Strange copper foul problem??????

[msinc]

I have a 7mm-08 with an Obermeyer barrel on it...it is new, I have maybe fired 100 rounds thru the barrel. I have a borescope and always check to make sure the barrel is clean before I shoot it for break in. When clean this barrel is a tack driver, but it opens some pretty quick. When I go to clean it there is one land severely fouled with a lot of copper, the other four are not bad at all. It cleans out okay with JB bore cleaner. I cannot see any reason for this one land to do this...no scratches or scuffs or otherwise flaws or damage. That land looks as good as the other four. It does it from just forward of the throat almost completely the full length to the muzzle. Anyone seen this??? Any ideas??? I am hopeful that cleaning and firing will eventually break it in and it will stop, but it hasn't even slowed down after 100 rounds. Nothing oddball about the load, not hot at all...using Sierra bullets. Thanks in advance for any info...it is greatly appreciated.

 

[STS]

About the only option that makes any sense to me is to contact the manufacturer and send it back for additional lapping. It may in fact be a lost cause. I have a Hart barrel that was pretty much as you describe your barrel. It is a beautiful barrel on bore scope inspection but fouls so bad you simply can't shoot it. I never did send that barrel back. I just tossed it in the junk pile.

 

[LHSmith]

How much does the accuracy degrade and after how many rounds? Borescopes are a great tool to have.....but I think sometimes they cause shooters to doubt a good/great barrel when they see any copper fouling. Have you shot it enough to get enough of a data base to be sure? When I am fortunate enough to get a barrel that's a tackdriver, I'll pamper her with what she wants and be thankful. I shoot shortrange BR, so cleaning between targets (6 rounds minimum) is something I have had to do on occasion for years. Perhaps in your shooting discipline more frequent cleaning is not an option.

 

[msinc]

I would hate think I have to send it back...the dude is like in his 80's and it takes a year and a half just to get a barrel...If you are lucky. I'll probably never see the thing again!!! This is just a long range fun gun. I can clean it as often as I want/need. It seems like I get about 20-25 good shots out of it and then it slowly starts to open up. Maybe I need to try cleaning it more often. I did do the shoot clean. shoot clean thing for about the first 25 rounds or so. Usually that does it with most high end cut rifled barrels. Mostly what I see is that they either shoot or they don't. Just never seen one land get so puked up and the others barely a smear.

 

[dmoran]

msinc -

My own suspicion is that it has a tall land. In other words, that land that fouls is probably like say 0.0005 taller then the other 3.
I suggest to just plan on cleaning more often. I also suggest to give IOSSO a try (strongly feel IOSSO works better then JB), and suggest to use it by there instructions, after you have the loose bulk fouling out.
That land may finally stop taking copper at some point..... hopefully !.!.!
Donovan

 

[dkhunt14]

I've had barrels that did that and some of them quit after awhile. I had one a Krieger that completely copper fouled. It never quit but broke a few records in 1000 yard BR. I wouldn't give upon it and would do what Donovan said. I would do the throat area (first 6 inches) real good and more lightly through the barrel. Matt

 

[msinc]

I will continue to keep trying. I have used Iosso to polish. I just use the JB Bore cleaner to get the copper out, I know they offer a bore polish too. I never thought about that one land being a little taller than the others...no surprise, everyone is smarter than me!!!
let me ask this, can you polish a bore too finely??? I seem to remember reading something about the finish inside the bore....but that don't make it necessarily true. It would seem like the better the polish inside the less friction and heat and the less copper would want to stick. But, then again, it sure seems like every idea I have these days is wrong for some reason or another. Thanks a million for the posts and info so far fellas!!!!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Think about rubbing something smooth on glass then on something rougher- the smooth surface of glass is sticky. Thats why engines have a crosshatch pattern honed into the cylinders. It holds oil and breaks surface tension. The mfrs lap in around 320 grit into the barrels. If they had a mirror finish they would rip the jacket off a bullet and a mirror chamber wouldnt let brass come out

 

[stansrifles]

I would think on a cut rifle barrel the bore would be 100% concentric it would be hard for me to believe one land be taller than the rest I think after you get a couple hundred rounds down it your problem will go away good luck.
Stan

 

[dmoran]

I will continue to keep trying. I have used Iosso to polish. I just use the JB Bore cleaner to get the copper out.......

msinc -

I am referring to IOSSO Bore Cleaner, not IOSSO Metal Polish.
Applied to a brush (blue plastic) in conjunction with there Triple Action Oil.
I find it to work better then JB for cleaning and prevention of troubled spots (cooper & carbon).

Bullet Central sells it in a complete bundle for $20 <> (bore paste / triple oil / 3-brushes)
www.bulletcentral.com/product/iosso-cleaning-bundle

Good Luck
Donovan

 

[msinc]

I didn't know they made bore cleaner...I just thought they were a polish company. I will have to try some. I intend to do some shooting this weekend. I'll let you guys know what happens with this thing after another 100 rounds or so, Thanks again everyone for all the replies and info.

 

[spclark]

Donovan's take is same as mine own. Give Boots a call, see what he thinks. Maybe after the holidays though, he's been spending a lot of time with his grandkids the past few months.

 

[msinc]

Well, I am happy to report that 50 rounds of "clean and shoot" down the tube seems to have helped a lot...not a lot of copper that don't wipe out fairly easy with Shooters Choice!!!! I am not seeing the one single land completely covered in heavy copper any more. Will shoot some more tomorrow and see what she does.