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Joined: Apr 2007
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Posts: 42 |
Ok, dumb question. How do I know when my barrel is clean? My method is to use a patch and jag first with powder solvent, and by the third or fourth patch it comes out clean usually. Then I put the bronze brush on and do 10 strokes with that. Then back to one wet patch. Then I repeat. 10 strokes with the brush, one wet patch, etc. It seems no matter how many times I repeat this, sometimes 10 times, or 100 total brush strokes, the first patch after the brush is always black. Is my gun that dirty and I need to keep repeating this? Or is the brush making it seem dirty when it really isn’t? I don’t seem to have a problem with copper fouling. Sweets, with a nylon brush seems to keep the blue out, but the black patch after lots of brushing has me puzzled.
I admit when I was a kid, ok-22 years old, I didn’t do a good job keeping rifles clean, and I’m sure some had 100+ rounds between cleaning. I haven’t shot much in the last ten years but trying to shoot more now and do better job taking care of my equipment so I can teach my 7 year old proper methods.
Thanks.
Again. Again. Again. -H. Brooks.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 17,884 Likes: 4 |
The black patch may be barrel steel, lotsa barrels are worn out by excessive cleaning rather than shooting. If your rifle shoots good after cleaning I wouldn't worry about counting brush strokes, repetitions or snow white patches. There's no real need to remove every last bit of dirt, fouling, copper or whatever.
Last edited by gunswizard; 11/28/20.
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Joined: Nov 2020
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New Member
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New Member
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 21 |
Yeah, I wouldn't get too worried if you've done a good cleaning and the patches aren't coming out white. Some barrels are just like that.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 42
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 42 |
Sounds like I’m worrying about nothing. Thanks.
Again. Again. Again. -H. Brooks.
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Joined: Mar 2018
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 3,447 |
Yeah, good advice to not OVER clean barrels.
Wouldn't take the copper out of a bore as you'll need to shoot it just to regain your "copper equilibrium". Just get the carbon fouling out.
Don't ask me about my military service or heroic acts...most of it is untrue.
Pronoun: Yes, SIR !
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 2,195 |
Ride well, shoot straight, and speak the truth.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,908 Likes: 13 |
Ok, dumb question. How do I know when my barrel is clean? My method is to use a patch and jag first with powder solvent, and by the third or fourth patch it comes out clean usually. Then I put the bronze brush on and do 10 strokes with that. Then back to one wet patch. Then I repeat. 10 strokes with the brush, one wet patch, etc. It seems no matter how many times I repeat this, sometimes 10 times, or 100 total brush strokes, the first patch after the brush is always black. Is my gun that dirty and I need to keep repeating this? Or is the brush making it seem dirty when it really isn’t? I don’t seem to have a problem with copper fouling. Sweets, with a nylon brush seems to keep the blue out, but the black patch after lots of brushing has me puzzled.
I admit when I was a kid, ok-22 years old, I didn’t do a good job keeping rifles clean, and I’m sure some had 100+ rounds between cleaning. I haven’t shot much in the last ten years but trying to shoot more now and do better job taking care of my equipment so I can teach my 7 year old proper methods.
Thanks. How are you cleaning your brush between applications?
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 42
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 42 |
How are you cleaning your brush between applications?
Well in this case it was a brand new brush at the start. But I didn’t clean it in between switching from the patch to the brush. Should i have?
Again. Again. Again. -H. Brooks.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,380 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,380 Likes: 2 |
Probably better off not knowing what’s in there.
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,380 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,380 Likes: 2 |
Ok, dumb question. How do I know when my barrel is clean? My method is to use a patch and jag first with powder solvent, and by the third or fourth patch it comes out clean usually. Then I put the bronze brush on and do 10 strokes with that. Then back to one wet patch. Then I repeat. 10 strokes with the brush, one wet patch, etc. It seems no matter how many times I repeat this, sometimes 10 times, or 100 total brush strokes, the first patch after the brush is always black. Is my gun that dirty and I need to keep repeating this? Or is the brush making it seem dirty when it really isn’t? I don’t seem to have a problem with copper fouling. Sweets, with a nylon brush seems to keep the blue out, but the black patch after lots of brushing has me puzzled.
I admit when I was a kid, ok-22 years old, I didn’t do a good job keeping rifles clean, and I’m sure some had 100+ rounds between cleaning. I haven’t shot much in the last ten years but trying to shoot more now and do better job taking care of my equipment so I can teach my 7 year old proper methods.
Thanks. How are you cleaning your brush between applications? If an initial pass or two with the brush isn’t enough, just dunk it again in the Hoppe’s No. 9.
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson
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Joined: Feb 2003
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Posts: 42 |
Wow that’s quite the process.
Again. Again. Again. -H. Brooks.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Wow that’s quite the process. Only remove the carbon fouling and **EXCESS** copper (if any). Each round wipes a layer of copper from the barrel and lays down a replacement layer, giving copper equilibrium. #@!%^*$ !
Don't ask me about my military service or heroic acts...most of it is untrue.
Pronoun: Yes, SIR !
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,908 Likes: 13 |
How are you cleaning your brush between applications?
Well in this case it was a brand new brush at the start. But I didn’t clean it in between switching from the patch to the brush. Should i have? Otherwise you're running a dirty brush back in. After the brush strokes I leave it hanging out past the muzzle and hose it off with brake cleaner. Then I thread it off before withdrawing the rod.
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Joined: Sep 2014
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,962 Likes: 11 |
I about lost my mind, and wore a Sako 7mag barrel out, trying to get it clean.
Then, the lightbulb came on,the Sweets was eating my brass jag. The blue wasn't copper fouling, it was from my jag.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Could also be the brush is dirty and leaving dirt behind.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 42
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
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Posts: 42 |
Thanks guys. Didn't mean to start a 'how to clean your gun' thread. More specifically just trying to understand what the black might be on my patch after brushing. Definitely not copper. Either really old baked in powder residue, or just a dirty brush. Regardless I'm probably brushing too much, gun shoots pretty well.
Again. Again. Again. -H. Brooks.
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Joined: Mar 2018
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Run a Ramrodz or patch down the bore a few weeks after cleaning the rifle. Unless the bore has been scrubbed to bare metal (GOD forbid!), you will likely to see more "black" on the patch.
Don't ask me about my military service or heroic acts...most of it is untrue.
Pronoun: Yes, SIR !
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