Interesting cleaning solvent thread

[butchlambert]

Mixing in that quantity, you obviously do a -heap- of cleaning

Believe it or not I have a few friends.

 

[Bronsin]

Extreme Simple Green Aviation and Precision Cleaner does well with carbon.

 

[AlNyhus]

I think you have a valid point Fuj. I have found no magical chemical for carbon removal. If there is any magic it's called "soak time". As far as lead, I have been shooting my S&W 41 just about every day. Either 30 or on occasion 60 rounds. I clean every other session. Hoppes mixed with Kroil plus 2 passes one way with a bronze brush keeps it spotless. Skip the brush and in a week I have a lead/ wax/carbon built up it the front of where the case ends. Just the fact there are so many products out there is proof to me there is none ahead of many others. I have been cleaning a 30br barrel since Sunday. I have used 3 name cleaners along with a bit of brushing . Last evening I patched it out, it came out clean. Now this was less than my normal cleaning time but I think as much or more than many do. I ran a patch wet with water through. Took that patch and put 4 drops of Dawn x4 on it. Scrubbed it back and forth until I had lots of suds. Left it sit 6 hours, ran a patch through it......black. The saga continues. Barrel had 40 rounds, 30br, out of it. I wish there was a magic formula, I haven't seen it. I have numerous times taken guns the owners had pronounce clean and shown then they were very dirty.

Jeff, lots of 'clean' stuff that goes down a surgically clean bore will come out black and dirty looking on a patch.....

Good shootin' -Al

 

[JEFFPPC]

Jeff, lots of 'clean' stuff that goes down a surgically clean bore will come out black and dirty looking on a patch.....

Good shootin' -Al

Tell you what Al, I often think the same thing. I have a couple new barrels here maybe I will to some testing. We shall see. I want to know why.

 

[AlNyhus]

Here's something to try on a new barrel. Clean it well and patch it out dry. Then, push a new bronze brush down the bore and out the muzzle, removing the brush at the muzzle. Do this 4-5 times. Then run a dry patch through it. -Al

 

[jelenko]

Here's something to try on a new barrel. Clean it well and patch it out dry. Then, push a new bronze brush down the bore and out the muzzle, removing the brush at the muzzle. Do this 4-5 times. Then run a dry patch through it. -Al

I've done this test. The patch comes out grey.

If you wrap bronze wool around a well worn bronze brush and do the same, the patch comes out darker.
When the wool/brush are stroked 15 times, the patch is black.

This along with glassed carbon not showing on a patch is what makes a borescope so useful.

 

[JEFFPPC]

At this point I have two final tests that make me satisfied when cleaning. Sweets overnight and NO blue. Dry patch with a TIGHT patch and NO black streak indicating carbon in a corner. A little very light gray appearance to the over patch I am ok with. Seeing discoloration after running a brush or wool that is breaking down would seem a normal result to me. My overall thoughts are more leaning towards as a collective group the many solvents leave a good bit to be desired. Or maybe not, because it does not matter. Just seems wise to take the best care of a barrel as possible given the level of competion today and the price of a new barrel, plus smithing, plus shipping cost if your smith is not in driving distance. I have never heard someone who is educated in metellurgy give a reason for the black coming out of a supposedly clean barrel.