Bore Tech Eliminator - Opinions
- Thread starter K22
- Start date
So many times we forget easy solutions for great problems.
My first pass is for carbon deposits elimination, and I use a 50-50% water/hand-dishwasher solution.
Believe me when I say that after two patches soaked in this stuff you get rid of 99% carbon deposits.
May you need a third one if you shoot a very hot and dirty poder, but that is all!
Water has been the most effective cleaner for years. Just look at the muzzleloaders.
Forum Boss
Administrator
Two comments:
1. BoreTech Eliminator is indeed effective. We also found that is it NOT friendly to fire control parts, and can cause rapid corrosion of some metals. Make sure you keep this stuff out of your bolt and trigger group. I think there are equally effective products that are less hostile to your action's interior.
2. Quote: "A few years ago the trend was to only use nylon brushes, but most of those who advocated that soon found themselves with fouling build-up and went back to using bronze brushes. Iosso or JB on a patch or nylon brush is the only sure way to control carbon build-up in the throat area, aka carbon ring."
I disagree with this statement. There is more to the story. Many very successful shooters are NOT using bronze brushes and are cleaning with the "least intrusive method". In F-Class, we are seeing trends towards longer strings of fire between cleanings. I do NOT think that JB or Iosso is necessary for many barrels, and I have seen evidence of barrel damage caused by excessive (or overly aggressive) use of compounds like these. I do not want to start a big debate. However I want to tell readers of this site that they definitely do NOT need to rush out and buy JB or IOSSO. Sometimes that stuff may be helpful but I avoid using these products, and view JB/Iosso only as a last resort. Use of wet patches, Wipeout, with very minimal brushing (if at all), is my favored practice for good barrels. YMMV. But if you have a very good shooting barrel, it only makes sense to follow procedures which are LEAST likely to change the internal dimensions and properties of the barrel.
1. BoreTech Eliminator is indeed effective. We also found that is it NOT friendly to fire control parts, and can cause rapid corrosion of some metals. Make sure you keep this stuff out of your bolt and trigger group. I think there are equally effective products that are less hostile to your action's interior.
2. Quote: "A few years ago the trend was to only use nylon brushes, but most of those who advocated that soon found themselves with fouling build-up and went back to using bronze brushes. Iosso or JB on a patch or nylon brush is the only sure way to control carbon build-up in the throat area, aka carbon ring."
I disagree with this statement. There is more to the story. Many very successful shooters are NOT using bronze brushes and are cleaning with the "least intrusive method". In F-Class, we are seeing trends towards longer strings of fire between cleanings. I do NOT think that JB or Iosso is necessary for many barrels, and I have seen evidence of barrel damage caused by excessive (or overly aggressive) use of compounds like these. I do not want to start a big debate. However I want to tell readers of this site that they definitely do NOT need to rush out and buy JB or IOSSO. Sometimes that stuff may be helpful but I avoid using these products, and view JB/Iosso only as a last resort. Use of wet patches, Wipeout, with very minimal brushing (if at all), is my favored practice for good barrels. YMMV. But if you have a very good shooting barrel, it only makes sense to follow procedures which are LEAST likely to change the internal dimensions and properties of the barrel.
Yes, that would be my quote. Specifically, I was addressing the OP, who from his past posts is a avid varmint hunter. He asks these cleaning questions after years of shooting - my guess is he used Hoppes #9 on patches and bronze brushes. I advocated Iosso or JB because once the carbon ring forms (which he most likely has on his high round count varmint barrels) this is the only remedy that is 100% effective IME.
The nylon brush vs. bronze brush statement comes from what I have seen in short range BR in my neck of the woods. Wipeout is not a viable option as we (local IBS competitors) believe a bore must be cleaned between relays, or after a series of relays as that is what our targets tell us. Also, I am a firm believer in that a barrel can be too clean and therefore require more fouling shots to settle in - a problem that my regimen using BBS avoids.
Iosso is still used but scrubbed mainly in the throat area at the end of an agg. When my smith who is a notable IBS competitor advises this cleaning regimen ....and still does for his F-class competition, I do so with great confidence.
The nylon brush vs. bronze brush statement comes from what I have seen in short range BR in my neck of the woods. Wipeout is not a viable option as we (local IBS competitors) believe a bore must be cleaned between relays, or after a series of relays as that is what our targets tell us. Also, I am a firm believer in that a barrel can be too clean and therefore require more fouling shots to settle in - a problem that my regimen using BBS avoids.
