Bore Tech Solvents

[Papa Charlie]

I find I don't need to use any other cleaners beyond the Boretech Cu+2. The good folks at Benchmark put me on to other and said this is all they use on their rifles. That is enough for me.

 

[Baer45]

My cleaning regime changed once I purchased a scope...more scrubbing with brush now..

Actually I do run a scope down all my Match barrels, not factory. It was LES Baer who makes awesome single cut hand lapped barrels for his ARs that told me to use Bore Tech and never a brush over a decade ago....sometimes i will leave a little copper but not often enough to affect accuracy vs damage to bore from over cleaning...just my opinion after listening to barrel makers..all are different. Also, I always run one wet patch down barrel before putting the rifle in vault nd I have never seen signs of rust. I believe it even advises to do so in instructions...

 

[KenOath]

Actually I do run a scope down all my Match barrels, not factory. It was LES Baer who makes awesome single cut hand lapped barrels for his ARs that told me to use Bore Tech and never a brush over a decade ago....sometimes i will leave a little copper but not often enough to affect accuracy vs damage to bore from over cleaning...just my opinion after listening to barrel makers..all are different. Also, I always run one wet patch down barrel before putting the rifle in vault nd I have never seen signs of rust. I believe it even advises to do so in instructions...

Not doubting your findings or those of the barrel makers but I’ve tried the no brush approach in my match barrels and hunting barrels and have found (in my barrels at least) that unless I use a bronze brush I can’t seem to get the carbon out of the first 4” after chamber..copper is less of an issue to remove. I clean barrels after every shoot which can be 10 to 100rnds, periodically leaving Boretech Carbon then Copper remover in over night sometimes longer... but still I need to brush and use Iosso or JB every 200rnds to keep Barrel looking like it needs to shoot. Maybe I’m doing something wrong, be good not to brush at all but so far I haven’t found a better way to clean..

 

[Baer45]

Not doubting your findings or those of the barrel makers but I’ve tried the no brush approach in my match barrels and hunting barrels and have found (in my barrels at least) that unless I use a bronze brush I can’t seem to get the carbon out of the first 4” after chamber..copper is less of an issue to remove. I clean barrels after every shoot which can be 10 to 100rnds, periodically leaving Boretech Carbon then Copper remover in over night sometimes longer... but still I need to brush and use Iosso or JB every 200rnds to keep Barrel looking like it needs to shoot. Maybe I’m doing something wrong, be good not to brush at all but so far I haven’t found a better way to clean..

Ha, we could really create a long thread on the best way to clean a barrel. I saw an article here or maybe Snipers Hide where they interviewed a bunch of the top barrel makers about break in and proper cleaning. The answers varied from no break in and little cleaning to a long engaged break in process and a detailed cleaning after every shooting with about 5 steps involved. I use to be the latter years ago. What swayed me was an article that pointed out most barrel makers see the most damage from over and improper cleaning. Also, it’s to the makers benefit for us to wear barrels out this way as we are quicker to buy the next one. I just know when I took half the time I spent cleaning barrels shooting instead; my scores went up! Les”s comment about Bore Tech Elimanator and patch only was new to me and I have not gone back since. A favorite writer of mine, Patrick Sweeney said that he refused to get into what cleaning system or product was best but the he would say “anything that will clean copper will also clean carbon....” I have tried the BT Copper cleaner and carbon specific cleaner but decided just eliminator works fine...now some barrels are stubborn and I will leave the barrel wet longeror overnight before getting it clean..I am not a benchrest shooter but like accuracy at distance which comes from time spent learning to read the wind, etc. I can get real add when it comes to reloading as well and have to remind myself to keep it simple. I’d do whatever you thinks works best for you because if nothing else it will add confidence! P S The owner of Bore Tech has a private school education and was willing to put up with my questions no matter how rediculous and went out of his way to help me order the correct rods..fwiw

 

[Baer45]

Not doubting your findings or those of the barrel makers but I’ve tried the no brush approach in my match barrels and hunting barrels and have found (in my barrels at least) that unless I use a bronze brush I can’t seem to get the carbon out of the first 4” after chamber..copper is less of an issue to remove. I clean barrels after every shoot which can be 10 to 100rnds, periodically leaving Boretech Carbon then Copper remover in over night sometimes longer... but still I need to brush and use Iosso or JB every 200rnds to keep Barrel looking like it needs to shoot. Maybe I’m doing something wrong, be good not to brush at all but so far I haven’t found a better way to clean..

Try just using the Eliminator alone without anything else and see if there is a difference...let us know...

 

[Baer45]

Try just using the Eliminator alone without anything else and see if there is a difference...let us know...

Also, use the Bore tech jags that don’t give false readings....best thing to happen

 

[KenOath]

Ha, we could really create a long thread on the best way to clean a barrel. I saw an article here or maybe Snipers Hide where they interviewed a bunch of the top barrel makers about break in and proper cleaning. The answers varied from no break in and little cleaning to a long engaged break in process and a detailed cleaning after every shooting with about 5 steps involved. I use to be the latter years ago. What swayed me was an article that pointed out most barrel makers see the most damage from over and improper cleaning. Also, it’s to the makers benefit for us to wear barrels out this way as we are quicker to buy the next one. I just know when I took half the time I spent cleaning barrels shooting instead; my scores went up! Les”s comment about Bore Tech Elimanator and patch only was new to me and I have not gone back since. A favorite writer of mine, Patrick Sweeney said that he refused to get into what cleaning system or product was best but the he would say “anything that will clean copper will also clean carbon....” I have tried the BT Copper cleaner and carbon specific cleaner but decided just eliminator works fine...now some barrels are stubborn and I will leave the barrel wet longeror overnight before getting it clean..I am not a benchrest shooter but like accuracy at distance which comes from time spent learning to read the wind, etc. I can get real add when it comes to reloading as well and have to remind myself to keep it simple. I’d do whatever you thinks works best for you because if nothing else it will add confidence! P S The owner of Bore Tech has a private school education and was willing to put up with my questions no matter how rediculous and went out of his way to help me order the correct rods..fwiw

Very interesting story thanks for your insights..

