Lead fouling in bore

[wild boar]

I have been trying to clean the bore of my 223, I have tried various cleaning solutions and copper cleaning pad wrapped around a brass brush but I can't remove what I think is lead fouling, I shoot 55gr Hornady vmax, do I just keep trying or does anyone have any other ideas I can try

Cheers

 

[ColinBr]

That looks like pitting to me. I may be wrong though, others I'm sure will chime in

Have you tried boretech eliminator?

 

[Tarquin]

You cant get leading with a jacketed bullet! As above - looks like pitting.

 

[HonestJohn]

Never boresight! Fill those pits up with more fouling and they will disappear

 

[Home Loader]

That looks like pitting!
Unfortunately bore scopes tend to start undue worry and sow seeds of doubt, ignorance is bliss regards a rifle bore unless things are going awry.
As already said fill with fouling and crack on.

 

[palo]

Definitely pitting

 

[ColinBr]

I have to say I wouldn't worry about it.

I know my 223 barrel has pitting in it, and yet it still groups within 0.3" with my hand loads. It's been like that since I bought it SH. I've often thought about changing the barrel, but then it just keeps on shooting silly tight groups pretty much regardless of the ammo I feed it.

 

[C h r i s]

Definitely pitting, how can you sleep at night now?!

 

[Ratsbadboy]

View attachment 358251I have been trying to clean the bore of my 223, I have tried various cleaning solutions and copper cleaning pad wrapped around a brass brush but I can't remove what I think is lead fouling, I shoot 55gr Hornady vmax, do I just keep trying or does anyone have any other ideas I can try

Cheers

Looks very much like pitting to me too, but if it were mine I give it the KG2 treatment (20 strokes on a nylon brush, repeat if necessary) and see what it looks like then. Nothing ventured nothing gained. As has been said, I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[sauer]

Barrels are consumables
As some have said here you’ll get barrels that are pitted to hell and still shoot excellent groupings …
Clean it use it until groups open up and are no longer considered acceptable then rebarrel it or buy a new one…
& again… use it & enjoy it

Paul

 

[Smellydog]

Lost count how many rifles I've owned with some pitting.
Rod the barrel after a short time in the warm house on your return from cold outside.
The picture is pitting.

 

[wild boar]

Thanks for all your comments, the rifle hasn't had a lot of use, around 300 rounds, I bought it new, what would causes that pitting, I must be doing something wrong ?

Cheers

 

[cjm1066]

If you are removing copper and moisture when you clean and protecting it with oil after every use it shouldn't rust.

 

[wild boar]

Thanks for all your comments, the rifle hasn't had a lot of use, around 300 rounds, I bought it new, what would causes that pitting, I must be doing something wrong ?

Cheers

I will review my maintenance techniques, especially post hunt

 

[Smellydog]

Thanks for all your comments, the rifle hasn't had a lot of use, around 300 rounds, I bought it new, what would causes that pitting, I must be doing something wrong ?

Cheers

I told you.... condensation.

When you come in from the cold condensation forms on and in the rifle.
The moisture formed in the barrel allows certain elements in the fouling to mix and in turn produce corrosion solutions.

Rod the barrel asap after it has reached room temperature.

 

[Len the dog]

I like to think my routine is about as simple as it gets, on returning home I remove the mod, leave the rifle to come up to room temperature then either push a couple of dry patches through or give it a run through with a boresnake, then push an oiled patch through and return it to the cabinet.
Next time it comes out of the cabinet I push a dry patch through to remove any oil, then go shoot it.

Even if I don’t take a shot I will follow the same routine so as to remove any moisture.