Am I addicted to my bore scope or cleaning my barrels?

[geraldgee]

Having a bore scope has reduced my cleaning time because 1) it's improved my cleaning methods and 2) knowing when it's clean lets me stop cleaning

+1 well said. A bore scope should teach you how to clean your barrels properly. It should only show you improper cleaning the 1st time you use it.

 

[fyrewall]

Overnight soak with Gunslick foam then nylon brushing with 5W-20 synthetic motor oil seems to remove black stuff. Occasional use of JB. Carbon is almost inert and bonds with oxygen at high temps that would do a number on a nice rifle barrel. Various strong acids would not dissolve carbon but would dissolve barrel steel My thinking is the black stuff possibly is an amalgam of powder component residue, primer residue (lead), and bullet fouling that has been subjected to oxidation, heat and pressure. The foam dissolves copper and metal fouling & followed by motor oil brushing to break up and float away the black stuff facilitating removal - like coal black patches and black glop on cleaning rods & brushes. Just my thoughts on the subject. I have been using the same quart of synthetic for years. Wear nitrile gloves - lead is nasty.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I also use some Gunslick foam. It has been bought out and is now sold as Hoppes. It works well. If I don't clean at the range after just shooting a dozen rounds I carry a can in my vehicle and spray it and let it soak on the way home. Amazing how fast both the carbon and copper clean up after that.

 

[dolek]

I have never used a foam before, Going to give it a whirl now. Thanks for the info.

 

[JBT47]

Overnight soak with Gunslick foam then nylon brushing with 5W-20 synthetic motor oil seems to remove black stuff. Occasional use of JB. Carbon is almost inert and bonds with oxygen at high temps that would do a number on a nice rifle barrel. Various strong acids would not dissolve carbon but would dissolve barrel steel My thinking is the black stuff possibly is an amalgam of powder component residue, primer residue (lead), and bullet fouling that has been subjected to oxidation, heat and pressure. The foam dissolves copper and metal fouling & followed by motor oil brushing to break up and float away the black stuff facilitating removal - like coal black patches and black glop on cleaning rods & brushes. Just my thoughts on the subject. I have been using the same quart of synthetic for years. Wear nitrile gloves - lead is nasty.

Why motor oil? Have you found that is cleans better than another type oil?

 

[fyrewall]

Yes motor oil - after looking at the insides of my p/u truck engine after 8 years of driving & 150K plus miles I saw that it was remarkedly clean. Apparently, motor oils have detergent qualities that attach to and float away impurities. After soaking the innards of my rifle bore with foam, I push out the spent foam & crud with a patch and then brush with 5W-20. Good idea to fill warm bore with foam, the heat probably speeds up the chemical reaction inside the bore. Take care not to mess up the insides of a nice gun case with black/blue spent foam. I would like to know more about the composition of the black stuff inside rifle bores.

 

[dolek]

Yes motor oil - after looking at the insides of my p/u truck engine after 8 years of driving & 150K plus miles I saw that it was remarkedly clean. Apparently, motor oils have detergent qualities that attach to and float away impurities. After soaking the innards of my rifle bore with foam, I push out the spent foam & crud with a patch and then brush with 5W-20. Good idea to fill warm bore with foam, the heat probably speeds up the chemical reaction inside the bore. Take care not to mess up the insides of a nice gun case with black/blue spent foam. I would like to know more about the composition of the black stuff inside rifle bores.

I tried your method with a used Tikka I picked up yesterday . I used Purple Royal synthetic oil this morning after the foam soak last night . It worked just as you described . The bore was not too bad in the beginning,but it looks like new now so I know it works . Thanks for that tip .
I have been using a mix of marvel mystery oil and purple royal as a cleaner/lube for some time now that works excellent,never thought of trying the purple alone in the bore.

 

[Rustytigwire]

New Mobil 1 spilled on grubby hands cleans em right up Rotella does too. Darn right motor oil has detergents. Great idea.

 

[mrh1958]

Bore Tech C4 gets the carbon out.....fast.