A copper remover test

[Gargoyle]

New factory shot barrel, Savage 110 Elite Precision: (Bore scope verification between steps)

Initial bore scope was nothing short of a sewer pipe. Copper abound. Green, white, gold colors. The worst I've seen so far with my bore scope. My process:

1. Outers Foaming bore cleaner: 45 min set of application. Initial foam made the bore bleed blue. Additional 2 applications did nothing. Scrubbed bore with bronze brush and Ballistol for carbon. Black first patch, clean subsequent patches. Copper readily apparent.

2. Alcohol swabbed the bore and applied Hoppes Black Copper remover. First application provided some more deep blue patches. Second application, nothing. Scrubbed bore with Ballistol bronze brush. Black patch initial, clean subsequent patches. Copper still apparent, but reduced.

3. Alcohol swabbed bore and applied Birchwood Caseys "Bore Scrubber". 45 min set and first patch blue, rest clean. Copper still present in bore. but reduced.

4. Scrubbed bore with Ballistol on a bronze brush. 50 passes. Bled black first patch. Clean subsequent patches. Copper same level as previous attempt.

5. Flitz metal polish on a bronze brush and 50 back & forth scrubs. Black 3 patches. Followed up with Ballistol to clean bore of Flitz. Bore scope showed drastic reduction of copper. 5% of what was initially observed in the barrel from the start.

6. Overnight foam of the outers to see if remaining copper cleans off.

Initial thoughts: Chemical warfare on copper seems to work to an extent. Mechanical scrubbing is superior. Update tomorrow.

 

[acloco]

Use a stiff nylon brush.

Initial clean with carb cleaner or brake cleaner (that SAYS it does not leave residue on can).

Coat brush with standard Hoppe's #9, push thru, soak brush at muzzle end, pull thru, repeat a couple more times.

Let soak for 15 minutes. Scrub with stiff nylon brush, spray excess out of carb or brake cleaner, then patch.

 

[pdhntr]

I did a bad one tonight. Copper wash in the first half of the barrel and copper plated in the last half. (not mine). I ran a patch through the bore at first, and could feel the copper on the rod, it was that bad. Brought out the bore scope and was amazed how bad it was.

My procedure:

Squirted some Montana Extreme in the barrel and on a bronze brush. Ran the brush down the barrel about a dozen times back and forth.

Went and got a beer from the fridge and watched some Street Outlaws for a while.

Beer gone. Got up and put a little more ME on the brush and ran it through the barrel a dozen more times.

Went and got another beer, and watched some more Outlaws.

Beer gone. Put some more ME on the brush and did another dozen passes. Dry patched it and checked with the bore scope.

Copper totally gone. Barrel pristine.

Made myself a whiskey............. I love cleaning guns.

Jim

 

[choprzrul]

I just fire formed 200 new Lapua brass in my wife’s 308 this morning. Loaded with some Winchester 147gr FMJ that I found on my shelf over CFE223. Gonna see how much copper got deposited tomorrow. I had removed all traces of copper before those 200, and now I gotta remove it again to do load development with some Hammers.

it should be interesting to see how well the CFE ingredients work. Better to stop it before it starts than trying to clean it up later I figure…but when I have it to remove, I use Bore Tech CU+ after Shooter’s Choice gets the carbon outta the way

.

 

[Gargoyle]

I just fire formed 200 new Lapua brass in my wife’s 308 this morning. Loaded with some Winchester 147gr FMJ that I found on my shelf over CFE223. Gonna see how much copper got deposited tomorrow. I had removed all traces of copper before those 200, and now I gotta remove it again to do load development with some Hammers.

it should be interesting to see how well the CFE ingredients work. Better to stop it before it starts than trying to clean it up later I figure…but when I have it to remove, I use Bore Tech CU+ after Shooter’s Choice gets the carbon outta the way

.

Hammer bullets colluded with some aliens. I didn't have one bit of copper what-so-ever in my bore! 100 Hammer bullets fired too. Amazing!

 

[Fuj]

Leave your bronze brushes in the drawer. Scrubbing does
nothing for chemical reactions other then ammonia eating
up your brush. If it's that bad, coat the bore using a soaked
bore mop with Sweets, and let set for a couple of hours.
Patch out and repeat. If the cleaner is not dripping out of the
end of the barrel, your not using enough. Soak it and let it
work.

 

[Gargoyle]

Update: I thought I left the foaming bore cleaner in the barrel last night. I pushed a patch through and nothing drained out and patch was white. I might have implemented a little too much of pdhnter's method, just saying.

So, bore is totally clean of all copper and carbon. Micro layer of CLP in the bore for corrosion prevention. I dare not bore scope again for fears of retinal burn! I got a clean slate to monitor this gun right from the start. (This isn't even my gun! My friend(s) abuse me)

Take aways:

It is hard to tell which copper remover performed better without a more sciency performed test. I was given some advice from Uncle @mikeinct that makes a lot of sense to me and which will the basis of the next test. I got 3 more Elite Precisions to work on for my merry band of monsters I created to join me in ELR. I'm excited to monitor all these rigs, record round counts and measure changes using the bore scope. I'm a psychopath like that!