Iosso is still used but scrubbed mainly in the throat area at the end of an agg. When my smith who is a notable IBS competitor advises this cleaning regimen ....and still does for his F-class competition, I do so with great confidence.
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The problem is the 1% remaining is in that crevice in the throat and just keeps building up causing accuracy issues. Picture the bullet encountering a very hard donut as it is being released.
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Do those Bore Tech products have a hazard warning about breathing, I have to be very careful!
alf
Silver $$ Contributor
Bore tech Eliminator is water soluble, and doesn't stink up the house like most of the others.
It's all I've used for several years with a nylon brush, followed with a little JB on an patch wrapped around an undersized brush, chased with a patch with a couple three drops of Kroil on it
It's all I've used for several years with a nylon brush, followed with a little JB on an patch wrapped around an undersized brush, chased with a patch with a couple three drops of Kroil on it
timeout
Silver $$ Contributor
Thanks to all who have contributed. Reason I asked about Bore Tech Eliminator is that I've used Shooter's Choice for many years and while I'm completely satisfied with it's performance, my wife constantly complains about the smell in the basement. I've taken several precautions to minimize the odor but avoiding it all together isn't doable. I was looking for an alternative that doesn't smell as much.
P.S. I pass two solvent soak patches through initially. Then I use a bronze brush for 12 passes to remove carbon fouling. I follow with two solvent soaked patches to push all the crud out. Then I pass a solvent soaked nylon brush through 6 times and let stand for 15 minutes to work on the copper then I dry patch until the patch come out clean usually only takes about 3 to 4 patches. Been doing it this way for almost 40 years.
I follow with a final bore treatment of WD-40 but I considering changing to a more suitable final bore treatment - See my other post. My rifle smith was applauded to learn that I use WD 40 as a final bore treatment - claims that it's the worse thing you can use. I've been doing it for 40 years
but willing to learn from others if something is better. Debating whether - "if it ain't broke - don't fix it applies here". 
I'm a long range varmint / predator hunting so accuracy is vital much like it is to a target shooter. Thanks guys.
P.S. I pass two solvent soak patches through initially. Then I use a bronze brush for 12 passes to remove carbon fouling. I follow with two solvent soaked patches to push all the crud out. Then I pass a solvent soaked nylon brush through 6 times and let stand for 15 minutes to work on the copper then I dry patch until the patch come out clean usually only takes about 3 to 4 patches. Been doing it this way for almost 40 years.
I follow with a final bore treatment of WD-40 but I considering changing to a more suitable final bore treatment - See my other post. My rifle smith was applauded to learn that I use WD 40 as a final bore treatment - claims that it's the worse thing you can use. I've been doing it for 40 years
but willing to learn from others if something is better. Debating whether - "if it ain't broke - don't fix it applies here". I'm a long range varmint / predator hunting so accuracy is vital much like it is to a target shooter. Thanks guys.
I could not find anything on the Bore Tech web site where they recommend not to leave Eliminator, C4 or Cu+2 in overnight. In fact on the Eliminator, C4 and CU+2 bottles it says before storing the firearm, dampen a patch and push through the bore as all three contain a short term rust preventative and then before using the firearm always run a dry patch through the bore. I also called Bore Tech and talked to a technician and he said they have never put out information about not leaving these products in overnight.
Unfortunately we sold the gun a couple of years back, but I wish I could show you photos of want happened to the trigger and trigger hanger of our 17 Mach 2 rimfire with a Hall action after a short period of Leakage from Bore-Tech Eliminator -- the ONLY solvent used in that gun at the time. Severe rusting of bolt heads and steel parts inside the trigger. Ugly stuff. Never seen anything like it with other products. That was observed and reported by Stan Ware, as trustworthy a man as you will ever find. Stan was doing extensive testing of the gun with multiple barrels. Believe what you want from Bore Tech... but after I saw what I saw, I favor other products. I use wet patches followed by WipeOut for most barrels.
One of the issues with the 17 Mach 2 gun is that is harder to get a perfect seal on a rimfire boreguide because of the nature of the breechface.
The BoreTech stuff we used was purchased quite a few years ago. Perhaps the formulation has been improved since then.
