Copper Fouling Barrel

[Luke Miskol]

I have a Tikka TX3 .243 that know matter how much I clean or how much I try to clean with every product it just " copper fouls" .
If you shot it 3X a year to hunt with its super accurate. But, testing hand loads forget it.
I Don't run it Hot. 40-50 rounds looks like I haven't ever cleaned it Ever. Scrub and Scrub never cleans up.
Its an exhausting barrel. I even went through a tedious break in!
Any help here?

 

[jpjulian]

Sweet's solvent really helps with one of "those" barrels. I had a chrome lined barrel in a Colt AR once that shot great but fouled hideously. It took hours to get that thing clean only to have it hideously fouled the next range session of match. Consider fire lapping it. If that isn't what you wish to do, you will eventually get tired of the bs and put a new barrel on it.

 

[Luke Miskol]

Sweet's solvent really helps with one of "those" barrels. I had a chrome lined barrel in a Colt AR once that shot great but fouled hideously. It took hours to get that thing clean only to have it hideously fouled the next range session of match. Consider fire lapping it. If that isn't what you wish to do, you will eventually get tired of the bs and put a new barrel on it.

Can't afford a new barrel. How about Tubb's Fire Lapping system? Anyone used this? Accuracy isn't a problem, just copper fowling.

 

[jpjulian]

Can't afford a new barrel. How about Tubb's Fire Lapping system? Anyone used this? Accuracy isn't a problem, just copper fowling.

I have which is why I mentioned it. Be careful if you do go the fire lapping route. But you will eventually get tired of scrubbing that barrel. Been there.

 

[Dkk37058]

If your using bronze bore brushes or bronze jags you’ll get a false positive if the solvent is a copper cleaner

 

[Straightshooter1]

Can't afford a new barrel. How about Tubb's Fire Lapping system? Anyone used this? Accuracy isn't a problem, just copper fowling.

I've used Tubb Final Finish Bullet Kit on my factory RPR barrel and it really helped reduce copper fouling. If you use it, just don't be surprised, but be aware there's a slight increase from normal for the throat erosion. It's really not very much and it really help my gun perform better.

 

[Luke Miskol]

Not using bronze. Plastic and Nylon . And yeah its an exhausting barrel. I've always been real good about barrel break in and cleaning. I've always been a Savage guy when buying a factory gun. They have all shot great and have been easy to keep clean. Maybe a difference between button and cut rifled barrels.

 

[Luke Miskol]

I've used Tubb Final Finish Bullet Kit on my factory RPR barrel and it really helped reduce copper fouling. If you use it, just don't be surprised, but be aware there's a slight increase from normal for the throat erosion. It's really not very much and it really help my gun perform better.

My throat must be real short on this Tikka, because all my loads are below max COL before I'm touching rifling. Even 70gr Sierra HP BT are seated sufficiently deep.

 

[CCM]

My throat must be real short on this Tikka, because all my loads are below max COL before I'm touching rifling. Even 70gr Sierra HP BT are seated sufficiently deep.

A throat issue could be why you're seeing so much fouling. Scope it if you can, and have it cast and measured.

 

[Luke Miskol]

After some rigorous cleaning I managed a little under a 1/2 in group with Sierra 70 gr HPBT and 38 gr of IMR4064. Then back to scrubbing!

 

[ShtrRdy]

How many rounds do you have through it? I had a barrel once that copper fouled quickly, like you're describing. I kept shooting it and after two or three hundred rounds the copper fouling wasn't a problem any longer.

 

[Sniperhandle]

Not using bronze. Plastic and Nylon . And yeah its an exhausting barrel. I've always been real good about barrel break in and cleaning. I've always been a Savage guy when buying a factory gun. They have all shot great and have been easy to keep clean. Maybe a difference between button and cut rifled barrels.

Tikka barrels are Cold Hammer Forged, They are not button or cut rifling. They also aren't lapped either. But most of them shoot very good.

 

[D the D]

It may be the throat is rough from the chamber reaming. The Tubb fire forming bullets will help with that. You don't have to go whole hog. He does sell a bullets with the finest polish called the Throat Maintenance System (TMS) that isn't as aggressive as the whole course to fine routine.

 

[DaveTooley]

No bronze brush? I don't understand it. Thousands of benchrest shooters over the years can't be wrong. Chemicals soften, bronze brushes remove what's softened.

 

[AlNyhus]

Not using bronze. Plastic and Nylon . And yeah its an exhausting barrel. I've always been real good about barrel break in and cleaning. I've always been a Savage guy when buying a factory gun. They have all shot great and have been easy to keep clean. Maybe a difference between button and cut rifled barrels.

Simplify your life and get some quality bronze brushes. And while this sounds crazy, there are barrels that quit fouling if you just forget about cleaning them and simply shoot 'em for a while.

 

[WayneShaw]

I've gone through a few barrels in the past shooting years, and these were all in the "top tier" barrel makers, not factory stuff. But two of them have just been absolutely terrible for copper fouling. And it just so happens both were from the same maker. But I've used more than just those 2 barrels from them without an issue. What made those two that bad, I have no idea.

 

[Carl S]

I had an SSG in 243.it shot superb but copper fouled just looking at a bullet.tikkas are normally quite good.clean it with JB compound it won't hurt it.it might help it.

 

[LVLAaron]

Simplify your life and get some quality bronze brushes. And while this sounds crazy, there are barrels that quit fouling if you just forget about cleaning them and simply shoot 'em for a while.

Benchrest guys would have a heart attack if they knew enough F class guys.

 

[LHSmith]

IME lubing the bore with a light coat of oil after cleaning virtually eliminates copper fouling. Ever hear the mantra "never shoot a dry bore?"

 

[Luke Miskol]

Thanks for all the replies. I just bought some JB's bore paste and some Bore Tech copper remover. Helped with a lot of elbow grease. I think I'm going to try Tubb's final finish. I've probably have 500 rounds thru the barrel. It has alot of potential for accuracy. But, starts throwing bullets off when the fouling builds. I do put a light coat of Ballistol in the barrel when I'm done cleaning.