Try just using the Eliminator alone without anything else and see if there is a difference...let us know...

I have used Eliminator on its own, it works about the same as the straight
Carbon and Copper remover for me, but i have to leave Eliminator in a little longer to get the same results as the straight Copper cleaner.

Also, use the Bore tech jags that don’t give false readings....best thing to happen

Agree, I use jags that don’t give false readings also..

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

I still remeber the season I stoped using brushes, if it wasnt for that I would still think carbon rings are only found on internet forums by other people

 

[jepp2]

Pretty amazed at the fact that they are water based as well. Far safer than other products with far less hazardous materials. Just remember to oil them afterward

On the side of my bottle of Eliminator it states "5. Before storing firearm, dampen a patch with ELIMINATOR and push through bore." Same on the carbon remover. On the copper remover it suggests the same and states it has a short term corrosion inhibitor.

 

[LittleLebowski]

My cleaning regime changed once I purchased a scope...more scrubbing with brush now..

Did your accuracy get better with more scrubbing?

 

[Mark W]

Did your accuracy get better with more scrubbing?

That’s what I would like to know as well. Just how much accuracy does a “less than perfectly clean” barrel actually cost?

 

[Prose]

On the side of my bottle of Eliminator it states "5. Before storing firearm, dampen a patch with ELIMINATOR and push through bore." Same on the carbon remover. On the copper remover it suggests the same and states it has a short term corrosion inhibitor.

When I called them about that they said short-term means 2 weeks or less.

 

[KenOath]

Did your accuracy get better with more scrubbing?

That’s what I would like to know as well. Just how much accuracy does a “less than perfectly clean” barrel actually cost?

Not doing more scrubbing necessarily, but scrubbing every time I clean certainly helps prolong the accuracy in my barrels, specially once you get up into the 1000+ rnd count.. try for yourself shoot a barrel for a 1000 rnds or more with no brushing and see what it shoots like compared to a barrel that gets scrubbed.. I’m not talking about excessive scrubbing, but just enough to clean barrel free of most copper and carbon..To be clear I’m not stating anyone is right or wrong but for ME I believe my barrels shoot better for me long term when I scrub..

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Hard carbon is a different animal than powder fouling. I have not found a chemical to date that removes it. Even the old GM tec wont touch it, but it will strip a piston top to bare metal. The carbon that forms in the grooves under high heat, pressure and is run over by bullets is not the same as the stuff that forms on the crown or muzzle brake. I cant even remove it with a brush. I clean often, soon after shooting and usually let them soak over night. My favorite cleaners at the moment are bore tech and or pro shot copper remover. They are very similar. I might even favor the pro shot a bit. I still cant get away from iosso every so often to get that carbon out. I will let it build up to a point but then remove it. I dont need squeaky clean every time.

 

[KenOath]

Hard carbon is a different animal than powder fouling. I have not found a chemical to date that removes it. Even the old GM tec wont touch it, but it will strip a piston top to bare metal. The carbon that forms in the grooves under high heat, pressure and is run over by bullets is not the same as the stuff that forms on the crown or muzzle brake. I cant even remove it with a brush. I clean often, soon after shooting and usually let them soak over night. My favorite cleaners at the moment are bore tech and or pro shot copper remover. They are very similar. I might even favor the pro shot a bit. I still cant get away from iosso every so often to get that carbon out. I will let it build up to a point but then remove it. I dont need squeaky clean every time.

Do you use a brush with your Boretech and proshot when cleaning? I don’t get my barrels squeaky clean either,just clean enough for my liking and use Iosso every couple hundred rnds to get as much of the carbon build up in the throat and just forward of it out..

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Yes, I use a bronze brush.

 

[Steve Ladino]

Zilla, go on Amazon, they have C4. I got some just last week.

Why not support businesses that provide everything to the shooter ie: bullets and powder etc. When they close where will you get your bullets and powder ?

 

[Lone Hunter]

Why not support businesses that provide everything to the shooter ie: bullets and powder etc. When they close where will you get your bullets and powder ?

Because that's where I found it. Have ordered from Bore Tech also. I guess you buy all American Made Also. By the way I support my LGS all I can and many mail order places. Grafs,Midway, Brownells etc.. My wife says way too much also.

 

[Prose]

I just used eliminator for the first time tonight... wow... even better than they say. It’s like the creedmoor of cleaning. In all seriousness, it’s the best product I’ve ever used.

 

[foxguy]

Yes, I use a bronze brush.

Hi Alex,

Do you use a Bronze Brush after every shooting session? appx - after how many rounds.
Also, are you just placing the bronze brush in to the chamber / Lead area, and rotating the brush 10 - 15 rotations?

I wish I had a Bore Scope to inspect the chamber .

Thanks for sharing your expertise.