• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Cleaning barrel test

As far as I know, there is no evidence or basis for citric acid helping to remove carbon.

As already mentioned, it is used in SS-media cleaning of cases but its function there is to remove copper oxidation. Specifically copper(II) oxide or cupric oxide (a blackish oxide which causes tarnish to copper surface) which is soluble in weak acid like citric acid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper(II)_oxide

On the other hand, hot water and dish soap will indeed soften carbon and help in its removal – this is how SS pin can rub off carbon. If you flush the barrel well afterwards, I have no concern that the citric acid will cause barrel rusting.

If there is indeed a reason and evidence that citric acid will help remove carbon, I would like to hear of it, but short of that, I am not a believer.
 
As far as I know, there is no evidence or basis for citric acid helping to remove carbon.

As already mentioned, it is used in SS-media cleaning of cases but its function there is to remove copper oxidation. Specifically copper(II) oxide or cupric oxide (a blackish oxide which causes tarnish to copper surface) which is soluble in weak acid like citric acid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper(II)_oxide

On the other hand, hot water and dish soap will indeed soften carbon and help in its removal – this is how SS pin can rub off carbon. If you flush the barrel well afterwards, I have no concern that the citric acid will cause barrel rusting.

If there is indeed a reason and evidence that citric acid will help remove carbon, I would like to hear of it, but short of that, I am not a believer.
jlow,
I did have to scrub barrel but much less but time will tell Im going to shoot this barrel until it goes off then do a clean again that will be the decider for me.
Most cleaners I have used require scrubbing of some level with mercury tune up spray most is delt with a stiff losso brush and a few with a bronze brush,now I dont generaly let my barrels get in a state that requiers hours of cleaning but even then when cleaning the carbon ring area in the neck there will be deposits tha are hard to shift.
Those deposits were taken care of in short order with the cleaning method I tried was it the hot water or the citric acid I dont know but hey we will see down the track as I will take photos next time by the time the barrel goes off there should be plenty of carbon to remove.

Cheers Trev.
 
As for the copper use Montana extreme copper killer.
I
I have good copper removal solvents I have been giving Robla solo mil a go at the moment with geat results.
I must point out where I live we dont get all the products yous have unfortunatly and where I reside is even worse again its a 5hr round trip to a decent gun shop .

Cheers Trev.
 
jlow,
I did have to scrub barrel but much less but time will tell Im going to shoot this barrel until it goes off then do a clean again that will be the decider for me.
Most cleaners I have used require scrubbing of some level with mercury tune up spray most is delt with a stiff losso brush and a few with a bronze brush,now I dont generaly let my barrels get in a state that requiers hours of cleaning but even then when cleaning the carbon ring area in the neck there will be deposits tha are hard to shift.
Those deposits were taken care of in short order with the cleaning method I tried was it the hot water or the citric acid I dont know but hey we will see down the track as I will take photos next time by the time the barrel goes off there should be plenty of carbon to remove.

Cheers Trev.
Thanks! Would be interested in seeing just how effective hot water will be in your case. My understanding is it is very effective in softening carbon. Might save you a few bucks! :D
 
Water will remove carbon that has not crystallized, it is one of the best solvents in nature. As long as the barrel is dry and lubed afterward it won't harm the barrel.
 
I
I have good copper removal solvents I have been giving Robla solo mil a go at the moment with geat results.
I must point out where I live we dont get all the products yous have unfortunatly and where I reside is even worse again its a 5hr round trip to a decent gun shop .

Cheers Trev.
I know what you mean by not being able to get stuff locally. I have to order pretty much everything. Powder and primers get expensive!!
 
Gday guys,
Im going to try some pixs.
First is a 223 rem with 150 round count uncleaned.

Second is cleaned with a losso brush and hot water only.

Third is cleaned with citric acid and hot water also losso brush.
The 308 barrel is still accumalating more rounds.

Cheers Trev hope pix workPICT0003.JPG PICT0009.JPG PICT0020.JPG
 
Ok now rifling fisr two are as above hot water and losso brush

Second two citrc acid with hot water and losso brush.

Cheers Trev.PICT0012.JPG PICT0014.JPG PICT0025.JPG PICT0026.JPG
 
Gday guys,
Im going to try some pixs.
First is a 223 rem with 150 round count uncleaned.

Second is cleaned with a losso brush and hot water only.