Thanks to all who have replied with advice! I've read all the posts. Stay tuned for my adventure in finding the most efficient and effective way to bore clean.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Leave your bronze brushes in the drawer. Scrubbing does
nothing for chemical reactions other then ammonia eating
up your brush. If it's that bad, coat the bore using a soaked
bore mop with Sweets, and let set for a couple of hours.
Patch out and repeat. If the cleaner is not dripping out of the
end of the barrel, your not using enough. Soak it and let it
work.

I pretty much agree with Fuj except I leave the SWEETS in overnight. Scrub 50 times with a bronze brush, that's good for your lands and crown. Iosso in moderation is ok. BUT, why would you let a bore get to this condition. If I said what I really think I would get banned so I will stop with LMAO.

 

[Gargoyle]

I pretty much agree with Fuj except I leave the SWEETS in overnight. Scrub 50 times with a bronze brush, that's good for your lands and crown. Iosso in moderation is ok. BUT, why would you let a bore get to this condition. If I said what I really think I would get banned so I will stop with LMAO.

Dude! I got that rifle in yesterday from the distributor. Sealed box and all! Savage fires a ton of rounds through them at the factory. They all bleed blue out of the box.

 

[CharlieNC]

I have found Wipe Out foam works great for removing copper. Follow directions, first app for around an hour/patch out, spray again and soak overnight. This has always done 100% copper removal for me; but then its time to start on the carbon for which it is not effective.

 

[Gargoyle]

I have found Wipe Out foam works great for removing copper. Follow directions, first app for around an hour/patch out, spray again and soak overnight. This has always done 100% copper removal for me; but then its time to start on the carbon for which it is not effective.

Then there is the layer cake question. Clean carbon first to reveal copper? Is there layers of carbon between copper? I'm a bit perplexed with this since the initial foam treatment produces a lot of copper fouling removal as evidenced on the patches...

 

[CharlieNC]

Then there is the layer cake question. Clean carbon first to reveal copper? Is there layers of carbon between copper? I'm a bit perplexed with this since the initial foam treatment produces a lot of copper fouling removal as evidenced on the patches...

Layers can certainly form, but in my limited experience if frequently cleaned are not as likely to be generated. Unlike the "don't clean until accuracy falls off" approach.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Dude! I got that rifle in yesterday from the distributor. Sealed box and all! Savage fires a ton of rounds through them at the factory. They all bleed blue out of the box.

Ah, the complete story. I have a hard time with a ton of shots but 2 or 3 with a rough bore might be enough for a copper mine. When your running a rod back and forth with gusto unless your doing it in a controlled fashion it's bending and banging against the lands, not good. I know brass is softer than steel but running a bronze brush in and out, with gusto, I doubt helps your crown. Soak with SWEETS and if needed I would run some Hoppes or Kroil oil though the barrel then rub some Iosso into the wet patch and give it about 10 passes short stroking it but never running it out the barrel over the crown. Good luck, I have seen some Savages that shoot very well in spite of their scary looking barrels.

 

[243winxb]

Scrubbed bore with Ballistol on a bronze brush. 50 passes.

5. Flitz metal polish on a bronze brush and 50 back & forth scrubs

100 Scrubs = Need new barrel.

 

[Gargoyle]

100 Scrubs = Need new barrel.

I'ma prove you wrong! Erik Cortina and F-Class shooters like, "Winning in the Wind" Keith. They know what's up. I'll post some 1 mile 1/2 to 1/4 MOA groups for ya come spring. Stop talking nonsense!

 

[Fuj]

I'ma prove you wrong! Erik Cortina and F-Class shooters like, "Winning in the Wind" Keith. They know what's up. I'll post some 1 mile 1/2 to 1/4 MOA groups for ya come spring. Stop talking nonsense!

I doubt your using the same gear as they are. Looking forward
to them targets.

 

[Gargoyle]

I doubt your using the same gear as they are. Looking forward
to them targets.

I was referencing their cleaning regimes and use of bronze brushes. You bet!

 

[JSH]

Quit with the oil base products till bore is clean. All it does is make the brass solvent fight to do its job. I keep Balistol on hand, never seen it effect hard carbon, BP soot is a different story.

Rather than chug the barrel with a cleaning rod like a windmill pump, I use the wipe out accelerator, then the foam for bad barrels, I use patch out for ones that are not bad or just clean easy. Now leave it alone and let it set all night!

Carbon issues, CLR, one and done.

 

[Fuj]

Quit with the oil base products till bore is clean. All it does is make the brass solvent fight to do its job. I keep Balistol on hand, never seen it effect hard carbon, BP soot is a different story.

Good read.... After chasing carbon, I like to patch clean
with Isopropyl alcohol before using my copper solvent.

 

[PopCharlie]

Lately, I've been using the thoroclean products from Bullet Central. My process is:
Wipe out accelerator and wipe out overnight. Patch it out
Thoroclean, nylon brush, 60 strokes. Throw the brush away.
Then patches with thoroflush to get the thoroclean out.
New nylon brush, 20 strokes with thoroflush. Dry patches.
Light oil on patch, then one dry patch..
Borescope...all good and I'm done.
PopCharlie