Corrosion in rifle barrel?

[Bucksdeermanager]

My 308 rifle has fired less than 200 rounds. When cleaning it the other day I noticed some strange marks in the barrel near the muzzle. Any ideas what these marks are? Copper deposits? Carbon deposits? Corrosion? Pitting? The rifle is cleaned religiously and hasn’t been heavily used. Or is this just normal wear and tear?

 

[User00040]

Nothing to worry about.

 

[webley701]

Is that a pre-or post cleaning photo? Whichever it is the bore looks dirty & to my eyes the ‘marks’ look like deposits on the steel rather than etched in.

In any event you wouldn’t expect to see any sign of “wear & tear” in a .308 Win barrel after 200 rounds particularly towards the muzzle (I’ve shot out target rifle .308 barrels & the muzzle half of the bore was still perfect).

 

[palo]

I'd say it's carbon. My 308 used to leave a lot of carbon in that area when I used my jet z moderator.
Give the area a good scrub with a copper brush and a good carbon cleaner .

 

[Bucksdeermanager]

Is that a pre-or post cleaning photo? Whichever it is the bore looks dirty & to my eyes the ‘marks’ look like deposits on the steel rather than etched in.

In any event you wouldn’t expect to see any sign of “wear & tear” in a .308 Win barrel after 200 rounds particularly towards the muzzle (I’ve shot out target rifle .308 barrels & the muzzle half of the bore was still perfect).

It’s a post cleaning photo.

I’m glad you agree about the ‘wear and tear’ I was a bit surprised when I saw it!

What would you recommend as the next step?

 

[Bucksdeermanager]

I'd say it's carbon. My 308 used to leave a lot of carbon in that area when I used my jet z moderator.
Give the area a good scrub with a copper brush and a good carbon cleaner .

Is there a carbon cleaner you’d recommend?

 

[Stalker1962]

What would you recommend as the next step?

Stop looking down your barrel with a bore scope...

 

[Selous]

The bore looks rough from your photo. Having a look with a borescope would tell you more but if it still shoots ok it may not be of significance. Was the barrel clean when the picture was taken? Boretech carbon remover is the best I have come across

 

[webley701]

Is there a carbon cleaner you’d recommend?

Oh dear - that’s a another subject which never seems to have a single answer. I currently use the Bore-Tech carbon cleaner but I can’t say if it’s the best or not.

Whatever you use give the bore a good clean so you can see bright metal & then reassess the ‘marks’ (I’m betting they will have disappeared).
Use the bore scope to assess the efficiency of your cleaning methods & once you’ve got ‘method’ sorted out resist the temptation to look down the barrel too often.

 

[User00040]

Is there a carbon cleaner you’d recommend?

@Bucksdeermanager ,

Robla Solo Mil will knock anything out, including the rifling of the barrel if you leave it in too long and yourself if you inhale too much of the vapour.

Robla Solo Mil - Ballistol

Tested and unsurpassed in the field of military use! What is good has got one enemy – that which is better. Also suitable for air rifles!

ballistol-uk.com

It's very powerful so only a soaked patch or two, followed by vigorous phosphor bronze brushing and dry patching will get you back to bare metal.

However,

At 200 rounds in a 308, you are barely getting it 'run in'.

Cleaning back to bare metal each time you return from stalking is not what I would reccomend.

If it shoots fine, stop worrying!

 

[Smellydog]

Condensation damage.
The mistaken belief that smokeless powder is not corrosive when combined with water that has condensed onto the cold steel.

 

[Steff]

Is there a carbon cleaner you’d recommend?

There is only one thing that can clean baked in carbon out of a rifle barrel. Mechanical force = bronze brushes.

 

[Ronin]

I guess not all barrels are made to the same standard

Customer supplied barrel

Cut with parting blade to get the requested length

The protrusion shows the inner surface of the rifling

Well finished ?

Lapped ?

I won’t be using these again

Not UK made

Not USA

Not German

Guess they’re designed for machine gun use

 

[Bucksdeermanager]

There is only one thing that can clean baked in carbon out of a rifle barrel. Mechanical force = bronze brushes.

I better get the elbow grease out!

 

[Ronin]

I guess not all barrels are made to the same standard

Customer supplied barrel

Cut with parting blade to get the requested length

The protrusion shows the inner surface of the rifling

Well finished ?

Lapped ?

I won’t be using these again

Not UK made

Not USA

Not German

Guess they’re designed for machine gun use

Ill
Just add that parting blade cut off is the start of the finish process - that is not the finished crown

 

[HandB]

I better get the elbow grease out!

JB bore paste contains mild abrasive and is effective at cleaning/polishing a gunked up barrel, even if it contains hard, baked on carbon.

 

[timbrayford]

Youngs 303 cleaner is pretty good on carbon fouling, just doesn't smell as good as it used to!

 

[ejg]

To be sure to remove any salts or left overs from previous manufacturing processes I recently started cleaning a new barrel with hot water, strong nylon or bronze brush and a mix of fairy and cif cleaner (great carbon remover, ask the wife). Flush with boiling water. Hot soap water wash the complete actin and trigger unit. Then blow all of and flush with WD40 or similar. They blow off, dry off with a cloth and do the usual gun oil treatment. Patching out the bore with Hoppes etc. After this treat the rifle normal. Organic cleaners only go so far, best to do water based as well.
edi

 

[Rory]

I guess not all barrels are made to the same standard

Customer supplied barrel

Cut with parting blade to get the requested length

The protrusion shows the inner surface of the rifling

Well finished ?

Lapped ?

I won’t be using these again

Not UK made

Not USA

Not German

Guess they’re designed for machine gun use

Wow, what is that? Is that a rifled insert to the barrel? Never seen anything like this, I'd be keen to know more about what this is.

 

[danpd]

I guess not all barrels are made to the same standard

Customer supplied barrel

Cut with parting blade to get the requested length

The protrusion shows the inner surface of the rifling

Well finished ?

Lapped ?

I won’t be using these again

Not UK made

Not USA

Not German

Guess they’re designed for machine gun use

Barrels supplied by idiots, for idiots.