another soaked patch and wait about 10 minutes turning the gun/barrel over every 5 minutes(you can wait as long as you want just make sure you turn the thing over) after what ever amount of time stand the gun/barrel up so that everything runs out of the end onto a cloth or 2 stacked up dry patches then run some dry patches through. Give your solvent some time to work it's magic after about the 2nd or 3rd time you repeat the steps you should get nice and clean patches coming out.

Answer 4

With black powder just pour water through it first and run a patch through it. Get yourself a can of spray carbuerator cleaner for the workbench. Plug one end and spray it full; let it set for ten minutes or so; then run a patch through. Works like a charm and is simple.

Answer 5

You don't say what caliber you are shooting and this may not work if reduced loads are not recommended. Shoot one round of reduced load before cleaning to remove copper fouling. The slower moving bullet tends to remove the copper.
You might have to experiment with powder to find one that will burn clean in a reduced load. A small amount of polyester fiberfill on the powder charge to keep it on the primer will make it burn cleaner.

Answer 6

Personally, I spray the bore with carburetor cleaner let it sit for a few minutes... Gets the powder and carbon fouling out. Then i use a lot less elbow grease.... good Luck.

Answer 7

There used to be a product called something like "Lewis Lead Remover" that did a pretty good job of removing barrel deposits.

Answer 8

Try some warm water and dawn dish soap. You will be surprised how well it works. I use it on my chrome black powder rifle all the time. Just dry it and lubricate it as usual afterward.

Miketyson26