Does the bore look golden through the Hawkeye borescope to you

[JohnMill]

I have a 6BRX in an 8 twist 3groove barrel, I generally clean after 25 rounds at the range and shoot 50 shots per outing. I have never gotten good accuracy from it even though I use more powder than any one here on the forum and still get no (NO) pressure sign. At home I went at the bore with KG12 for 3 days and the bore,through the scope appeared a gold or yellow color. I was afraid that it was from the KG12 (the highest rated copper solvent)because it has a yellow color itself. I then tried Montana Extremes Copper Killer with negligable results (on the color) I just wonder if anyone else has the same experience?

 

[flatlander]

I had an easier time seeing copper fouling through my Hawkeye after swapping out the OEM krypton bulb for a CatEyes LED conversion. The krypton light looks gold or yellow compared to the LED light's temperature.

 

[Rtheurer]

After cleaning I get shiny Stainless color when I bore scope them. Only time I see yellow is from the Copper that did not come out. and then its not all over the bore, mostly just in the edge of the Bore and Land junction or at the muzzle or crown where Im careful and it does not get the scrubbing the middle part of the barrel gets. Every now and then I give it a TLC of JB to clean it to the bare metal. Actually I use Flitz more than JB. I only do this every now and then when I think there is alot of crud building up and give it the spring cleaning work over.
Just my method and certainly not the only way. Lots of folks here to help out on this topic.
I recieved my borescope back in 2005 and have used it every time I clean a barrel. I KNOW if its clean and where it is not. Kinda nice to have.

Good :Lck
RUssT

PS Im using an LED bulb too

 

[fdshuster]

I'm with RUssT on this. When I have every trace of copper out of the bore, I'm looking at a shiny stainless steel finish, no trace of yellow. Using the standard light source that came with my newest Hawkeye, the green head 17" deluxe model.

 

[RonAKA]

If you use a copper remover with lots of ammonia in it, you should be able to tell whether there is copper or not in the barrel by the patch color. Blue - yes. White - No. Barnes CR-10 works well for this.

 

[JohnMill]

Well, I'm not getting the blue color that I used to get with any of the other copper cleaners even though the smell is worse. Where do I get this LED light conversion kit. I bought one from Ace hardware for our club scope but I don't think it was the same. They had to special order them but it was in their warehouse.
I just did the bore again with Montana Extreme. There was blue on the rag I wipe the rod with and blue on the bore brush but after 30 minutes there was no blue when I patched out. I thik it was just from the jag and ferrule and brush and stuff. Color through the scope was zackly the same.

 

[RonAKA]

I just did the bore again with Montana Extreme. There was blue on the rag I wipe the rod with and blue on the bore brush but after 30 minutes there was no blue when I patched out. I thik it was just from the jag and ferrule and brush and stuff. Color through the scope was zackly the same.

I use a clean patch wrapped around an undersized nylon brush, or nylon jag. Using a brass jag or bronze brush will cause false positives for copper using an ammonia based cleaner.

 

[JohnMill]

I just started useing the nylon brushes this year but do not have full confidence in them. I'm trying to trust the chemicals to do the work also but whenthings don't turn out positive then I'll revert to the old ways
Most important is a source of the LED light for my Hawkeye. I f you could provide that I'd appreciate it.

Thanks John

 

[kitsap]

John,

+1 on changing out the light source with a LED light. You can obtain a complete LED mag lite. See here:
http://www.maglite.com/AA_Cell_LED.asp

Also make sure your batteries are good quality and new. The original light source tends more towards yellow like an incandescent bulb with less than full voltage.

Usually copper is deposited in streaks on top of the lands or in the bottom center of the grooves. I will speculate that your copper color is evenly distributed across the bore and you are seeing a reflection from the light source.


Doug

 

[fdshuster]

Lawrence: I agree with you. You can get the bore clean, down to bare metal, but when you fire any number of shots, the bore will once again have powder, copper and carbon fouling. The majority of my barrels must have between 5 and 15 fouler shots before they return to their usual group sizes, and I think of fouler shots as a waste of ammunition and barrel life, so anymore, am not concerned about a squeeky clean bore. I just want to keep the fouling under control, and soaking time with Butch's does it for me. The only time I may clean down to bare metal is if I know I won't be using a particular rifle for a longer period of time, like over the Winter, and that's when the JB and a bronze brush is used, followed by a light coating of oil.

 

[JohnMill]

Thanks Doug (and the rest too), I'm on it. When I did their search for dealers I found that our local Ace is supposed to have it in stock. Unlikely I think but they certanly can get it and they'll know what I'm taking about.
thanks again for all the help. This is a nice forum

John

 

[JohnMill]

Hey, thanks DaveBerg. I was just getting ready to go to the Ace to get their upgrade. Went to ebay and bought the 4 they had available. Me , my friend, my club aech have scopes and Me and my sweety have mag-lites all over the place. So that should settle that

John

 

[fella5]

John,

It's me... the one you got hooked on long distance shooting I use the KG product and it will turn yellow until you clean that out. You will not see any blue color with KG12. You will see brown when copper is present. I don't let it KG12 soak at all.... I have shot with you at the range and the most I have shot before I clean is 50 rounds. Then I shoot another 50 and then clean and go home. I have a borescope and when I look at the barrel when I'm home, I don't see anything but shine I usually use the KG1 and run 2-3 wet patches followed by 2-3 dry. Then I run 2-3 KG12 wet patches and again 2-3 dry then I spray the KG3 with 2 wet patches then 2 dry. After that, I use the KG2 and then 2-3 wet patches of KG3 and 2-3 dry patches and that is it. I don't use a brush at all since this process has worked for me. I also did buy a 1W LED maglite for my borescope.

I also use this for my AR which I may shoot 100-500 rounds before cleaning. Maybe more, but my barrel is as clean as my Savage 12F.