One of the issues with the 17 Mach 2 gun is that is harder to get a perfect seal on a rimfire boreguide because of the nature of the breechface.
The BoreTech stuff we used was purchased quite a few years ago. Perhaps the formulation has been improved since then.
I have used Bore Tech Eliminator, C4 and Cu+2 for several years and have never "found that it is NOT friendly to fire control parts, and can cause rapid corrosion of some metals". I always use bore guides on my good competition rifles so keeping this stuff out of my bolt and trigger group has not been a problem but I do have some old rifles that i do not have bore guides for and the use of these products has never had a negative effect on their bolt and trigger group. In my recent talk with the Bore Tech technician I read your statements about this to him and he explained to me how one of the things their product was formulated to avoid was just that problem. From my long term and extensive use of these products, talking to several other shooters who use Bore Tech products about what you said and talking to the Bore Tech technician I don't think the Bore Tech products are what is causing your problems. He went into a lot of interesting detail about this subject so I was thinking you might want to call Bore Tech and discuss this with them.
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You are absolutely right. I just read the label. It recommends leaving in dampened patch as a rust preventative as you said.
Now it's got me wondering which cleaner I was thinking of.
I'm sorry for the misinformation. Thank you for the correction and due diligence.
powderbrake
Gold $$ Contributor
I use the Bore Tech Carbon remover ( C4), then the Copper remover (Cu+2). I understand that Eliminator is just a mix of these two items. I highly recommend the Dewey Copper Eliminator Series of rods, jags and brushes. They are all aluminum, no steel, and work great, never showing any copper indications, because they do not contain any copper at all.
As a prairie dog shooter, I put lots of rounds down the barrel between cleanings, and the Bore Tech stuff is amazing compared to the Hoppes, Sweets, Bore Shine, JB and ISSO which I formerly used to get a 22-250 clean. I have a new barrel on the 22-250, and a new 6mmBR to try on the dogs this year, and so far in load development the Bore Tech stuff is terrific.
As a prairie dog shooter, I put lots of rounds down the barrel between cleanings, and the Bore Tech stuff is amazing compared to the Hoppes, Sweets, Bore Shine, JB and ISSO which I formerly used to get a 22-250 clean. I have a new barrel on the 22-250, and a new 6mmBR to try on the dogs this year, and so far in load development the Bore Tech stuff is terrific.
I've been using Bore Tech Eliminator since they sponsored the US F-Class Team at the 2009 World Championship. It's the best bore cleaner on the market. Fast, easy to use, water soluble and doesn't have a harsh smell. Most bore cleaners will gum up a good trigger. If you do get it in the trigger group all you have to do is flush it out. Whatever solvent you use always use a bore guide to help keep it out of the trigger.
Warthog 1134 was my favorite, followed by GM. top engine cleaner but but both are no longer available. I tried all others mentioned above, none could beat the favorites that are no longer made. the only one so far that comes close is KG1……. and i found it to be ok. If you need to soak the barrel to get the copper and carbon out, it isn't very effective…… jim
danny
Silver $$ Contributor
I clean about exactly the way you clean. I largely let the chemicals work during the week while not shooting. I rarely, if ever, use any brush at all, and when I do, it is nylon. Sometimes it is a bit slow on some barrels, but I know that less work from a rod in the barrel is probably a good thing.
Danny
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
BT is the bomb. I have tried the K12 and there are two bottles of it on my porch you can have...
I use moly same as I have done for 25 years. So, Walt Berger cleaned with Kroil and JB paste and still holds a few world records... These days I use SUPER SLICK from Lowes instead of Kroil to swab the bore. I scrub the throat with the wet patch and the Super Slick and takes out carbon like crazy. Most of the time, I don't bother with the JB even though I have used it for 25 years and never seen that it does anything but clean and polish. I don't get that much copper. For copper I use BT and aluminum jags.
I think super clean barrels are over rated. OVER RATED!!!
I use moly same as I have done for 25 years. So, Walt Berger cleaned with Kroil and JB paste and still holds a few world records... These days I use SUPER SLICK from Lowes instead of Kroil to swab the bore. I scrub the throat with the wet patch and the Super Slick and takes out carbon like crazy. Most of the time, I don't bother with the JB even though I have used it for 25 years and never seen that it does anything but clean and polish. I don't get that much copper. For copper I use BT and aluminum jags.
I think super clean barrels are over rated. OVER RATED!!!
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