Thorough Barrel Cleaning

[Model70Man]

I thoroughly cleaned 3 rifles today and I must say they really needed it.

First, I run a patch with solvent down the barrel 3 times and then let the barrel sit for 20 to 30 min. Then I attach the brush to the rod and run it thru the barrel 10 times or so. After that I run a patch with solvent down the barrel again, then follow it with 3 to 5 clean dry patches. Next, I soak a patch in Copper Solvent and run it thru the barrel 2 times and then let it sit for an hour or so. Then run dry patches until no blue is on the patch and then repeat the Copper Solvent step one more time. After another hour, if the patch comes out clean, I use the solvent one more time followed by dry patches and then finish with oil.

What is your barrel cleaning process?

 

[TennBuck]

about 3 passes of a boresnake with CLP on it.

 

[megalomaniac]

Be careful with the copper solvent... some of them are mostly ammonia and if left in for a long time can potentially damage your bore.

Personally, I start with a hoppes nitro powder solvent soaked on a patch over a bronze brush. That removes all the powder first.

Next, I use sweet's copper solvent over a jag until all the blue (usually none in my guns with a properly broken in bore) is gone. Then a dry patch or three. If I'm going to store the gun for a while, I'll then run a patch of CLP or gun oil down the bore.

On a very dirty bore (used gun I buy, usually), I'll substitute JB bore paste for the powder solvent and scrub the heck out of it. Then back to the sweets for the copper.

 

[Whelen Man]

I usually run a patch with Kroil down the bore first and then use Butch's Bore Shine and scrub with a nylon bristle brush about 10 passes. After that I use a clean patch and then repeat until I've get a clean patch. Then I use Hoppe's No. 9 if the rifle is to be stored for a while or another patch of Kroil if it's going shooting soon. Then I always dry patch it before shooting. Always use a proper bore guide and clean from the breech or you may do more damage than good. Then follow up with an appropriately sized shotgun or pistol bore mop to dry out the chamber or you'll show high pressures on the first few cartridges from brass stretching.

 

[TN deer hunter]

I use Wipe-Out let it sit two to three hours or overnight, then run a dry patch through. After this I run a patch through about 5x times soaked with Kroil followed by a dry patch. Its usually very clean but I repeat if necessary. Wipe-Out is great and saves you alot of time and work. I have also used JB and Kroil but the Wipe-Out beats JB IMO. I use CLP for the action and surface.

Wipe-Out Reviews

 

[Cull Buck Hunter]

I only clean barrels when I shoot corrosive ammo or Pyrodex. I will prep guns for storage if I don't have plans to shoot them for a while with a heavy coat of CLP, good stuff. After cleaning I always shoot a couple of fouling shots before hunting or grouping, they almost always deviate from a barrel that has been shot a few times.

 

[Goat]

Run an oily patch thru 4 or 5 times. Wait 365 days and repeat. :) I've used this laborious technique for 50 years and have never had a bore corrode or pit.