Third is cleaned with citric acid and hot water also losso brush.
The 308 barrel is still accumalating more rounds.

Cheers Trev hope pix workView attachment 1000472 View attachment 1000473 View attachment 1000474
Pretty impressive Nude nut! If citric acid somehow helps remove hard carbon, that is a great thing regardless of whether we know how it works!
 
Gday guys,
Just thought I would share As im due for a rebarrel soon I thought I would try cleaning with citric acid and hot water with this barrel so spun it off and put it upright in barrel vice.
Then put chair leg cap on the muzzle end poured a bit of boiling water in barrel then a teaspoon of citric acid gave a scrub with stiff osso brush just a few strokes then added more water up to the neck of the chamber then added two tea spoons into chamber with a bribble of water on top of that.
I let it sit for 5 min then gave another scrub with osso brush then 4 strokes with a bronze brush then dumped the lot rinsed with boiling water then ran a dry patch through the barrel nothing patch was clean.
Had a look with my borescope and to my surprise it was spotless apart from a bit of copper the neck area was clean it took out the moly aswell.
Going to let this barrel dirty up with more rounds as it only had 60 rounds through it this cleaning let it go for say 100 to 150 then test again this time I will take photos to post.

Cheers Trev.

The best copper cleaner test I have ever seen and believe in. Patch color can be misleading depending on the chemicals in the cleaner. Don't laugh at the 19 hours soak time. 19 hours was used so that a measurable weight loose could be obtained. The test shows how aggressive the chemicals are. Some of these cleaners are hard to find in local stores. I have been using "Butches Bore Shine". Most stores carry it and it works well. My rifle doesn't seem to have a copper problem but it seems to work well for carbon. The test shows that many name brand cleaners are useless.

http://www.coretacsolutions.com/products_KG_KG12_TEST.htm
 
Last edited:
Pretty impressive Nude nut! If citric acid somehow helps remove hard carbon, that is a great thing regardless of whether we know how it works!
Well I dont know how but as you see it works the 308 barrel test willl have to wait I wanted to get the round count up in the 200+ mark but have a prize shoot next week so I going to clean before I go.

Cheers Trev.
 
The best copper cleaner test I have ever seen and believe in. Patch color can be misleading depending on the chemicals in the cleaner. Don't laugh at the 19 hours soak time. 19 hours was used so that a measurable weight loose could be obtained. The test shows how aggressive the chemicals are. Some of these cleaners are hard to find in local stores. I have been using "Butches Bore Shine". Most stores carry it and it works well. My rifle doesn't seem to have a copper problem but it seems to work well for carbon. The test shows that many name brand cleaners are useless.

http://www.coretacsolutions.com/products_KG_KG12_TEST.htm
Webster,
Its true alot of stuff out there is crap, Im always looking fo alternatives I dont have copper issues with my barrels but I will be playing around with tha next.
I bought some water based proshot copper cleaner a few weeks back just for the sake of it and had a smell it smells just like windex glass cleaner one has to wonder what we are actualy paying for.
I havve got the carbon beat with stuff tha is in my household all the time so no need to purchase other products to do that job well maybe not I still will use mercury tune spray if Im away at prize shoots.
And thanks for the link.

Cheers Trev.
 
The best copper cleaner test I have ever seen and believe in. Patch color can be misleading depending on the chemicals in the cleaner. Don't laugh at the 19 hours soak time. 19 hours was used so that a measurable weight loose could be obtained. The test shows how aggressive the chemicals are. Some of these cleaners are hard to find in local stores. I have been using "Butches Bore Shine". Most stores carry it and it works well. My rifle doesn't seem to have a copper problem but it seems to work well for carbon. The test shows that many name brand cleaners are useless.

http://www.coretacsolutions.com/products_KG_KG12_TEST.htm

Very informative! I did not see Wipe Out Foam, or did I just miss it?
 
I
I have good copper removal solvents I have been giving Robla solo mil a go at the moment with geat results.
I must point out where I live we dont get all the products yous have unfortunatly and where I reside is even worse again its a 5hr round trip to a decent gun shop .

Cheers Trev.
Trev - I was searching Robla Solo Mil before I try it in my TR barrel and came across your post, saw you were using this and also citric acid. The thread is 4 years old and I wondered if you're still using both products ?
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
166,261
Messages
2,215,330
Members
79,506
Latest member
Hunt99elk
Back
Top