I've noticed a common theme regarding copper removing wonder liquids

[rabbitter]

I see a common theme on this and other forums where someone will write 'I've been using xyz for 105 years, but now I've found KG437 mk 2 and I am removing several more metric tonnes of copper from my barrel."

I then wonder; if so much copper was left in by the previous cleaning regime and the gun was shooting marvellously, how much of a worry was this copper deposit? Further to that, surely if this copper was still in place then the barrel must be swiss cheese due to galvanic action.

Of course, it's entirely possible that I am going stir crazy in lockdown and I should go back to sorting my bullets in order of shinyness.

 

[Sash]

Of course, it's entirely possible that I am going stir crazy in lockdown and I should go back to sorting my bullets in order of shinyness.

I did that WEEKS ago.
Weighed them all, too, and batched them.
That’s why I am now reading the copper dissolving liquids threads

 

[muddy42]

Watch out people get very worked up and opinionated about this topic. I haven't seen many decent comparison tests of cleaners (I guess the ultimate test would need to show accuracy maintained over time) and most people only use one cleaner because a bottle lasts so long!

For me, life is too short to do a fully clean and de-copper after every outing. With soaking, this takes me a day or two and is done once a year followed by a re-zero. Moisture is my main concern, so I simply patch twice, once with meths and once with an oil. I patch the oil out before the next use (after someone on here highlighted the danger of firing a barrel with oil in it).

 

[rabbitter]

@Sash - that is an awesome reply.

@muddy42 - yep. I am in the gentle clean after every outing camp. When one of my rifles has a rebarrel, I will ask the gun smith to chop the old barrel up and see what state it is in. I've gotta say that with my untrained eye and a borescope I see very little copper fouling anyway. Maybe I am lucky with my choice of bullets or I just don't shoot enough.

 

[Woodsmoke]

'Boresnake'. That is all

 

[Foxyboy43]

I did that WEEKS ago.
Weighed them all, too, and batched them.
That’s why I am now reading the copper dissolving liquids threads

Rabbiter is clearly at only the early stages of cabin fever whilst reading threads like this indicate that sadly, you are at an advanced stage. The near-terminal stage apparently involves talking to your nice new shiny brass and addressing them by name. Quiet 357!!! Can’t you see I ‘m busy!
Stage 5 involves drinking said copper dissolving liquids. Cheers chaps!

 

[baguio]

'Boresnake'. That is all

The gunsmiths best friend apparently?

 

[rabbitter]

@Foxyboy Well, there is hope for me yet, then. Although, talking to your brass is fine. Surely, the problem comes when it talks back to you.

 

[baguio]

surely if this copper was still in place then the barrel must be swiss cheese due to galvanic action.

Copper is #55, Steel at #30 and Stainless steel at #69 or greater. I really don't think that you have to worry too much about regarding galvanic action. Barrels are not left in a humid atmosphere either.

 

[Foxyboy43]

@Foxyboy Well, there is hope for me yet, then. Although, talking to your brass is fine. Surely, the problem comes when it talks back to you.

Obviously you have very discerning brass!

 

[Overlay]

I’ve done mine for years once a year - then shot them back in and used a bore snake there on in for another year

ive never had any problems whatsoever

but open to suggestions, I don’t do range shooting so the round count is reasonable on all calibres apart from the rimmy and small calibres

anyone got a proven method to use

 

[baguio]

I’ve done mine for years once a year - then shot them back in and used a bore snake there on in for another year

ive never had any problems whatsoever

but open to suggestions, I don’t do range shooting so the round count is reasonable on all calibres apart from the rimmy and small calibres

anyone got a proven method to use

Yes. Put the bore snake away. What is is actually achieving? I only clean once accuracy drop off tell me to. I then clean properly. Gunsmiths on here have said that boresnakes have given them loads of work but I have never read that not cleaning a barrel has given them any. Certainly my barrels aren't showing any signs of tiredness due to lack of cleaning.
Perhaps someone on here will tell me otherwise?

 

[Dogtra UK]

I recently bought a borescope. Only now do I realise that my special copper dissolving liquids were never actually getting down to bare metal!

 

[Namman]

Yes. Put the bore snake away. What is is actually achieving? I only clean once accuracy drop off tell me to. I then clean properly. Gunsmiths on here have said that boresnakes have given them loads of work but I have never read that not cleaning a barrel has given them any. Certainly my barrels aren't showing any signs of tiredness due to lack of cleaning.
Perhaps someone on here will tell me otherwise?

Same here. I use a boresnake when I am away from home when there is a chance that rain has got in the barrel.

 

[Grandhubert]

@Foxyboy Well, there is hope for me yet, then. Although, talking to your brass is fine. Surely, the problem comes when it talks back to you.

Surely that’s why you pay her?

 

[Foxyboy43]

Surely that’s why you pay her?

Courageous! “Her” is from your part of the world pal - be afraid, be very afraid!!

 

[Grandhubert]

Whoa Iranian brass is known as a spectacularly bad pressure vessel material, would advice to proceed with care.

 

[rabbitter]

Having a good giggle at you fellas.

Back to the plot, I raise an eyebrow when those-that-knows accuse boresnakes of causing crown damage. How very dare they? I figure it's not beyond the wit of man to pull the boresnake directly parallel to the barrel axis. They are definitely a useful thing and I always carry one when travelling. They don't remove as much powder/crud/magic fairy dust as a brush and patching out, but they do a fair job.

 

[baguio]

Having a good giggle at you fellas.

Back to the plot, I raise an eyebrow when those-that-knows accuse boresnakes of causing crown damage. How very dare they? I figure it's not beyond the wit of man to pull the boresnake directly parallel to the barrel axis. They are definitely a useful thing and I always carry one when travelling. They don't remove as much powder/crud/magic fairy dust as a brush and patching out, but they do a fair job.

What do they remove then rabbitter and what makes them useful? Genuine question? I assume that you clean the snake after each use or surely you're just pulling last week's muck back through the barrel?
A bore snake can only take dirt off the peaks of the rifling, unlike a brush which turns with the rifling and therefore digging out the grime lower down. The next bullet down the barrel would probably clean the barrel better than a snake and I assume that people don't pull through with a bore snake after each shot?
Personally, I just don't see the point of them.

 

[gixer1]

What do they remove then rabbitter and what makes them useful? Genuine question? I assume that you clean the snake after each use or surely you're just pulling last week's muck back through the barrel?
A bore snake can only take dirt off the peaks of the rifling, unlike a brush which turns with the rifling and therefore digging out the grime lower down. The next bullet down the barrel would probably clean the barrel better than a snake and I assume that people don't pull through with a bore snake after each shot?
Personally, I just don't see the point of them.

Light carbon/soot deposits, also I spray the end of mine with Legia oil so it coats the inside of the barrel with a light film of oil.

had one of my rifles for 12 years and it’s still shooting touching holes so far!

regards,
Gixer