White/copper-ish streaks or scratches in new barrel.

[Bidwell]

Got a howa superlite 308. Was looking in the borescope before shooting for the first time and noticed these white or copper-ish marks on one of the rifling. Looks superficial and not really worried about it but just curious to see if anyone know what they are. Copper fouling from test shots maybe? I did clean the barrel thoroughly

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

How far down the bore? Did cleaning remove them, did they come back after shooting?

 

[quietburp]

Just had a funny thought. What if it was Bondo?

 

[wedgy]

I recently took my borescope to a gun store and scoped several barrels of new guns I was interested in. All of them had way more copper than I expected and one had a bit of rust as well.

 

[Bidwell]

How far down the bore? Did cleaning remove them, did they come back after shooting?

I'd say about half way down the barrel, about to shoot it today for the first time so we'll see! Will report back. I did a pretty thorough clean

 

[DShortt]

I've no inside knowledge to verify this, but I have come to believe factory rifles are test fired at least once, and cleaned little if any afterwards.

Hence, the copper fouling you see.

 

[ebb]

As I get older and see some of the stuff that goes on around this world I become less confident that I know much of anything. But I am 100% sure that it is not Bondo. I had a friend that was a very good body man and car painter. He worked at the Ford dealership for a short time someone nicknamed him Bondo. He said it was the worst insult you could call a conscientious auto body tech.

 

[Bill K]

May thought also. After you cleaned the bore, was it still there ?

How far down the bore? Did cleaning remove them, did they come back after shooting?

 

[Bidwell]

How far down the bore? Did cleaning remove them, did they come back after shooting?

Did the break in procedure yesterday and the marks are gone. Probably just fouling, but whatever the case, they are gone. Was shooting pretty erratically at first but it started to settle a little after about the 12th round.

 

[Bidwell]

May thought also. After you cleaned the bore, was it still there ?

After the first cleaning they were there, but seem to be gone after I went through a break in process

 

[LCazador]

I always bore scope a new bore and then clean before I shoot. Most factory barrels I have seen lately have exhibited a shot down the bore. Especially the Howa rifles. The bore fouling seems to clean out easily with most having the copper streaks. I never shoot a new bore without cleaning it first!

 

[WSnyder]

Howa’s (barreled actions from Brownells) in my experience have been shipped with very dirty bores. My last in .223 was full of copper that took a bit to get out.

 

[swd]

Copper fouling from test firing. Very common as others have said.

 

[jwv2001]

My post is not directed to the OP, except that he revealed the topic.

If this kind of stuff bothers you, especially since you have bought a borescope, what do you expect to see in the barrel? My advice it to pour a lap and polish the barrel. Most premium barrels, just the barrel, cost more than the Howa superlite. There is a reason for that.
I mean, you are firing a copper bullet down a steel barrel. Do you really think that that will affect accuracy more than it being just a lousy shot in the first place? Spend time learning the rifle and being a better shot. Things that matter.

 

[Bidwell]

I always bore scope a new bore and then clean before I shoot. Most factory barrels I have seen lately have exhibited a shot down the bore. Especially the Howa rifles. The bore fouling seems to clean out easily with most having the copper streaks. I never shoot a new bore without cleaning it first!

First time having a borescope with a new rifle. Interesting to get a baseline. Streaks are gone after the barrel break in process.

 

[Bidwell]

My post is not directed to the OP, except that he revealed the topic.

If this kind of stuff bothers you, especially since you have bought a borescope, what do you expect to see in the barrel? My advice it to pour a lap and polish the barrel. Most premium barrels, just the barrel, cost more than the Howa superlite. There is a reason for that.
I mean, you are firing a copper bullet down a steel barrel. Do you really think that that will affect accuracy more than it being just a lousy shot in the first place? Spend time learning the rifle and being a better shot. Things that matter.

I've looked into lapping barrels, and using abrasives for general cleaning as explained in this Bryan Litz tutorial:

Any general advice for what type of compound, grit to use and procedure?

 

[Ruger15151]

I've looked into lapping barrels, and using abrasives for general cleaning as explained in this Bryan Litz tutorial:

Any general advice for what type of compound, grit to use and procedure?

DO NOT lap you own barrel. if you are looking for a quality bore, buy a quality barrel that has already been lapped by the manufacturer. More times than not you will screw your barrel up by trying to lap it yourself.

 

[Gabe22BR]

Got a howa superlite 308. Was looking in the borescope before shooting for the first time and noticed these white or copper-ish marks on one of the rifling. Looks superficial and not really worried about it but just curious to see if anyone know what they are. Copper fouling from test shots maybe? I did clean the barrel thoroughly View attachment 1626278

You should swab out the factory copper, oils, & rust before shooting a new rifle-


THEN bore scope it and see if you want to carry it back , and get your $$ back

 

[jwv2001]

I disagree that lapping could cause a problem. It's really a low impact process. Most barrels are have a choke at the muzzle. Basically you take something like a jag on the end of a cleaning rod, run it up to the end of the barrel. Wrap the end of the rod with something to prevent the casting material (cerrosafe) to flow past. This cast will be your lap. Use very fine abrasive i.e. valve grinding compound to coat your lap. Run it threw your barrel as if you were cleaning it. Go slow and check your progress.
David Tubb developed a system of abrasive bullets to "fire" lap your barrel. I mean, Tubb should know what he's doing but, that process seems really high impact.

 

[Bidwell]

You should swab out the factory copper, oils, & rust before shooting a new rifle-


THEN bore scope it and see if you want to carry it back , and get your $$ back

Yeah I gave it a really good clean before shooting to get the factory oils and crud out.