powder fouling

[jmh240]

It seems like I'm getting a lot of powder fouling in my Krieger barrel. When I use Butch's bore shine, I have to break out the brush to get it clean even if I only fire 10 shots between cleanings. I think that the problem area is beside the rifling. I've found that wipe-out will get it clean without brushing, but I'm wondering if this is normal.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[Shelley]

Jim,

Although you didn't mention the caliber, case or load, powder fouling varies with the type of powder and the relative pressure of the load you're shooting. In other words, a hot load will normally have less powder fouling than a light load. And, a hot load of Varget will foul less than a hot load of VV N133.

Opinions by Shelley

 

[jmh240]

It's a 6mm BR and I'm using Varget. Right now I am shooting a light load. I'm getting ready to try some hotter loads so I'll see if that has an affect on the amount of fouling. Thank you for the info, it sounds like that's what my problem is.

 

[johnsopa]

I just installed my first 6mmBR barrel on one of my Savages and was shooting out back last night.

Barrel: 24" Shilen, 1:8 twist, no-turn chamber for 6mmBR

Load: 29.5 and 30 gr of Varget, 87 gr V-Max, seated a bit off the lands with COL at 2.220", new Lapua brass,simply neck sized but not FL sized)

I fired about 10 rounds last night, cleaning between each for the first few then between every two.

I have never seen so much powder fouling. The top third of the necks are very sooty too. I've had to use about 5 to 10 patches to clean the powder out.

I've only been reloading for about six months,204, 223 and 308). Is this because my load is likely to low?

I am working a 31.0 to 31.9 gr ladder of Varget tonight. Maybe the problem will go away.

 

[ReedG]

I think everyone who has a rifle, from factory to custom, struggles with how/what/when to clean them. Over the past years I have accumulated a virtual chemistry lab trying to find the "perfect" cleaning solution.

My newest rifle is a Jim Borden built 30BR with a Krieger barrel. In his written instructions, Jim recommended that those shooting coated bullets,I use tungsten-disulfide on everything I shoot) should use a simple regimen of a couple patches soaked with Kroil followed by a patch impregnated with JB's short-stroked, especially in the throat area, followed by a couple of patches with Kroil to clean out the JB's and then a couple clean patches and ended with a patch with just a drop or two of Kroil.

My 30BR Krieger never shows any sign of copper and only marginal powder fouling. My 6BR Shilen, which had 2,300 rounds through it BEFORE I started this regimen, is now copper-free and smooth as glass. My 223AI Pac-Nor is ditto.

My chemistry is now gathering dust on the shelf and my brushes are stored away in a drawer.

Just one man's story ...